Outer grid strap protruding spring repair apparatus

Patent · Tue Mar 24 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6667176

Widener, W H

This patent describes a nuclear fuel assembly grid spring repair apparatus for repairing a spring formed on an outer strap of a fuel assembly grid and having a portion protruding outwardly beyond the strap, the apparatus comprising: (a) a support frame defining an opening and having means defining a guide channel extending along the opening in a first direction; (b) means mounted on the frame and being adjustable for attaching the frame to the outer strap of the support grid so that the frame opening is aligned with the outwardly protruding spring on the outer strap; (c) an outer slide having a passageway defined therethrough and being mounted in the guide channel for reciprocable movement along the frame opening in the first direction for aligning the passageway with the outwardly protruding portion of the spring on the outer strap. The outer slide also has means defining a guide way extending along the passageway in a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction; (d) a spring reset mechanism being operable for resetting the protruding spring to a nonprotruding position relative to the outer strap when the mechanism is aligned with the protruding portion of the spring; and (e) an inner slide supporting the spring reset mechanism and being mounted to the guide way for reciprocable movement along the passageway of the outer slide in the second direction for aligning the spring reset mechanism with the protruding portion of the spring on the outer strap.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4652421
• OSTI ID: 6667176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
ALIGNMENT
ELECTRODES
EQUIPMENT
FASTENERS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
GRIDS
MACHINE PARTS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OPENINGS
POSITIONING
REMOTE HANDLING
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
REPAIR
SPRINGS
SUPPORTS