Fuel handling apparatus for a nuclear reactor

Patent · Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 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
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 26 Aug 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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