Patent · US Expired

Method for extracting a locking sleeve from a demountable guide tube of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly

US5091142A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
4References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1989
Grant dateFeb 25, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/53657
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Each of the zones of the ferrule (25) comprising a radially projecting deformed part (29) is deformed by inward bending, so as to extract the deformed part (29) from a corresponding cavity (22) of the end block. The locking sleeve (20) is then extracted by exerting a pulling force on this sleeve (20) in the axial direction (ZZ') of the guide tube (4). Preferably, the ferrule (25) consists of cylindrical segments separated by slits arranged along the generatrices of the ferrule (25). A tool (31) is used to fold the segments of the ferrule (25) and to grip these segments so as to extract the locking sleeve (20). Extraction is performed underwater in a fuel storage well.

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