Apparatus for cutting channel box for fuel assembly and method therefor

Apparatus for cutting a channel box for a fuel assembly, comprising:

• casing means located in a body of coolant for receiving therein the channel box after its removal from the fuel assembly, said channel box being formed with a plurality of axially extending vertexes;
• means provided in said casing means for pressing against said channel box and for moving said channel box downwardly from an upper portion to a lower portion of said casing means;
• first cutting means secured at the lower end portion of said casing means for continuosly cutting said channel box axially along said vertexes as said channel box is being moved downwardly, said first cutting means being prevented from moving axially;
• and
• second cutting means located in said casing means in a position in the direction of movement of said channel box for cutting said channel box in a direction intersecting the axis thereof while said channel box is being supported in a condition in which said channel box can be continuously cut axially by said first cutting means.

A method of cutting a channel box for a fuel assembly, comprising the steps of:

• inserting the channel box in a guide means following its removal from the fuel assembly, the channel box being formed with a plurality of axially extending vertexes;
• pressing against the channel box and moving the channel box from one end of the guide means to the other end thereof;
• cutting the channel box axially by first cutting means along the axially extending vertexes as the channel box is being moved through the guide means;
• and
• cutting portions of the channel box, cut axially by the first cutting means, by second cutting means in a direction intersecting the axis of the channel box, the first cutting means being prevented from moving axially, and the second cutting means being disposed in a position in the direction of movement of the channel box for cutting the channel box in a direction intersecting the axis thereof while the channel box is being supported in a condition in which the channel box can be cut axially by the first cutting means.