Dynamic port for measuring reactor coolant pump bearing oil level
View Patent ↗A dynamic port that extends from the bottom wall of an oil reservoir that surrounds the lower guide bearing of a reactor coolant pump and is in fluid communication within an oil level gauge. The dynamic port is rotatable into and out of the oil flow path to adjust the dynamic oil level shown by the oil level gauge when the pump is at operating speed to be substantially equal to the static oil level when the motor is at rest.
1. A nuclear reactor coolant pump motor, comprising:
a rotatable shaft;
a bearing supporting the shaft;
an oil reservoir for retaining a body of oil in fluid communication with the bearing;
an indicator for indicating an oil level in the reservoir;
a fluid port, a portion of the fluid port extending into and above a bottom of the reservoir, the fluid port operatively connected with the indicator, the orientation of the portion of the fluid port extending into and above a bottom of the reservoir being adjustable to compensate for the dynamic affects on the body of oil resulting from rotation of the rotatable shaft.
2. The nuclear reactor coolant pump motor of claim 1 wherein the fluid port is a tube having a vertical section that extends through and above the bottom of the reservoir and is sealed to a floor of the reservoir.
3. The nuclear reactor coolant pump motor of claim 2 wherein the fluid port includes a generally “L” shaped tube that extends vertically into the body of oil with a peripheral end bent substantially horizontally and in fluid communication with the oil.
4. The nuclear reactor coolant pump motor of claim 2 wherein the fluid port includes a hook shaped tube that extends vertically into the body of oil with a peripheral end bent substantially horizontally and in fluid communication with the oil.
5. The nuclear reactor coolant pump motor of claim 2 wherein the vertical portion of the tube is sealed to the bottom of the reservoir with a compression fitting.
6. The nuclear reactor coolant pump motor of claim 2 wherein the fluid port is adjustable by being rotatable about an axis of the vertical section of the tube.