System for fuel rod removal from a reactor module

A system for removing and transferring a plurality of fuel rods from a reactor module, comprising:

• an elongated support tube vertically mounted above said module;
• angular drive means, rigidly supported above said support tube, for rotating said support tube about its vertical axis;
• fuel rod grapple assembly means for engaging said fuel rods in said module;
• winch means for vertically positioning said fuel rod grapple assembly means so as to engage a fuel rod in said module and for removing an engaged fuel rod from said module by vertically retracting said grapple assembly means from said module;
• first radial support means, horizontally extending from said support tube, for supporting said winch means above a selected fuel rod;
• radial drive means, mounted adjacent said support tube, for horizontally positioning said winch means over a selected fuel rod;
• and
• control means for controlling the operation of said angular drive means, grapple assembly means, winch means, and radial drive means, to sequentially and systematically remove preselected fuel rods from said module for transfer and storage thereof.