Nuclear instrument removal system for use with processing a nuclear instrument, associated feed and cut module, and method of processing a nuclear instrument

A feed and cut module for use with processing a nuclear instrument, the feed and cut module comprising:

• a mounting bracket;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the mounting bracket;
• a cutting assembly associated with the drive mechanism, the cutting assembly comprising a first cutting element, a second cutting element coupled to the first cutting element, and a housing coupled to the mounting plate and configured to house the first and second cutting elements, the first cutting element being slidably coupled to the housing and configured to slide between positions via the drive mechanism in order to cut a hot portion of the nuclear instrument into the small segments with a cutting edge of at least one of the first and second cutting elements;
• an actuation mechanism coupled to the mounting bracket;
• and
• a funnel coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to guide the nuclear instrument into the cutting assembly, the funnel being configured to move between a first position and a second position, the first position corresponding to the funnel being aligned with the first and second cutting elements, the funnel pivoting away from the first and second cutting elements responsive to actuation of the actuation mechanism when moving from the first position to the second position.

A method of processing a nuclear instrument with a nuclear instrument removal system (NIRS), the method comprising:

• providing the NIRS with a control system and an instrument processing system configured for use with the control system, the instrument processing system comprising a counter module, a feed and cut module, and a spool module, the feed and cut module being removably coupled to the counter module, the spool module being removably coupled to the feed and cut module and mounted to a cask assembly, the spool module comprising a spool canister and a drive shaft associated with the canister;
• receiving the nuclear instrument with the counter module;
• receiving the nuclear instrument with the feed and cut module after the nuclear instrument has passed through the counter module;
• receiving the nuclear instrument with the spool module after the nuclear instrument has passed through the feed and cut module;
• and
• rotating the drive shaft about an axis in order to spool a cold portion of the nuclear instrument within the canister.