John A Land

US Patent:

47708468, Sep 13, 1988

Filed:

Feb 3, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/576645

Inventors:

John T. Land - Pensacola FL
Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
Jose M. Martinez - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1900
F41B 3904

US Classification:

376353

Abstract:

A support pin system (10) for fastening nuclear reactor guide tube flanges (14) to a nuclear reactor upper core plate (12) includes a support pin (16) having a lower portion (20) frictionally disposed within the upper core plate (12), while an upper section (24) is disposed within a through-bore (22) of the guide tube flange (14). The support pin (16) includes a threaded region (30) upon which is threadedly mounted a nut (32). In order to prevent retrograde rotation of the nut (32) relative to the support pin (16), a locking cap (46) is mounted upon the nut (32) and support pin (16) such that first crimped sections (48) are engaged within apertures (44) defined within the nut (32), while second crimped sections (54) are engaged within longitudinal grooves (50) defined upon the external surface of the support pin (16).

US Patent:

53196929, Jun 7, 1994

Filed:

Jun 24, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/903634

Inventors:

Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
John T. Land - Pensacola FL
Michael C. Misvel - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1106

US Classification:

376458

Abstract:

A nuclear reactor reflector is disclosed that comprises a stack of reflector blocks with vertical water flow passages to cool the reflector. The interface between blocks is opposite support points for reactor fuel rods. Water flows between the reflector and the reactor barrel from passages in a bottom block. The top block contains a flange to limit this flow and the flange has a slot to receive an alignment pin that is welded to the barrel. The pin is held in the slot by two removable shims. Alignment bars extend the length of the stack in slots machined in each block when the stack is assembled.

US Patent:

54901901, Feb 6, 1996

Filed:

Dec 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/360514

Inventors:

Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
John T. Land - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 506

US Classification:

376364

Abstract:

Self-locking alignment pin and method for aligning a nuclear fuel assembly with respect to a core plate disposed in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The fuel assembly has a top nozzle having a first bore formed therein. The core plate has a second bore alignable with the first bore. The second bore has first threads of a first predetermined pitch and second threads of a second predetermined pitch. The alignment pin further includes a shaft that has an end portion having third threads of the first predetermined pitch for threadably engaging the first threads of the second bore. A flange, which has a plurality of recesses in the underside surface thereof, surrounds the shaft and is integrally attached thereto. A locking member surrounds the flange and has exterior fourth threads of the predetermined second pitch for threadably engaging the second threads of the second bore. The locking member also has deformable portions adapted to engage respective ones of the recesses for locking the locking member to the flange.

US Patent:

52672859, Nov 30, 1993

Filed:

Jun 24, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/903630

Inventors:

Douglas E. Ekeroth - Delmont PA
Daniel C. Garner - Murrysville PA
Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
John T. Land - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 104

US Classification:

376352

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are provided for suppressing the formation of vortices in circulating coolant fluid of a nuclear reactor. A vortex-suppressing plate having a plurality of openings therein is suspended within the lower plenum of a reactor vessel below and generally parallel to the main core support of the reactor. The plate is positioned so as to intersect vortices which may form in the circulating reactor coolant fluid. The intersection of the plate with such vortices disrupts the rotational flow pattern of the vortices, thereby disrupting the formation thereof.

US Patent:

50358529, Jul 30, 1991

Filed:

Jul 7, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/376771

Inventors:

John T. Land - Pensacola FL
Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
Daniel E. Ford - Cantonment FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 700

US Classification:

376353

Abstract:

A mounting system for removably mounting the lower flange of a control rod guide tube over an opening in the upper core plate of a nuclear reactor includes support pins having first and second pin portions. The first pin portion passes through the guide tube flange and has an externally threaded section. The second pin portion is secured within the bore of the upper core plate and has a solid body section and a split-leaf section. The solid body section has an outer diameter which is accommodated in the bore by a close clearance fit. The split-leaf section has a split intermediate section and a split end section. The split intermediate section extends from the solid body section, has an outer diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the solid body section, and tapers uniformly between the solid body section and the split end section to form a conical shape. The split end section biasingly engages at least a portion of the bore wall. A locking nut threadedly engages an externally threaded section of the first pin portion.

