Reactor vessel seal service fixture

Claim 2

Apparatus for the placement of a seal into a previously prepared location on the surface of a member comprising: a. movable fixture means having a receptacle to accommodate said seal; b. pivoted means in said receptable rotatable between a first position retaining said seal within said receptacle and a second position pushing said seal out of said receptacle; c. means for moving said fixture means carrying said seal with said pivoted means in said first position into contact with said surface; d. means insuring alignment of said receptacle with said previously prepared location as said fixture moves into contact with said surface; and e. means responsive to the making of said contact for moving said pivoted means into said second position thereby causing said seal to move out of said receptacle into said previously prepared location.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said pivoted means normally is biased into said first position, and said responsive means includes a plunger biased into a position extending from said fixture means so that as said fixture means approaches contact with said surface, said plunger is urged into a retracted position actuating said pivoted means into said second position.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which pivoted means is formed from a pair of right angled finger like elements pivoted at their juncture.

Claim 5

Apparatus for the remote placement of an O-ring seal into a groove located in the upper surface of the head flange of an open nuclear reactor vessel comprising: a. means extending within said vessel supported by said flange having guide means; b. movable fixture means annular in configuration corresponding to said flange for being lowered into contact with the upper surface of said flange; c. said fixture means forming an annular receptacle for alignment with said groove when said fixture means is lowered into place on said flange, said fixture means having further means for engaging said guide means to insure accurate alignment of said fixture means; d. a plurality of spaced pivoted means in said receptacle between a first position retaining said seal within said receptacle and a second position ejecting said seal out of said receptacle; e. means responsive to the making of contact between said fixture means and said surface as the former is Being lowered for moving said pivoted means into their second position thereby causing said seal to move out of said receptacle into said groove.

Claim 6

Apparatus for the remote placement of an O-ring seal into a groove located in the upper surface of the head flange of an open nuclear reactor vessel comprising: a. means extending within said vessel supported by said flange having guide means; b. movable fixture means annular in configuration corresponding to said flange for being lowered into contact with the upper surface of said flange; c. said fixture means forming an annular receptacle for alignment with said groove when said fixture means is lowered into place on said flange, said fixture means having further means for engaging said guide means to insure accurate alignment of said fixture means; d. a plurality of spaced pivoted means in said receptacle between a first position retaining said seal within said receptacle and a second position ejecting said seal out of said receptacle; e. means responsive to the making of contact between said fixture means and said surface as the former is Being lowered for moving said pivoted means into their second position thereby causing said seal to move out of said receptacle into said groove.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said pivoted means normally is biased into their first positions, and said responsive means include plungers biased into positions extending down from said fixture means into their second positions.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said flange is provided with more than one groove and said fixture means is provided with matching grooves and pivoted means for the simultaneous emplacement of more than one seal.