The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 2020
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2019
Bwxt Mpower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Lewis A. Walton, Forest, VA (US);
Matthew W. Ales, Puyallup, WA (US);
BWXT mPower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
Refueling of a nuclear reactor () includes removing a fuel assembly (). The removal method includes lowering a lifting tool () of a crane () onto a top of the fuel assembly. The lowered lifting tool including a plurality of downwardly extending elements () that surround and vertically overlap a portion () of a control rod assembly () extending above the top of the fuel assembly. The downwardly extending elements are locked with corresponding mating features () at the top of the fuel assembly to connect the lifting tool with the fuel assembly. The connected fuel assembly is moved into a spent fuel pool () using the crane, and the lifting tool is disconnected from the top of the fuel assembly by unlocking the downwardly extending elements from the corresponding mating features at the top of the fuel assembly.