Spent fuel container alignment device and method

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870496

Jones, Stewart D ^[1]; Chapek, George V ^[2]

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1. Mechanicville, NY
2. Scotia, NY

An alignment device is used with a spent fuel shipping container including a plurality of fuel pockets for spent fuel arranged in an annular array and having a rotatable cover including an access opening therein. The alignment device includes a lightweight plate which is installed over the access opening of the cover. A laser device is mounted on the plate so as to emit a laser beam through a laser admittance window in the cover into the container in the direction of a pre-established target associated with a particular fuel pocket. An indexing arrangement on the container provides an indication of the angular position of the rotatable cover when the laser beam produced by the laser is brought into alignment with the target of the associated fuel pocket.

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC12-76SN00052
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5533075
• OSTI ID: 870496
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

spent
fuel
container
alignment
device
method
shipping
including
plurality
pockets
arranged
annular
array
rotatable
cover
access
therein
lightweight
plate
installed
laser
mounted
emit
beam
admittance
window
direction
pre-established
target
associated
particular
pocket
indexing
arrangement
provides
indication
angular
position
produced
brought
shipping container
annular array
laser device
angular position
laser beam
spent fuel
alignment device
beam produced
associated fuel
fuel shipping
fuel container
fuel pocket
fuel pockets
container including
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