Gripping apparatus of a lifting device, especially in a core reactor for setting down and lifting fuel elements and fuel rods

In a gripping and lifting device, especially for the fuel elements and rod means in a core reactor;

• a carriage, a winch drum on the carriage, a support member beneath the carriage and cable means suspending the support member from the winch drum, a gripper body supported by said support member and dependent therefrom, a gripper housing in said body and having first and second gripper means at the bottom for engagement with rod means and a fuel element respectively, said housing being provided with first and second power operable means arranged one above the other for actuating said first and second gripper means respectively between gripping and release positions, locking means for locking said means in gripping position, said housing being reciprocable in said body, cooperating elements of abutment means on said body and housing for limiting the downward movement of the housing in the body, the power operable means for said first gripper means comprising a first cylinder and a first piston in said housing, a first separable ball coupling between said rod means and said first gripper means, a second separable ball coupling between said rod means and said fuel element, a first guiding rod extending downwards from said first piston and forming an actuator for said first separable ball coupling, a first spring means which may urge said first piston downwards into a first position for locking said first separable ball coupling means, a second guiding rod arranged below said first guiding rod and forming an actuator for the second separable ball coupling, and a second spring means which may urge said second guiding rod upwards into a first position for locking said second second separable ball coupling, said first guiding rod in its first position holding said second guiding rod in a second position for releasing said second separable ball coupling, said first piston may be urged by a fluid supplied into the lower portion of said first cylinder upwards into a second position for releasing said first separable ball coupling.