Laser cutting apparatus for nuclear core fuel subassembly

Patent · Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5159797

Caruolo, A B; Walch, A P

The object of the invention is to provide a system and apparatus which employs laser cutting to disassemble a nuclear core fuel subassembly. The apparatus includes a gantry frame (C) which straddles the core fuel subassembly (14), an x-carriage (22) travelling longitudinally above the frame which carries a focus head assembly (D) having a vertically moving carriage (46) and a laterally moving carriage (52), a system of laser beam transferring and focusing mirrors carried by the x-carriage and focusing head assembly, and a shroud follower (F) and longitudinal follower (G) for following the shape of shroud (14) to maintain a beam focal point (44) fixed upon the shroud surface for accurate cutting.

• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4317021
• Application Number: TRN: 82-018621
• OSTI ID: 5159797
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 22 Feb 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-123861
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
SHROUDS
REACTOR CORES
FUEL ASSEMBLY DISMANTLING
LASER BEAM MACHINING
FUEL RODS
LASERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MACHINING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
210500* - Power Reactors
Breeding