POSITIONAL ENCODER AND CONTROL ROD POSITION INDICATOR FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR USING SAME

摘要

A cam is immersed in water at an elevated temperature and/or pressure. A reciprocating cam follower also immersed in the water contacts a surface of the cam. The cam follower includes a permanent magnet. An electrically conductive coil is magnetically coupled with the permanent magnet such that movement of the cam follower induces an electrical signal in the electrically conductive coil. A sealed housing also immersed in the water contains the electrically conductive coil and seals it from contact with the water. Leads of the coil are electrically accessible from outside the sealed housing and from outside the water. Alternatively, the cam includes magnetic inserts, the cam follower is replaced by a sensor arm of magnetic material, and the sensor arm and/or the inserts are magnetized whereby rotation of the rotary element causes time modulation of the magnetic coupling and induces coil voltage.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a cam immersed in water at a temperature of at least 212° F.; a reciprocating cam follower contacting a surface of the cam, the reciprocating cam follower also immersed in the water, the reciprocating cam follower including a permanent magnet; an electrically conductive coil magnetically coupled with the permanent magnet of the reciprocating cam follower such that movement of the cam follower induces an electrical signal in the electrically conductive coil; and a sealed housing immersed in the water and containing the electrically conductive coil, the sealed housing sealing the electrically conductive coil from contact with the water, leads of the electrically conductive coil being electrically accessible from outside the sealed housing and from outside the water.