Temperature actuated automatic safety rod release

Patent · Tue Mar 31 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6877337

Hutter, E; Pardini, J A; Walker, D E

This patent describes a nuclear reactor having a core, a safety rod for downward insertion into and upward withdrawal from the core, a drive shaft for supporting and operating the safety rod, and drive means connected to the drive shaft for operating the shaft. An apparatus is described for releasably supporting the safety rod, the apparatus comprising an upper adapter adapted to be affixed to the upper end of the safety rod, the upper adapter having a retention means, a lower portion on the drive shaft and having a hollow interior for housing the upper adapter, a bimetallic means supported within the hollow interior of the lower portion and having at least one ledge which engages the retention means to support the upper adapter, the bimetallic means being a substantially cylindrical bimetallic member for receiving the upper adapter in a generally coaxial relation, the substantially cylindrical bimetallic member comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, and the inner layer having a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the outer layer.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4654192
• OSTI ID: 6877337
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
BIMETALS
CONTROL
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CONTROL ROD DRIVES
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
EXPANSION
HOISTING
LAYERS
MACHINE PARTS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORE RESTRAINTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR PROTECTION SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
RESTRAINTS
SAFETY
SHAFTS
SUPPORTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL EXPANSION