Self locking drive system for rotating plug of a nuclear reactor
Abstract
This disclosure describes a self locking drive system for rotating the plugs on the head of a nuclear reactor which is able to restrain plug motion if a seismic event should occur during reactor refueling. A servomotor is engaged via a gear train and a bull gear to the plug. Connected to the gear train is a feedback control system which allows the motor to rotate the plug to predetermined locations for refueling of the reactor. The gear train contains a self locking double enveloping worm gear set. The worm gear set is utilized for its self locking nature to prevent unwanted rotation of the plugs as the result of an earthquake. The double enveloping type is used because its unique contour spreads the load across several teeth providing added strength and allowing the use of a conventional size worm.
- Inventors:
-
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863466
- Patent Number(s):
- 4178208
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-15-2395
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- locking; drive; rotating; plug; nuclear; reactor; disclosure; describes; plugs; head; restrain; motion; seismic; event; occur; refueling; servomotor; engaged; via; gear; train; bull; connected; feedback; control; allows; motor; rotate; predetermined; locations; contains; double; enveloping; worm; set; utilized; nature; prevent; unwanted; rotation; result; earthquake; type; unique; contour; spreads; load; teeth; providing; added; strength; allowing; conventional; size; seismic event; worm gear; nuclear reactor; feedback control; gear set; predetermined location; reactor refueling; rotating plug; disclosure describes; predetermined locations; locking drive; /376/74/414/976/
Citation Formats
Brubaker, James E. Self locking drive system for rotating plug of a nuclear reactor. United States: N. p., 1979.
Web.
Brubaker, James E. Self locking drive system for rotating plug of a nuclear reactor. United States.
Brubaker, James E. Mon .
"Self locking drive system for rotating plug of a nuclear reactor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863466.
@article{osti_863466,
title = {Self locking drive system for rotating plug of a nuclear reactor},
author = {Brubaker, James E},
abstractNote = {This disclosure describes a self locking drive system for rotating the plugs on the head of a nuclear reactor which is able to restrain plug motion if a seismic event should occur during reactor refueling. A servomotor is engaged via a gear train and a bull gear to the plug. Connected to the gear train is a feedback control system which allows the motor to rotate the plug to predetermined locations for refueling of the reactor. The gear train contains a self locking double enveloping worm gear set. The worm gear set is utilized for its self locking nature to prevent unwanted rotation of the plugs as the result of an earthquake. The double enveloping type is used because its unique contour spreads the load across several teeth providing added strength and allowing the use of a conventional size worm.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}