The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1990
Joel Woodcock, Sewickly Township, Westmoreland County, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An improved guide plate of the type used in the guide tubes of a nuclear reactor and having a central orifice for conducting coolant, and circular guide holes interconnected by slots for guidingly conducting the movement of control rodlets and control rod vanes through the guide tube is disclosed. The improvement comprises a plurality of vent openings in the form of vent holes uniformly disposed between the slots of the plate and vent gaps disposed between the outer periphery of the guide plate and the inner wall of the guide tube for reducing turbulence in the flow of coolant through the central orifice, thereby advantageously reducing both fretting and frictional engagement between the control rodlets and the guide holes. The resulting turbulence reduction further advantageously reduces the rodlet drop time through the guide tube, thereby enhancing reactor safety. Additionally, the guide holes of the improved guide plate are chrome plated to further reduce frictional engagement between the control rodlets and the plate.