Grabbing device for a nuclear charging machine

Claim 1

A grabbing device for a charging machine for a gas-cooled nuclear reactor for extracting fuel elements from the reactor core in an upward direction and wherein each fuel element includes a longitudinally extending hole provided with an extraction recess, said grabbing device comprising a carrier tube insertable into said hole in said fuel element, said carrier tube including a longitudinally extending opening through the wall thereof which is brought into a position of registration with said extraction recess when said carrier tube is lowered into the hole in the fuel element, latching means positioned within said opening in the wall of said carrier tube, said latching means including rocker and latch members establishing a rolling pivotal surface engagement with each other and with the wall of said carrier tube at the opposite ends of the opening therein, said rolling surface engagement being guided by flexible bands secured along the engaging surfaces, a plunger supported within said carrier tube for movement longitudinally of the tube, a lever arm extending from one of said members of said latching means, the end of said lever arm establishing a rolling pivotal surface engagement with said longitudinally movable plunger and which is likewise guided by flexible bands secured along the engaging surfaces, and means for actuating said plunger, movement of said plunger in one direction serving to effect actuation of said latching means in one direction to move said latch member into engagement with said extraction recess in the fuel element thus coupling said carrier tube with the fuel element, while movement of said plunger in the opposite direction serves to remove said latch member from said extraction recess.