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Title: Lift-based up-ender and methods using same to manipulate a shipping container containing unirradiated nuclear fuel

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1373714

A shipping container containing an unirradiated nuclear fuel assembly is lifted off the ground by operating a crane to raise a lifting tool comprising a winch. The lifting tool is connected with the shipping container by a rigging line connecting with the shipping container at a lifting point located on the shipping container between the top and bottom of the shipping container, and by winch cabling connecting with the shipping container at the top of the shipping container. The shipping container is reoriented by operating the winch to adjust the length of the winch cabling so as to rotate the shipping container about the lifting point. Shortening the winch cabling rotates the shipping container about the lifting point from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, while lengthening the winch cabling rotates the shipping container about the lifting point from the vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation.

Research Organization:
BWXT mPower, Inc. Charlotte, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
0000583
Assignee:
BWXT mPower, Inc.
Patent Number(s):
9,721,688
Application Number:
14/179,269
OSTI ID:
1373714
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Feb 12
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Method of straightening a bowed nuclear fuel assembly patent June 1992
Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) dry transfer system patent August 1997
Method for disposing of a component located in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant patent October 1999
Lower reactor internals up-ending device patent July 2001
High energy shock absorbing wall structure and container using same patent-application January 2003
Shipping package up-ender patent-application October 2007
Method for Controlling the Orientation of a Load Suspended from a Bearing Wire About Said Bearing Wire and a Winch Arrangement patent-application December 2012
Shipping Container For Unirradiated Nuclear Fuel Assemblies patent-application August 2014