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:
Sep. 28, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1998
Roy C Challberg, Livermore, CA (US);
David L Faulstich, San Jose, CA (US);
Bishara E Kakunda, San Jose, CA (US);
Karim-Panahi Khosrow, Palo Alto, CA (US);
John D Wilford, Peterborough, CA;
Richard A Wolters, San Jose, CA (US);
Bernt R Gaertner, Peterborough, CA;
William J Knowles, Peterborough, CA;
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for moving fuel bundles in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a nuclear reactor are described. In one embodiment of the apparatus, a support tube facilitates the positioning of a multiple channeled magazine within the RPV, especially at locations adjacent fuel bundles. In the one embodiment, the support tube extends in the reactor pressure vessel into the area above the top guide. A magazine assembly is coupled to the support tube, and includes a magazine having a plurality of fuel bundle receiving channels. The magazine extends from the support tube so that it is adjacent the fuel bundles and the top guide. Grapples extend through the magazine channels, engage the fuel bundles, and retract the bundles into the magazine channels. The magazine and support tube, and thus the bundles, are then moved.