Fixture and method for rectifying damaged guide thimble insert sleeves

Abstract

A fixture for rectifying one of several different types of repairable and irreparable damage to the upper end portions, or insert sleeves, of the guide thimbles of a fuel assembly held in a work station includes a base having a plurality of tool positioning openings defined therein in a pattern matched with that of the guide thimbles and several aligning holes for mounting the base on guide members of the work station such that the tool positioning openings are disposed in alignment with the guide thimbles. Also, a plurality of different tools are selectively mountable in the openings of the base. Each tool is adapted to operate to rectify a different one of the types of repairable and irreparable damage to the insert sleeves of the guide thimbles. Movement of the base toward the guide thimbles causes engagement with a guide thimble, and concurrently therewith operation, of each of the tools being mounted to the base which is adapted to rectify a respective one of the different types of guide thimble insert sleeve damage which is repairable. In addition, movement of the base toward the guide thimbles causes placement at an operative position, relative to a guide thimble, of each of the tools being mounted to the base which is adapted to rectify a respective one of the different types of guide thimble insert sleeve damage which is irreparable. Finally, a group of positioning elements is mounted in selected ones of the base openings for precisely locating the fixture relative to the guide thimble insert sleeves for accurate performance of repairable damage rectifying operations by the tools as the fixture is moved toward the guide thimbles.