Debris removal system for a nuclear fuel assembly

Claim 2

Apparatus for manipulating tools under water with respect to an underwater nuclear-fuel-assembly at a work station, said apparatus comprising: a transportable support movable to and from a work position at the work station adjacent to the nuclear fuel assembly, a tool carriage mounted on said support, a plurality of tools mounted on said tool carriage, the apparatus characterized in that said tool carriage includes selection means accommodating disposition of a selected one of said tools in a work configuration with respect to the associated nuclear fuel assembly, motive means on said support for effecting movement of said tool carriage and a selected tool along any of three orthogonal axes for performing work with respect to the nuclear fuel assembly, and control means for remotely controlling operation of said manipulation means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tool carriage includes mounting means for rotational movement for selectively positioning said tools in said work configuration.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tool carriage includes means for rotation thereof about an axis disposed substantially vertically in use.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motive means includes fluid drive means for effecting movement of said tool carriage and a selected tool along said axes.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tool carriage supports four of said tools.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tools are designed for removing debris from the nuclear fuel assembly.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said tools include a pick, and a fluid lance, and a brush, and a tweezer, designed to remove debris from the nuclear fuel assembly.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, and further including video camera means carried by said transportable support, for remotely viewing the nuclear fuel assembly and the work performed thereon.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tool carriage includes means for mounting each of said tools for movement with respect to said tool carriage, and spring means resiliently biasing each said tool toward a predetermined position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for manipulating a tool with respect to a nuclear fuel assembly at a work station, said apparatus comprising: a tool carriage, a tool holder for holding an associated tool, said tool holder being mounted on said tool carriage for reciprocating movement with respect thereto along a predetermined axis between extended and retracted positions, characterized by yieldable means resiliently urging said tool holder to its extended condition with a predetermined force less than the minimum force which could damage the associated nuclear fuel assembly, drive means for effecting reciprocating movement of said tool carriage along said axis for manipulating said tool holder and the tool held thereby to perform work with respect to the associated nuclear fuel assembly, whereby engagement of the nuclear fuel assembly by the tool with a force in excess of said predetermined force in response to movement of said tool carriage toward the nuclear fuel assembly causes said tool holder to move from its extended condition toward its retracted condition with respect to said tool carriage, and means responsive to movement of said tool holder a predetermined distance along said axis from its extended condition toward its retracted condition for generating a signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for manipulating a tool with respect to a nuclear fuel assembly at a work station, said apparatus comprising: a tool carriage, a tool holder for holding an associated tool, said tool holder being mounted on said tool carriage for reciprocating movement with respect thereto along a predetermined axis between extended and retracted positions, characterized by yieldable means resiliently urging said tool holder to its extended condition with a predetermined force less than the minimum force which could damage the associated nuclear fuel assembly, drive means for effecting reciprocating movement of said tool carriage along said axis for manipulating said tool holder and the tool held thereby to perform work with respect to the associated nuclear fuel assembly, whereby engagement of the nuclear fuel assembly by the tool with a force in excess of said predetermined force in response to movement of said tool carriage toward the nuclear fuel assembly causes said tool holder to move from its extended condition toward its retracted condition with respect to said tool carriage, and means responsive to movement of said tool holder a predetermined distance along said axis from its extended condition toward its retracted condition for generating a signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said yieldable means includes a helical compression spring.