DIFFERENTIAL-MOVEMENT CHAIN MECHANISM FOR THE CONTROL OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR

摘要

The mechanism has at least one carrier sprocket wheel (18-19) fixed on a horizontal shaft (15) mounted on the body of a grab (4) with pivoting fingers. An apparatus (14) for actuating the pivoting fingers connected to the shaft allows them to open and close to take up or, alternatively, release the absorbent unit. Drive chain wheels (25-26) allow the portions (20-21) of a chain supporting the carrier pulley (18-19) to be moved, either in synchronism to move the absorbent assembly or with a differential movement to actuate the pivoting fingers of the grab (4). A single differential pinion apparatus (31-32) allows the two kinds of movement to be carried out. The invention can be applied particularly to the control and emergency shutdown of pressurized water nuclear reactors.