Tool for exchanging and transporting irradiation capsules of a nuclear reactor

Patent · Tue Jan 13 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6359239

Buchalet, C

A tool is described for exchanging and transporting irradiation capsules of a nuclear reactor using water, which capsules contain samples experiencing, during the operation of the reactor, comparable irradiation to that experienced by the reactor vessel, between the vessel and the swimming pool and between several positions along the heat shield surrounding the core thereof, said tool comprises tongs comprising pivotable fingers pivotable between an inoperative position and an operative position for engaging a capsule, mounted in the region of the lower end of a vertical operating tube and controlled by first coaxial cam means mounted at the end of a vertical operating rod which is coaxial with the operating tube, said rod having a handle at its upper part and being movable vertically between a position in which said fingers are in the inoperative position and a position in which said fingers are in their operative position, means for exerting a downward thrust on a capsule by said operating tube comprising a double-acting jack comprising a piston having a rod which is formed by said operating tube, said piston being slidably mounted in a cylinder which is coaxial with said operating tube, means for supplying pressurized fluid to the chambers of said jack, and clamp means mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal axes on said cylinder of said jack between an inoperative position and an operative position in which bearing surfaces thereof are intended to co-operate with a fixed part of the reactor, and controlled by second cam means mounted on said operating rod.

• Assignee: Framatome (France)
• Patent Number(s): US 4244616
• OSTI ID: 6359239
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
42 ENGINEERING
420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
ALLOYS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
STEELS
TESTING
TUBES