US 12,437,886 B2
Control rod remote disconnect mechanism
Scott J. Shargots, Forest, VA (US); Ryan Z. Ziegler, Forest, VA (US); Jason C. Brown, Lynchburg, VA (US); David K. Haslet, Lynchburg, VA (US); and Emily D. Fleming, Forest, VA (US)
Assigned to BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/977,789.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/273,687, filed on Oct. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0134417 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. G21C 7/14 (2006.01); G21C 7/117 (2006.01); G21C 7/12 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 7/12 (2013.01) [G21C 7/117 (2013.01); G21C 7/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control rod assembly for use with a reactor core, comprising:
an elongated connecting rod;
a spider assembly that is releasably securable to the connecting rod;
a plurality of control rods that extends downwardly from the spider assembly;
a coupling sleeve secured to a bottom end of the connecting rod, the coupling sleeve including a body portion with an inner wall defining a cylindrical central bore and at least one cam pin extending radially-inward from the inner wall of the central bore; and
a barrel cam being mounted to an upper portion of the spider assembly such that it is rotatable with respect to the spider assembly but axially fixed thereto, the barrel cam having a cylindrical body portion with an outer surface thereof defining a cam track, the cam track including at least one entry opening defined by a top end face of the body portion of the barrel cam, at least one first camming surface, and at least one second camming surface, the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface being configured so that the barrel cam rotates in a first direction as the at least one cam pin slides along the at least one first camming surface and the at least one second camming surface;
wherein the barrel cam is rotatable with respect to the connecting rod between a first position in which the spider is connected to the connecting rod, and a second position in which the spider is disconnected from the connecting rod.