General Electric Company

David L Rousar

John Geddes Erbes

Robert C Dixon

James R Punches

David L Faulstich

Michael R Schrag

Frank W Rieger

Downcommer coupling apparatus and methods for replacing a core spray line downcommer pipe coupled to a shroud T-box are described. In one embodiment, the coupling apparatus includes a wedge flange, a wedge, a wedge housing, a pipe seal, a cylindrical pipe, an elbow, a lower flange, and a shroud seal. The downcommer pipe is connected to the coupling apparatus by extending the pipe through the wedge flange, the wedge, and the wedge housing. The wedge has a plurality of flexible thinned segments that extend into the wedge housing to secure the downcommer pipe to the wedge housing. Wedge flange bolts extend through the wedge flange, the wedge, and the wedge housing to rigidly secure the downcommer pipe to the coupling apparatus. Dowel bolts extend through the wedge housing and the downcommer pipe to provide vertical and torsional load transfer from the downcommer pipe to the coupling apparatus. The lower flange is configured to receive the shroud T-box. In one embodiment two lower flange bolts extend through the shroud and into the nutbar to secure the coupling apparatus to the shroud. A third lower flange bolt extends through the shroud and secures the clamp to the t-box. The clamp prevents axial movement of the T-box.

Downcommer coupling apparatus and methods

A bolt and keeper assembly including a crimper for crimping a portion of the keeper into pockets formed in an upper portion of the bolt head are described. The crimper includes a hydraulic cylinder for carrying hydraulic fluid under pressure and a crimper body having a bore extending therethrough. The bore has first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first end portion of the crimper body bore is configured to receive an end portion of the hydraulic cylinder, and the second portion of the crimper body bore is configured to receive at a least a portion of the bolt head and keeper assembly. When assembled, an upper portion of the bolt head and keeper assembly extends into the intermediate bore portion. A compressible ring is positioned in the intermediate portion of the crimper body bore at a location to engage the keeper and for crimping sections of the keeper into the bolt head pockets.

Hydraulic crimper and bolt assembly

A fuel handling system for nuclear reactor plants comprising an improved underwater grapple means for transferring fuel units while submerged within a water containing reactor vessel. Wherein a novel structure is provided which allows for direct viewing downward for operating the grapple hooks.

Fuel handling grapple for nuclear reactor plants

A refueling mast for a reactor complex includes four generally cylindrical tubes. Each inner tube has vertical grooved tracks formed therein. Each outer tube has a guide roller mounted thereon with grooves which mate with track grooves of a respective track on the adjacent inner tube. Track grooves are cold formed moving a roller die tool up and down each inner tube, while increasing pressure on the incorporated die rollers. This process flattens the inner tube where the tracks are being formed. The grooved tracks and the associated flattening provide the torsional rigidity required on the mast tubes for precise positioning and orientation of fuel elements.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

David L Rousar