Vibration dampener for dampening vibration of a tubular member

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869568

Obermeyer, Franklin D ^[1]; Middlebrooks, Willis B ^[1]; DeMario, Edmund E ^[2]

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1. Pensacola, FL
2. Columbia, SC

Vibration dampener for dampening vibration of a tubular member, such as an instrumentation tube of the type found in nuclear reactor pressure vessels. The instrumentation tube is received in an outer tubular member, such as a guide thimble tube. The vibration dampener comprises an annular sleeve which is attachable to the inside surface of the guide thimble tube and which is sized to surround the instrumentation tube. Dimples are attached to the interior wall of the sleeve for radially supporting the instrumentation tube. The wall of the sleeve has a flexible spring member, which is formed from the wall, disposed opposite the dimples for biasing the instrumentation tube into abutment with the dimples. Flow-induced vibration of the instrumentation tube will cause it to move out of contact with the dimples and further engage the spring member, which will flex a predetermined amount and exert a reactive force against the instrumentation tube to restrain its movement. The amount by which the spring member will flex is less than the unrestrained amplitude of vibration of the instrumentation tube. The reactive force exerted against the instrumentation tube will be sufficient to return it to its original axial position within the thimble tube. In this manner, vibration of the instrumentation tube is dampened so that in-core physics measurements are accurate and so that the instrumentation tube will not wear against the inside surface of the guide thimble tube.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18495
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5357547
• OSTI ID: 869568
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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