EP0182149A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A tool for removing and replacing locking tubes of reconstitutable nuclear fuel assemblies
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-29
Abstract
Abstract 57 The invention relates to a tool for removing and replacing locking tubes disposed in locking positions within guide-thimble extensions affixed to end nozzle of a reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly. The tool comprises a tubular force transmitting member (56) from which extends an elongate locking-tube engaging member (76) including a circumferentially expandable and collapsible portion (84-88) and insertable through each locking tube (48) to be removed. A shaft assembly (78) extending through the force transmitting member and to the expandable and collapsible portion of the locking-tube engaging member has at one end thereof a conical expanding means (104) cooperable with said expandable and collapsible portion, and is coupled at its opposite end to an actuating means (120) operable to move the shaft assembly axially in an expansion-effecting direction or a collapse-effecting direction causing movement of said expandable and collapsible portion into or from, respectively, force transmitting reationship with the locking tube. The tool further includes a force receiving structure (58) connected to the force transmitting member (56), and preferably includes a tubular impacting slide (128) axially reciprocable on the force transmitting member so as to deliver locking-tube dislodging blows the force receiving structure (58).
Inventors
- 👤 John Milton Shallenberger
- 👤 Stephen Joseph Ferlan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:43
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; G21C3/14; G21C19/00; G21C19/26; G21C19/20; G21C19/207; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/334; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49822; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A tool for removing and replacing a locking tube disposed in a locking position within a guide-thimble end portion extending into, and held locked by the locking tube within, a passageway formed in a nozzle adapter plate of a reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly, characterized by: an elongated tubular force transmitting member (56); a force receiving structure (58) connected to the force transmitting member at one end thereof; an elongate locking-tube engaging member (76) connected to and extending axially from the opposite end of the tubular force transmitting member, said locking-tube engaging member having a diametric dimension such as to fit through the locking tube, and including a circumferentially expandable and collapsible portion (84-88); an axially movable shaft means (78) extending through the tubular force transmitting member and toward the expandable and collapsible portion of the locking-tube engaging member; actuating means (120) connected to the shaft means and operable to effect movement of the latter between two axial positions relative to the force transmitting member; and means (104) connected to the shaft means and cooperable with said expandable and collapsible portion of the locking-tube engaging member in a manner such as, upon movement of the shaft means to one of said axial positions, to expand said expandable and collapsible portion into force transmitting relationship with respect to said locking tube, and, upon movement of the shaft means to the other of said axial positions, to cause the expandable and collapsible portion to collapse out of said force transmitting relationship with the locking tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A tool for removing and replacing a locking tube disposed in a locking position within a guide-thimble end portion extending into, and held locked by the locking tube within, a passageway formed in a nozzle adapter plate of a reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly, characterized by: an elongated tubular force transmitting member (56); a force receiving structure (58) connected to the force transmitting member at one end thereof; an elongate locking-tube engaging member (76) connected to and extending axially from the opposite end of the tubular force transmitting member, said locking-tube engaging member having a diametric dimension such as to fit through the locking tube, and including a circumferentially expandable and collapsible portion (84-88); an axially movable shaft means (78) extending through the tubular force transmitting member and toward the expandable and collapsible portion of the locking-tube engaging member; actuating means (120) connected to the shaft means and operable to effect movement of the latter between two axial positions relative to the force transmitting member; and means (104) connected to the shaft means and cooperable with said expandable and collapsible portion of the locking-tube engaging member in a manner such as, upon movement of the shaft means to one of said axial positions, to expand said expandable and collapsible portion into force transmitting relationship with respect to said locking tube, and, upon movement of the shaft means to the other of said axial positions, to cause the expandable and collapsible portion to collapse out of said force transmitting relationship with the locking tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular force transmitting member (56) has slidably disposed thereon a tubular axially reciprocable impacting slide (128) operable to deliver locking-tube dislodging impacts to a portion (70) of said force receiving structure (58).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tool according to claim 2, characterized in that said impacting slide (128) consists of an enlarged cylindrical impacting head (130) engageable with said portion (70) of the force-receiving structure (58), and a tubular grip sleeve (132) axially adjacent the impacting head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tool according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the impact-receiving portion (70) of the force-receiving structure (58) is a transverse plate affixed to said one end of the tubular force transmitting member (56).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tool according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said force receiving structure (58) includes a bail-like handle (72) connected to the impact-receiving portion (70).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tool according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that said elongate locking-tube engaging member (76) is a tube forming a tubular extension of the force transmitting member (56), said shaft means (78) extending through the force transmitting member and thence extending within said tubular extension to said means (104) cooperating with said expandable and collapsible portion (84-88).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tool according to claim 6, characterized in that said expandable and collapsible portion (84-88) is an axially segmented end portion of said tubular extension (76) including a segmented rim (88) which projects radially outward therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A tool according to claim 7, characterized in that said means (104) which cooperates with the expandable and collapsible portion (84-88) comprises a conical member which is moved axially in one direction so as to resiliently expand said segmented end portion, together with its segmented rim, upon movement of said shaft means (78) toward said one axial position thereof, and is moved axially in an opposite direction so as to enable the resiliently expanded segmented end portion, together with the segmented rim, to resume a non-expanded condition upon movement of the shaft means toward said other axial position thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tool according to claim 8, characterized in that said shaft means (78) comprises a shaft (90) disposed in the tubular force transmitting member (56), and a shaft extension (92) disposed in said tubular extension (76), said shaft extension (92) being connected at one end thereof to said shaft (90) and having said conical member (104) disposed on the other end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuating means (120) comprises a rotatable knob (122) threadably coupled to an end portion (108) of said shaft means (78) in a manner such that rotation of said knob (122) in opposite directions causes movement of the shaft means to the respective ones of said axial positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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