Gripping apparatus for a group of rods of nuclear fuel assembly
US4797248A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S294/906
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
During the dismantling of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, there is a simultaneous gripping of all the rods (a) arranged in square grid form in said assembly using a device (10) which effects a clamping or locking at the end of the rows of rods. For this purpose, device (10) has passageways (26) penetrated by the ends of two adjacent rows of rods (a). In said passage ways are trapped mobile members (34, 34') arranged in such a way that each rod is placed between two adjacent members. By applying a locking force on the mobile end members in each passageway (26), each rod is gripped between two members (34, 34'). Preferably, the mobile members (34, 34') are provided with abutments limiting the locking or clamping force individually applied to each rod. For filling the gaps of the grid of rods (a) corresponding to the locations occupied by the guide tubes in the assemblies, rollers (78) are placed in the passageways (26) at the corresponding locations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.