Machines for removing splitter blades from nuclear reactor fuel cans

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR STRIPPING SPLITTER BLADES FROM A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL CAN ASSEMBLY, SAID BLADES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CAN AND GENERALLY RADIALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND SECURED TO THE CAN BY AT LEAST ONE STRAP WHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND SAID CAN AND BLADE ASSEMBLY, AND WHICH HAS END PORTIONS EXTENDING RADIALLY OF THE CAN, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING: A CAN ASSEMBLY SUPPORT CARRIAGE; MEANS FOR ANGULARLY ORIENTING SAID CAN ASSEMBLY ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE; POWER OPERATED CUTTING MEANS ADJACENT SAID CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO SEVER THE RADIAL PORTIONS OF SAID STRAP TO FREE AT LEAST ONE SPLITTER BLADE; POWER-OPERATED BLADE WITHDRAWAL MEANS ADAPTED TO GRIP THE FREED SPLITTER BLADE AND WITHDRAW IT RADIALLY FROM SAID CAN ASSEMBLY; AND MEANS TO RELATIVELY POSITION SAID CAN ASSEMBLY, SAID CUTTING MEANS AND SAID BLADE WITHDRAWAL MEANS; AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE MACHINE WHEREBY THE SPLITTER BLADES MAY BE REMOVED BY A REMOTELY CONTROLLED SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS.