DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Vibrating fuel grapple

Abstract

A reactor refueling method utilizing a vibrating fuel grapple for removing spent fuel assemblies from a reactor core which incorporates a pneumatic vibrator in the grapple head, enabling additional withdrawal capability without exceeding the allowable axial force limit. The only moving part in the vibrator is a steel ball, pneumatically driven by a gas, such as argon, around a track, with centrifugal force created by the ball being transmitted through the grapple to the assembly handling socket.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. (late of San Francisco, CA)
  2. San Jose, CA
  3. Santa Clara, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
General Electric Co., Sunnyvale, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
864224
Patent Number(s):
4332640
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United State (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
EY-76-C-03-0893
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
vibrating; fuel; grapple; reactor; refueling; method; utilizing; removing; spent; assemblies; core; incorporates; pneumatic; vibrator; head; enabling; additional; withdrawal; capability; exceeding; allowable; axial; force; limit; moving; steel; ball; pneumatically; driven; gas; argon; track; centrifugal; created; transmitted; assembly; handling; socket; handling socket; axial force; centrifugal force; fuel assemblies; reactor core; spent fuel; method utilizing; reactor refueling; steel ball; force created; vibrating fuel; fuel grapple; assembly handling; /376/294/414/976/

Citation Formats

Chertock, deceased, Alan J., Fox, Jack N, and Weissinger, Robert B. Vibrating fuel grapple. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Chertock, deceased, Alan J., Fox, Jack N, & Weissinger, Robert B. Vibrating fuel grapple. United States.
Chertock, deceased, Alan J., Fox, Jack N, and Weissinger, Robert B. Fri . "Vibrating fuel grapple". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864224.
@article{osti_864224,
title = {Vibrating fuel grapple},
author = {Chertock, deceased, Alan J. and Fox, Jack N and Weissinger, Robert B},
abstractNote = {A reactor refueling method utilizing a vibrating fuel grapple for removing spent fuel assemblies from a reactor core which incorporates a pneumatic vibrator in the grapple head, enabling additional withdrawal capability without exceeding the allowable axial force limit. The only moving part in the vibrator is a steel ball, pneumatically driven by a gas, such as argon, around a track, with centrifugal force created by the ball being transmitted through the grapple to the assembly handling socket.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}