Reconstitution and repair system for nuclear fuel rod assemblies
US4822554A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved system for repairing and reconstituting a fuel rod assembly in the spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant is disclosed herein. The improved system includes a height-adjustable elevator and carriage assembly for lifting and inverting a pair a fuel assemblies with their bottom ends adjacent one another, a length-adjustable rod handling tool having a gripper for gripping, lifting, lowering and ungripping a fuel rod, and a dual-axis tool positioner mountable over the bottom ends of the inverted, adjacent fuel assemblies. The tool positioner includes a funnel-shaped tool guide that is movable over the bottom ends of the fuel assemblies for receiving and positioning the gripper of the rod handling tool. The improved system may be adjusted for use in spent fuel pools of substantially different dimensions and water levels without the need for additional parts, and may be operated by only two technicians.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.