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:
Apr. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 19, 1997
Adrian Peter Wivagg, Tolland, CT (US);
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A multi-lift tool and method for moving control rod assemblies in a nuclear reactor. The multi-lift tool comprises a frame having an upper end and a lower end. A control rod grapple is supported by the frame for engaging a lifting handle of a control rod. The control rod grapple is movable along a length of the frame for raising and lowering the control rod relative to the frame. A fuel support piece grapple is secured to the lower end of the frame for engaging and lifting a fuel support piece together with the control rod. A blade guide grapple is secured to the upper end of the frame for engaging and lifting a blade guide together with the fuel support piece and the control rod. An unlatching grapple is supported near the lower end of the frame for engaging and lifting an unlatching handle of the control rod. The unlatching grapple is movable along a length of a lower portion of the frame for raising the unlatching handle of the control rod relative to the frame. The fuel support piece grapple has a pair of tapered members with movable latches for inserting into respective first and second holes of the fuel support piece. The multi-lift tool according to the present invention combines several operations into one and thereby reduces the number of steps required to shuffle or exchange control rods in a boiling water nuclear reactor.