Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for rebuilding nuclear fuel assemblies

US4724607A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
8References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 1984
Grant dateFeb 16, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/531
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The apparatus is intended for rebuilding an assembly comprising a skeleton formed by two end members connected by tie rods attached to the end members and grids distributed between the end members along the tie rods and adapted to retain a cluster of fuel rods trapped between the end members. The apparatus comprises a first chamber (AI) for receiving a fuel assembly, a second chamber (AS) for receiving a new skeleton, a repair station comprising a lift adapted to receive the two vertically disposed aligned chambers and to bring the chambers to a level such that there subsists a layer of protective water above the rods, a transfer tool (106) to draw one fuel rod at a time into the skeleton from the assembly contained in the first chamber, and means for mounting the end members on the skeleton.

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