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:
Apr. 29, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1994
Francis X McDonald, Enfield, CT (US);
Scott A Kendrick, Colchester, CT (US);
Edward F Lamoureux, Hampden, MA (US);
Peter Leombruni, Wethersfield, CT (US);
Edward G Sirica, East Hartford, CT (US);
Frank J Formanek, W. Suffield, CT (US);
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A nuclear power plant fuel transfer tube quick operating remote closure device (10) comprised of a reducing ring (20) and a cover assembly (60). The reducing ring (20) is bolted to the transfer tube housing flange (12). Rotation of a chuck key advances jaws on the cover assembly (60) which feed closure latches (78) into a groove (40) on the reducing ring (20). The upper surface (80) of each latch (78) has a bevelled surface (82) corresponding to a bevelled surface (42) of the groove (40). As the latches (78) engage the groove bevelled surface (42), the entire cover assembly (60) is uniformly drawn toward the reducing ring (20). Machined seal faces (13, 30, 44, 68) and O rings (36, 74) provide a fluid and air tight seal between the transfer tube housing flange (12) and the sealing ring (20) and between the cover assembly (60) and the sealing ring (20). Belleville springs (86) in the latch assemblies (64) allow the latches (78) to move independently as they engage the reducing ring (20), provide a latch preload to compensate for the effects of differential thermal expansion, and allow the cover assembly (60) to be installed simply by turning the mechanical actuator (62) until it is hardstopped.