Abstract: A clamp apparatus is provided which is designed to structurally replace a weld that attaches a riser brace assembly to a reactor pressure vessel wall, and a method for repairing the riser brace assembly. The riser brace assembly is designed to support a jet pump in the reactor pressure vessel. The riser brace assembly may include upper and lower riser brace leaves connected to a reactor pressure vessel pad on the wall. The clamp apparatus may include a first clamp component including a central extension portion, and a second clamp component including a slot portion. The central extension and slot portions may be engaged to provide alignment between the first and second clamp components between the upper and lower riser brace leaves of the riser brace assembly.

Abstract: A clamping device supports or structurally replaces a weld joint between connected pipes. The clamping device includes an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body securable on opposite sides of the connected pipes in facing relation, and at least one clamp bolt connecting the upper and lower clamp bodies and extendable through the connected pipes. One of the upper and lower clamp bodies has at least one shaped depression, which receives a complementary shaped clamp bolt nut engageable with the clamp bolt. The shaped depression prevents rotation of the clamp bolt nut.

Abstract: An elbow clamp assembly structurally supports or replaces a connection between a main pipe and an elbow pipe. The elbow clamp assembly includes an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body securable on opposite sides of the main pipe in facing relation. The upper and lower clamp bodies are connected by a clamp bolt extendable through the main pipe. An elbow boss is securable to the elbow pipe, and a cross bolt is extendable through the elbow pipe and connected between the elbow boss and the clamp bolt.

Abstract: A slip joint assembly has been developed for a downcomer pipe in a core spray system of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the slip joint assembly including: a housing sleeve formed around a slip joint in the downcomer pipe, wherein an annular gap exists between an inside surface of the housing sleeve and the downcomer pipe; an upper wedge and a lower wedge insertable in the gap; a wedge bolt extending through the gap and extending through the upper wedge and lower wedge, wherein the bolt applies a force pulling the upper and lower wedge together to secure the housing sleeve to the downcomer pipe; an upper pin extending from the housing sleeve into an aperture of an upper section of the downcomer pipe, and a lower pin extending from the housing sleeve into an aperture of a lower section of the downcomer pipe.

Abstract: A support clamp assembly for mechanically securing a thermal sleeve to an elbow conduit in a jet pump of a nuclear reactor vessel, the support clamp assembly including: a tension shaft having a first end extendable through an opening in a sidewall of the elbow conduit and an opposite end with a head; a cruciform assembly having a base with an opening to receive the tension shaft and to abut the head of the shaft, wherein the cruciform assembly seats in the thermal sleeve; a boss slidable over the first end of the tension shaft and having a curved surface seating an outside surface of the elbow conduit, and a coupling device engaging the first end of the tension shaft and abutting the boss, wherein the coupling device places the tension shaft under tension to secure the cruciform assembly to the thermal sleeve and the boss to the elbow conduit.

Abstract: A core spray sparger T-box clamp for a sparger T-box in a shroud of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the sparger T-box clamp including: an anchor plate substantially aligned with a closed end of the T-box; a carrier plate slidably secured to an upper side the anchor plate and latched to the T-box; a saddle bracket secured to a lower side of the anchor plate and latched to the T-box, and a pair of clamp blocks on opposite sides of the anchor plate fixed to sparger pipes coupled to the T-box.

Abstract: A core spray T-box attachment assembly for a core spray nozzle includes a primary cruciform wedge and a secondary cruciform wedge in contact with the primary cruciform wedge to form a cruciform wedge subassembly adapted for insertion within a bore of the core spray nozzle to sealingly engage an interior converging portion of a safe end of the core spray nozzle. The assembly includes a spider in contact with the cruciform wedge subassembly, and a draw bolt engaging an axial bore of a center portion of the cruciform wedge subassembly and the spider to the T-box.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an electric discharge machining sample removal apparatus for removing a material sample from a structural component in a boiling water nuclear reactor includes a base plate, a motor mounted on the base plate, and an electrode assembly rotatably coupled to the base plate and operatively coupled to the motor. The electrode assembly includes an outer wall defining a substantially semi-cylindrical hollow cavity. The outer wall includes a conductive first arcuate portion a conductive second arcuate portion and a non-conductive third arcuate portion positioned between and coupled to the first and second arcuate portions.

Abstract: A core spray sparger T-box attachment assembly for a nuclear reactor pressure vessel includes a downcomer pipe coupling and a sparger T-box clamp. The downcomer pipe coupling includes a cylindrical outer housing, a center portion, and a plurality of vanes extending the outer housing to the center portion. The outer housing is coupled to a downcomer pipe and includes an extending flange. A draw bolt threadedly engages an axial bore in the center portion, and connects the downcomer pipe coupling to the sparger T-box clamp. The sparger T-box clamp includes an anchor having a draw bolt opening, and a plurality of legs extending from a face of the anchor. Clamp blocks are connected to the anchor. Stop bolts extend through stop bolt openings in the clamp blocks. Clamping elements are connected to the clamp blocks by clamp bolts. A seal plate having a draw bolt opening is coupled to the anchor with a plurality of adjusting screws.

