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Title: DEVICE FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING THE FUEL ELEMENTS OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4820869

A device is described for charging and discharging the fuel elements, each vertically positioned in one of a group of parallel reactor channels, through a single upper opening in the reactor vessel wall, this opening being in alignment with a hole in the top of the core situated in the center of said group. A tubular support is rotatably mounted with its two ends, respectively, in said opening and in said centering hole. At this support a curved charging tube is articulated, so that this charging tube may connect the lower end of a tubular chute, mounted in the upper portion of said tubular support, with the end of each reactor channel, these ends lying in a portion of a spherical surface having its center in the articulation axis of the charging tube. In order to avoid too sharp variations in direction of the charging path formed by said tubular chute, the charging tube and the reactor channels, the charging tube is suitably curved with a point of inflection at its middle. The said tubular chute is axially displaceable and presses against an edge of the upper extremity of the charging tube in order to create a couple tending to apply its lower end against a spiral- shaped guiding rib mounted on said spherical surface for bringing this lower end successively in front of all the channel extremities. (NPO)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-16-006165
OSTI ID:
4820869
Report Number(s):
FR 1228195
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
Country of Publication:
France
Language:
English