LIFTING GRIP FOR THE FUEL ELEMENTS OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR

Patent · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4821337

The lifting grip can be let down into a reactor channel in order to be coupled with the handling head of the fuel element to be removed. The said grip comprises a cylindrnn-cally shaped case which may slide on a hollow piston between an upper and a lower position. A flexible tube supporting the grip is fixed on the piston and may be wound up by an appropriate drum. The inside of the flexible tube is in communication with the volume enclosed by both the cylinder and the piston, this volume being communication, via a narrow opening in the piston, with the space of the reactor channel, in which steam circulates. For opening the grip, the cylinder is moved against the action of a spring into the upper position by evacuation of the steam in the cylinder by bringing the cylinder volume into communication with a condenser via the flexible supporting tube, the movement of the cylinder controlling the movement of the clamps of the grip. For closing the clamps the communication to the condenser is shut off, so that after a time the steam pressure in the cylinder increases as a result of slow leakage from the reactor channel via the opening in the piston, and the cylinder is restored to the lower position by the action of said spring. For indication whether the jaws of the grip are open or closed, steam-operated signal means are provided. (NPO)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-006204
• OSTI ID: 4821337
• Report Number(s): FR 1240960
• Country of Publication: France
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP
CONFIGURATION
COOLANT LOOPS
CYLINDERS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
MACHINE PARTS
MAINTENANCE
MONITORING
PATENT
PLANNING
PNEUMATICS
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR FUELING
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REMOTE CONTROL
REMOTE HANDLING
SERVOMECHANISMS
SIGNALS
SPRINGS
STEAM
TRANSPORT
TUBES