Adaptive drilling system

An adaptive drilling device for extracting bolts from a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in a boiling water nuclear reactor, the adaptive drilling device having a central height axis and comprising:

• (a.) a guide assembly configured to align and secure drilling activity, the guide assembly comprising:
• (i.) three guide plates, the guide plates including a first, second, and third plate positioned along the central height axis, each guide plate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, as well as an edge surface, each guide plate further comprising a pair of guide holes disposed symmetrically relative to the central height axis, a first set of three guide holes being axially aligned along a first guide hole axis, a second set of three guide holes being axially aligned along a second guide hole axis, both guide hole axes running parallel to the central height axis;
• (ii.) a pair of guide rods having lengths and diameters, the guide rods being parallel to each other while running centrally through the guide holes along said rod lengths, a first guide rod running through the first set, a second guide rod running through the second set, the guide plates being slidably engaged with the guide rods rods, the second and third guide plates each configured to have a lockable position along the guide rods;
• (b.) a drill assembly configured to drive a drill bit into a CRDM bolt, the drill assembly comprising:
• (i.) a gear reduction drive motor;
• (ii.) drill bearings;
• (iii.) a drill bit having a length, the drill bit rotatably driven by the drive motor, the drill bit being axially aligned with the central height axis along said bit length;
• (iv.) a securing subassembly configured to secure the drill assembly to the first guide plate;
• (c.) a thrust assembly configured to linearly and bidirectionally drive the drill assembly, the thrust assembly comprising:
• (i.) a thrust handle connected to the drive motor;
• (ii.) a central plate nut;
• (iii.) a lead screw running through the central plate nut and connected to the thrust handle;
• (iv.) a feed wheel connected to the lead screw, the feed wheel configured to rotatably provide thrust driving the first guide plate and drill assembly along the central height axis;
• and,
• wherein the CRDM bolts each have a length which is securable into a bolt hole having a similar length, a series of bolt holes arranged circularly, wherein the adaptive drilling device can be oriented into a normal position in which both the drill bit and an extractable CRDM bolt are lengthwise axially aligned with the central height axis while each guide rod and a corresponding CRDM bolt hole are lengthwise axially aligned with a respective guide hole axis, each of said corresponding CRDM bolt holes positioned adjacent to the extractable CRDM bolt, the guide rods being securable within said corresponding CRDM bolt holes to establish an operational configuration for the adaptive drilling device.