EP0146804A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel assembly peripheral rod lifting device
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-29
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a device (32) for raising peripheral fuel rods of a fuel assembly for inspection under submerged conditions in a nuclear reactor facility. The device (32) includes a frame comprising top and bottom plates (36, 38) interconnected by rods (40) with an intermediate plate (52) supported therein for vertical movement responsive to a cylinder (60). A yoke (64) is mounted for horizontal movement on the intermediate plate (52) responsive to another cylinder (66) to engage a fuel rod so that it can then be lifted by the first cylinder (60). Proper alignment relative to the peripheral rods of the fuel assembly is accomplished by means of pins (50) which are received in indexing holes (80) of a support plate (68) for the fuel assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Lionel Blickenderfer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:23
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/06; G21C19/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49817; Y10T29/49819; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53039; Y10T29/53087; Y10T29/531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for lifting a nuclear fuel rod in a fuel assembly positioned on a support plate, the apparatus comprising: a movable frame; frame locating means for effecting adjustable predetermined alignment between said frame and the fuel rods of said fuel assembly; a plate supported on said frame for generally vertical movement; a yoke supported on said plate for generally horizontal movement, one end of said yoke being adapted to engage a predetermined portion of a fuel rod; a first cylinder and piston unit coupled between said plate and yoke for effecting selective movement of the yoke between an extended position in engagement with a fuel rod, and a retracted position out of engagement with a fuel rod; and a second cylinder and piston unit coupled between said plate and frame for effecting selective vertical movement of the fuel rod engaged by said yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for lifting a nuclear fuel rod in a fuel assembly positioned on a support plate, the apparatus comprising: a movable frame; frame locating means for effecting adjustable predetermined alignment between said frame and the fuel rods of said fuel assembly; a plate supported on said frame for generally vertical movement; a yoke supported on said plate for generally horizontal movement, one end of said yoke being adapted to engage a predetermined portion of a fuel rod; a first cylinder and piston unit coupled between said plate and yoke for effecting selective movement of the yoke between an extended position in engagement with a fuel rod, and a retracted position out of engagement with a fuel rod; and a second cylinder and piston unit coupled between said plate and frame for effecting selective vertical movement of the fuel rod engaged by said yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for lifting a nuclear fuel rod in a fuel assembly, including locating pins secured to said frame for registry with index holes in said fuel frame locating means for effecting adjustable predetermined alignment between said frame and the fuel rods in said fuel assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for lifting a nuclear fuel rod in a fuel assembly, including locating pins secured to said frame for registry with index holes in said fuel frame locating means for effecting adjustable predetermined alignment between said frame and the fuel rods in said fuel assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said frame locating means comprises: a support plate; a block on said support plate for supporting the fuel assembly in a raised position; the index holes of said fuel assembly support means being arranged adjacent to at least one side of said block in predetermined spaced-apart intervals corresponding to the spacing between adjacent peripheral rods of said fuel assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said frame comprises: a top plate; a base plate; and a plurality of rods rigidly secured between said top and base plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second cylinders each comprise double-acting pneumatic cylinders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further including: scribe lines on said fuel assembly support means to facilitate location of said locating pins in the index holes of said fuel assembly support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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