Information Notice 1995-44, Ensuring Compatible Use of Drive Cables Incorporating Industrial Nuclear Company Ball-Type Male Connectors

Ensuring Compatible Use of Drive Cables Incorporating Industrial Nuclear Company Ball-Type Male Connectors

ML031060191
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	09/26/1995
From:	Cool D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-95-044, NUDOCS 9509260149
Download: ML031060191 (4)

e

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September 26, 1995 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 95-44: ENSURING COMPATIBLE USE OF DRIVE CABLES

INCORPORATING INDUSTRIAL NUCLEAR COMPANY

BALL-TIPE MALE CONNECTORS

Addressees

All Radiography Licensees.

PurDose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information

involving Industrial

notice to alert addressees to two source disconnects It is expected that

Nuclear Company (INC) ball-type drive cable connectors. to their facilities

recipients will review the information for applicabilityproblems. However, and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similarnot new NRC requirements;

suggestions contained in this information notice areis required.

therefore, no specific action nor written response

Description of Circumstances

An NRC licensee reported that while performing radiographic operations on

two source disconnects.

August 25, 1995, and August 27, 1995, it experienced camera, an INC

The licensee was using a Gulf Nuclear Model 20V radiographic

cables incorporating INC

Model 22 radiographic source assembly, and drive a catastrophic failure

connectors. Both disconnects occurred as a result of

of the neck of the male connector on the drive cable. This resulted in the

source assembly becoming separated from the drive cable and not being able to

be retracted into the camera.

The drive cable involved in the first disconnect had been in use for only a

short time (2 to 4 weeks). After the disconnect, the drive cable was replaced

failed after being in use for

with a new, unused drive cable that subsequently INC ball-type connectors

approximately 2 days. Both drive cables incorporated The source was not new

and were received by the licensee at the same time.

and had previously been used with no reported disconnects.

Discussion

Control Program

On August 29, 1995, an inspector from the California Radiationof the incident. INC

met with INC, at its facility, to investigate the cause

was the use of a drive cable

indicated that the cause of the disconnects

connector that was not compatible with the exposure device.

9509260149

IN 95-44 September 26, 1995 INC distributes two styles of ball-type connectors. The is only difference

between the connectors is the length of the sleeve that swaged onto the

control cable. The length of the sleeve (dimension X in the diagram below) is

cm). The connector with a

either 0.462 in. (1.17 cm) or 0.570 in. (1.45 older devices that

0.462-in. (1.17-cm)-long sleeve is designed for use with

have an aS-tubeN with tight-bend radii, such as Gulf Nuclear and Gamma

Industry devices. The connector with a 0.570-in. (1.45-cm) sleeve is designed

for use with devices that have a shallow IS-tube,' such as the INC Model

IR-100 and Amersham 660 series devices.

Ball-Type Connector

(not to scale)

The licensee involved in the Incident described above washasusing a connector

a device that an 'S-tubeu with

with a 0.570-in. (1.45-cm)-long sleeve in the connector to

tight-bend radii. The tight bends in the "S-tubef caused

experience severe stresses, leading to the failure of the connector.

when using

NRC is issuing this information notice to alert licensees that should ensure that

drive cables incorporating INC ball-type connectors, they

device they are using. It is

the connector is compatible with the exposure applicability to

expected that recipients will review the information for

as appropriate, to avoid problems and

their facilities and consider actions, specific action

ensure consistency with applicable requirements. However, no

nor written response is required from recipients of this notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical

contact listed below, or the appropriate regional office.

Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contact: John W. Lubinski, NMSS

(301) 415-7868 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 95-44 September 26, 1995 Page I of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

Intormation Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

95-39 Brachytherapy Incidents 09/19/95 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Involving Treatment Commission Medical

Planning Errors Licensees.

95-29 Oversight of Design and 06/07/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

and Fabrication Activities for nuclear power reactors.

for Metal Components Used

in Spent Fuel Dry Storage Independent spent fuel

Systems storage installation

designers and fabricators.

95-28 Emplacement of Support 06/05/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Pads for Spent Fuel Dry for nuclear power reactors

Storage Installations at

Reactor Sites

95-25 Valve Failure during 05/11/95 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Patient Treatment with Commission Medical

Gamma Stereotactic Licensees.

Radiosurgery Unit'

94-64, Reactivity Insertion Trans- 04/06/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Supp. 1 ient and Accident Limits for Nuclear Power Reactors

for High Burnup Fuel and all fuel fabrication

licensees.

95-07 Radiopharmaceutical Vial 01/27/95 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Breakage during Preparation Commission medical licensees

authorized to use byproduct

material for diagnostic

procedures.

95-01 DOT Safety Advisory: 01/04/95 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

High Pressure Aluminum Commission licensees.

Seamless and Aluminum

Composite Hoop-Wrapped

Cylinders

94-89 Equipment Failures at 12/28/94 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Irradiator Facilities Commission irradiator

licensees.

-It

"__achment 2 IN 95-44 September 26, 1995 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

95-43 Failure of the Bolt-Locking 09/28/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Device on the Reactor for nuclear power reactors

Coolant Pump Turning Vane designed by Westinghouse

Electric Corporation (W).

95-42 Commission Decision on the 09/22/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Resolution of Generic for nuclear power reactors.

Issue 23, Reactor Coolant

Pump Seal Failurew

95-41 Degradation of Ventilation 09/22/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

System Charcoal Resulting for nuclear power reactors.

from Chemical Cleaning of

Steam Generators

95-40 Supplemental Information 09/20/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

to Generic Letter 95-03, for nuclear power reactors.

"Circumferential Cracking

of Steam Generator Tubeso

95-39 Brachytherapy Incidents 09/19/95 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Involving Treatment Commission Medical

Planning Errors Licensees.

95-38 Degradation of Boraflex 09/08/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Neutron Absorber in for nuclear power reactors.

Spent Fuel Storage Racks

95-37 Inadequate Offsite Power 09/07/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

System Voltages during for nuclear power reactors.

Design-Basis Events

95-36 Potential Problems with 08/29/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Post-Flre Emergency for nuclear power reactors.

Lighting

95-35 Degraded Ability of 08/28/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Steam Generators to for pressurized water

Remove Decay Heat by reactors (PWRs).

Natural Circulation

OL = Operating License

CP - Construction Permit