Fuel handling apparatus for a nuclear reactor

Patent · Tue Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6727371

Hawke, B C

This patent describes a fuel handling apparatus for operation through an opening in the side of a reactor vessel having a plurality of fuel elements disposed in an array within the vessel, the apparatus comprising: a support housing for affixation to an exterior portion of the vessel, the housing enclosing an interior space having a generally horizontal longitudinal axis; a support member mounted for motion longitudinally of the housing within the housing; a first arm supported by the support member and pivotal about a vertical axis through the support member; a second arm supported by the first arm and pivotal about a horizontal axis through the first arm; means for pivoting the first and second arms about their respective axes; reversible extendable lifting means fixedly supported by the second arm for positively moving the fuel elements upward and downward. The lifting means includes a storable tubular extendable member comprising at least one ribbon which may be compactly stored on a reel and which may be extended into an elongated, relatively rigid configuration; grapple means supported by the lifting means for releasably connected the lifting means to the fuel elements; and lateral transport means for moving the support member longitudinally of the housing.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4647423
• OSTI ID: 6727371
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
CONTAINERS
ELONGATION
EQUIPMENT
FUEL ELEMENTS
HOISTING
HOISTS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MANIPULATORS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
POSITIONING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR VESSELS
REMOTE HANDLING
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
SUPPORTS