US Patent:

50248081, Jun 18, 1991

Filed:

Jul 17, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/553407

Inventors:

John T. Land - Pensacola FL
Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 708

US Classification:

376353

Abstract:

A combined support and guide tube member for use in a nuclear reactor is disclosed which both suspends an upper core plate from an upper support plate and receives and guides a control rod assembly through mutually aligned apertures in the support and core plates. The tube member generally comprises an elongated tubular body having an upper and lower mounting assembly for detachably mounting the upper and lower ends of the body around selected, aligned apertures in the support plate and core plate, respectively. The upper mounting assembly includes four mounting lugs disposed 90 degrees around the upper edge of the tubular body, as well as mounting bolts for detachably connecting the mounting lugs around an aperture in the support plate. The support plate aperture includes four cloverleaf cutouts which are complementary in shape to the four mounting lugs of the upper mounting assembly so that the entire support and guide tube member may be easily removed from the nuclear reactor by merely aligning the lugs with the cloverleaf cutouts, and withdrawing the tube member through the selected aperture. The tubular body of the tube member includes an array of flow ports for uniformly discharging pressurized water flowing out of the upper core plate in such a manner so as to avoid localized water jets which can vibrate and fret the rodlets forming the control rod assemblies.

US Patent:

50986473, Mar 24, 1992

Filed:

Jul 16, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/552461

Inventors:

Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
John T. Land - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 106

US Classification:

376353

Abstract:

A guide tube insert assembly for receiving and guiding a control rod assembly through mutually aligned apertures formed in an upper support plate and an upper core plate of a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The guide tube insert assembly includes a plurality of guide plates with each guide plate including a plurality of bores with respective bores of each of the guide plates being axially aligned with one another so as to form a plurality of axial passages for conducting rodlets of the control rod assembly into and out of the fuel rod assemblies of a nuclear reactor. A plurality of tie rods are provided and extend between an uppermost guide plate and a lowermost guide plate, the tie rods being concentrically surrounded by a plurality of spacer sleeves of a predetermined length, with the spacer sleeves being positioned between adjacent guide plates so as to space the guide plates a predetermined distance from one another. The guide tube insert assembly further includes nuts which threadingly engage opposing ends of the tie rods so as to generate a compressive force between the lowermost and the uppermost guide plates to maintain the guide plates in their predetermined positions with respect to one another. The tie rods thereby maintain the predetermined spacing between each of the plurality of guide plates and allow the plurality of guide plates to be simultaneously removed from within a guide tube extending between the upper core plate and the upper support plate within the upper internals of a nuclear reactor.

US Patent:

47724480, Sep 20, 1988

Filed:

Jan 7, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/816782

Inventors:

Craig H. Popalis - Pensacola FL
Ronald J. Hopkins - Pensacola FL
John T. Land - Pensacola FL
Franklin D. Obermeyer - Pensacola FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1900

US Classification:

376463

Abstract:

A support pin system which is a non-welded system for fastening a first structural member, such as a nuclear reactor control rod guide tube flange, to a second structural member, such as nuclear reactor upper core plate, includes a support pin and nut. A first pin portion passes through the first member and has a threaded section which mates with the nut. A second pin portion has a solid body section and a split-leaf base section which biasingly engages a bore in the second member. The solid body section is accommodated by a close clearance fit. The split-leaf base section has an intermediate diameter which is less than the diameter of the solid body section. Thus, loads applied transversely to the system are reacted substantially in pure shear through the solid body section. The nut may be a locking nut having a crimpable cylindrical section integrally connected to an internally threaded section. The crimpable section is crimped to engage recesses provided in the pin whereby relative rotation therebetween is positively prevented.