Method and apparatus for the shielded relocation of a nuclear component
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorAlexander W. Harkness
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nuclear component transfer device that incorporates a shielded canister into the mast design of a conventional nuclear refueling machine. A moveable mast telescopes within a stationary mast which is attached to a bridge for lateral positioning. The canister allows for the addition of shielding that is positioned with the movement of the moveable mast without additional motorized components to deploy the shielding during nuclear component movement. The nuclear component is drawn up into the shielded canister as the moveable mast lifts the nuclear component. The nuclear component is then placed into a transfer cart that is also fitted with a shielded canister. The transfer is made without exposing the nuclear components resulting in completely shield movement.
Claims14
A machine for moving a nuclear plant component from a first location to another comprising:
- a bridge assembly for positioning the machine over the nuclear plant component to be moved;
- a stationary mast supported from the bridge assembly at a first end and extending down from the bridge assembly in a direction of the nuclear plant component;
- a moveable mast, telescopingly nested within the stationary mast and configured to extend from the stationary mast and retract within the stationary mast under the control of an operator;
- a mast shield canister having an axially extending central opening through which the moveable mast can extend, the mast shield canister having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, with a first stop on the upper end portion of the mast shield canister and/or on a lower end of the moveable mast preventing the lower end of the moveable mast from withdrawing out of the upper end portion of the mast shield canister and a second stop on either or both the stationary mast or the mast shield canister that prevents the mast shield canister from moving more than a preselected distance from the stationary mast, the mast shield canister being sized at least to fit over substantially the full length of the nuclear plant component;
- and
- a gripper assembly supported at a lower end of the moveable mast and is configured to grip the nuclear plant component through the lower end portion of the mast shield canister.
The method of claim 14 further including the steps of:
- rotating the rotatable coupling so that the transfer cart shield canister is in the horizontal position;
- and
- transporting the transfer cart to a new destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.