Vibrating fuel grapple

Patent · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6318528

Chertock, A J; Fox, J N; Weissinger, R B

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.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4332640
• OSTI ID: 6318528
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
ARGON
BREEDER REACTORS
CENTRIFUGATION
CLOSURES
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
LOADING
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
MECHANICS
MOTION
NONMETALS
PNEUMATICS
RARE GASES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR FUELING
REACTORS
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
REMOVAL
ROTATION
SEALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
SPHERES