Abstract: A T-box assembly includes a T-box housing, a thermal sleeve coupled to the T-box housing, a cruciform wedge, a spider threadedly engaging the thermal sleeve, and a draw bolt coupling the cruciform wedge and the spider. At least one spring washer is located between the end of the thermal sleeve and the end of a core spray nozzle safe end. The T-box housing includes a cover opening having a plurality of breach lock lugs extending into the cover opening. A T-box cover plate includes a head portion and an insertion portion. A plurality of breach lock lugs extend from the periphery of the insertion portion. A plurality of ratchet teeth extend around the periphery of the head portion. A lock spring includes an engagement portion having a plurality of ratchet teeth sized to mesh with cover plate ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A T-box clamp apparatus which applies compressive forces to a T-box in a boiling water nuclear reactor pressure vessel is described. The T-box clamp apparatus clamps to the T-box and distribution header pipes to hold the distribution headers in place and in contact with the T-box. The T-box clamp apparatus includes a first and a second of clamp assembly and a clamp strong-back assembly coupled to the first and second clamp assemblies. Each clamp assembly includes upper and lower clamp bodies that are coupled to a distribution header pipe. The strong-back assembly includes an upper and a lower strong-back body configured to engage the T-box, with the upper strong-back body coupled to the upper clamp bodies of the first and second clamp assemblies, and the lower strong-back body is coupled to the lower clamp bodies of the first and second clamp assemblies.

Abstract: A T-box assembly to facilitate attaching a core spray line to a reactor core spray nozzle safe end without welding is described. In one embodiment, the T-box assembly includes a T-box housing, a cruciform wedge, and a draw bolt. The T-box housing is configured to be positioned so that a first end is located inside a core spray nozzle and engages the core spray nozzle safe end. Two other ends are configured to be in substantial alignment and configured to couple to core spray line header pipes. The T-box housing also includes a cover opening configured to receive a T-box cover plate. The T-box cover plate includes a draw bolt opening configured to receive the draw bolt. The first end of the T-box also includes a plurality of positioning lugs configured to engage the core spray nozzle to center the T-box housing in the nozzle bore. The cruciform wedge includes four web members extending from a central member and configured so as to form an X shaped configuration.

Abstract: Coupling apparatus and methods for replacing a core spray line downcomer pipe coupled to a shroud T-box are described. In one embodiment, the coupling apparatus includes a seal ring, a mating flange, a housing, at least one coupling bolt, at least one spherical washer, and at least one lateral pin. The thermal expansion coefficient of the coupling bolt is lower than the thermal expansion coefficient of the seal ring, mating flange, and housing. After extending the downcomer pipe into the housing, the seal ring is inserted into the opposite end of the housing adjacent the downcomer pipe. The seal ring is then seated on the mating flange seat. The two seats allow the downcomer pipe to be rotational misaligned with the coupling apparatus. The coupling bolts extend through the mating flange and the housing to rigidly secure the downcomer pipe to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a shroud in which one or more seam welds are cracked. The repair involves the attachment of a splice bracket to the shroud so that the bracket bridges the cracked weld seam and is applicable to both vertical and horizontal weld seams. The bracket is intended to structurally replace the shroud seam weld which is cracked. Multiple splice brackets can be placed along the length of a crack. Each splice bracket is attached to the shroud by a plurality of tapered fastener assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a shroud in which one or more seam welds are cracked. The repair involves the attachment of a splice bracket to the shroud so that the bracket bridges the cracked weld seam and is applicable to both vertical and horizontal weld seams. The bracket is intended to structurally replace the shroud seam weld which is cracked. Multiple splice brackets can be placed along the length of a crack. Each splice bracket is attached to the shroud by a plurality of tapered fastener assemblies.

Abstract: A tool for vertically supporting a shroud repair tie rod assembly having a clevis hook by bracing the clevis hook against a clevis pin installed in a gusset plate. This allows the vertical support at the upper end of the tie rod assembly to be removed, so that the upper support structure can be coupled to the tie rod. The lower end of the tie rod assembly is supported on both sides of the gusset plate. The tool for vertically supporting the lower end of the tie rod assembly is designed to fit in the narrow space bounded by a jet pump diffuser, the gusset plate and the reactor pressure vessel. The vertical support tool includes a pole adaptor for coupling to the end of a service pole, a pole adaptor extension having one end connected to the pole adaptor, a mounting block connected to the other end of the pole adaptor extension, and a hydraulic spreader mounted on the mounting block. The hydraulic spreader opens in response to actuation of a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a shroud in which one or more seam welds are cracked. The repair involves the attachment of a splice bracket to the shroud so that the bracket bridges the cracked weld seam and is applicable to both vertical and horizontal weld seams. The bracket is intended to structurally replace the shroud seam weld which is cracked. Multiple splice brackets can be placed along the length of a crack. Each splice bracket is attached to the shroud by a plurality of tapered fastener assemblies.

Abstract: A tool for protecting a boiling water reactor component against damage by a shroud repair assembly suspended from a cable and lowered into the downcomer annulus. The tool has a roller with an outer surface made of a material which will not scratch the surface of a tie rod of the shroud repair assembly as the latter is lowered relative to the roller. The tool has sets of opposing grippers made of aluminum alloy which are pressed against opposing surfaces of the shroud and the reactor pressure vessel with sufficient force to clamp the tool in the annulus. The pressing force is generated by air-actuated cylinders which are actuated remotely. In one embodiment, the roller is fixed and acts as a stop to limit tangential travel of the suspended assembly. In another embodiment, the roller is displaceable in a tangential direction in response to remote actuation of a pair of air-actuated positioning cylinders.

Abstract: A strongback for lowering a tie rod into the downcomer annulus of a boiling water reactor during a shroud repair operation. The tie rod strongback is suspended from a cable via a cable adaptor at its upper end. The lower end of the strongback is coupled to a tie rod adaptor, which in turn couples to the top of the tie rod. The strongback is a welded assembly of square tubes, channels for reinforcing the joints of the welded tubes, and upper and lower couplings. In particular, the strongback has mutually parallel first and second rigid linear members which are disposed vertically when the strongback is suspended from a plumb cable. The second rigid linear member is connected to the first rigid linear member by a relatively obliquely disposed third rigid linear member.