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AssigneeMitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co.
InventorsKatsunori Ohuchi, Junichi Oyama, Masashi Yoshida, Taichi Koiwai, Shuji Yamazaki
Estimating the term…
An apparatus is presented for removing the inner and outer keys from a support grid of a fuel assembly automatically or by mechanical methods. The apparatus removes a line of keys from a loaded assembly inserted into a grid through an opening section of the grid to deflect the springs. Both ends of the keys are engaged with the engaging members, and one set of keys are rotated in one direction while the other set of keys are rotated in the opposite direction. The springs are then released to press on the fuel rods firmly in place between the springs and the dimples in the grid cell. The keys are removed from the grid by clamping or holding the keys and moving the keys together with the clamping/holding device in the key axis direction by operating the driving device until the keys are removed completely from the grid.
An apparatus for removing a plurality of keys from a grid of a fuel assembly after inserting fuel rods in said grid, which is formed by a plurality of straps of a thin longitudinal strip form intersecting at right angles to each other to form a plurality of grid cells, and having dimples formed on one adjacent pair of walls of said grid cells and springs formed on opposing pair of walls of said grid cells, said grid having an arrangement of said dimples and springs which are rotationally symmetrical in four quadrants in a whole plan view, wherein said keys are inserted in said grid in a longitudinal direction of said straps through opening sections formed near intersections of said plurality of straps, said apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.