Fuel assembly repair system and method
US4774752A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1986 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/531
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A tooling system and method for remotely removing a rod or other component located between the top and bottom nozzles of a fuel rod assembly is disclosed herein. Generally, the tooling system comprises a grinding mechanism including a carbide burr and a high speed air motor for grinding an opening through the adapter plate of the top nozzle of a size sufficient to allow the withdrawal of said component therethrough, a housing fixture connected to the carbide burr of the grinding mechanism for positioning the burr over a point in the adapter plate adjacent to the component to be removed, and an engagement assembly connected to the grinding mechanism for moving the carbide burr into grinding engagement with the adapter plate, and a gripping apparatus insertable through the hole produced by the grinding mechanism for gripping the rod or other component and withdrawing it through the opening. The use of a high-speed air motor in combination with a carbide burr provides a hole in the adapter plate large enough to remove a selected rod from the fuel rod assembly while producing a particulate debris which is, at the most, only about 20 mils in diameter. Unlike the shavings and slivers pro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.