Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for maintenance of nuclear fuel assemblies

US4659537A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 16, 1983
Grant dateApr 21, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 16, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49815
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The apparatus is for dismounting nuclear fuel assemblies comprising a skeleton having an upper end piece, a lower end piece, guide tubes connecting the end pieces and fuel rods maintained by grids between the end pieces. The apparatus comprises a cell displaceable vertically in a water tank and provided, at its upper part, with a base plate having an opening for passage of one said fuel assembly and provided with means for gripping an upper part of the bundle of fuel rods. A centering unit is operable by a handling tool and is arranged for gripping the upper end piece of a fuel assembly. The guide tubes may be disconnected from the upper end piece while the bundle of fuel rods is retained in the cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.