Abstract: In order to eliminate the need to weld, drill or otherwise machine a shroud structure which is used to surround a plurality of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, a plurality of upper hanger rods interconnect a structure above the shroud to a support ring which is clamped about the upper periphery of the shroud. Lower hanger rods interconnect a lower edge or shoulder portion of the shroud with the support ring. Thus, through the upper and lower hanger rods and the support ring, the shroud can be supported within the RPV. The upper support ring is arranged to clamp the lower ends of the upper hanger rods against the upper outer peripheral portion of the shroud while the lower ends of the lower hanger rods are clamped against the lower peripheral wall portion of the shroud by a lower support ring.

Abstract: A boiling water reactor control rod drive support system having radiation shields to protect persons working under the reactor vessel from radiation exposure and to limit the travel of a control rod in the event that a control rod housing is ruptured. The radiation shields include radiation shield rings for surrounding the control rod drive housing and radiation shield cups for surrounding the bottom portion of the control rod drive. The radiation shield rings can be used with support systems having radiation shield cups placed on rows of support bars or with existing support systems.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the need to weld, drill or otherwise machine a shroud structure which is used to surround a plurality of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, a plurality of upper hanger rods interconnect a structure above the shroud to a support ring which is clamped about the upper periphery of the shroud. Lower hanger rods interconnect a lower edge or shoulder portion of the shroud with the support ring. Thus, through the upper and lower hanger rods and the support ring, the shroud can be supported within the RPV. The upper support ring is arranged to clamp the lower ends of the upper hanger rods against the upper outer peripheral portion of the shroud while the lower ends of the lower hanger rods are clamped against the lower peripheral wall portion of the shroud by a lower support ring.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the need to weld, drill or otherwise machine a shroud structure which is used to surround a plurality of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, a support ring which either seats on top of the upper edge of the shroud, or is formed in multiple segments and is clamped to the side wall of the shroud, have hangers which are rigid therewith on which support hooks can be detachably mounted. The hooks are arranged to be engagable with the inner peripheral wall of the RPV in a manner which prevents lateral movement of the shroud within the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A bellows-like construction which automatically extends upon immersion in water, is used to provide a relatively inexpensive water-tight enclosure for lifting equipment and the like. The lower end of the bellows is connected to the top of a rigid tubular member which extends up from a hook box or like type of structure, in a manner to form a hermetic seal. The upper end of the bellows-like arrangement is provided with a buoyant member which provides sufficient lift that, when the lifting equipment is lowered into the water to a predetermined depth, the buoyant member floats on the surface of the water in a manner which elongates a corrugated tubular portion of the arrangement and prevents radioactive water from spilling over into the box thus preventing contamination of a hook, hook block and associated apparatus which are enclosed therein.

Abstract: In order to provide a relatively inexpensive water-tight telescopic enclosure which can extend automatically upon demand, a tubular extension piece is reciprocally mounted on a container-like hook box structure. A tube seal which interconnects the hook box and the tubular extension provides a watertight connection between the two members and also provides an air space in a folded portion in which air can collect and produce buoyancy as the hook box is lowered into water. The tubular extension also has a larger cross-sectional area than the hook box and thus produces additional buoyancy. When the hook box is lowered into water the extension piece automatically floats upwardly to prevent the intrusion of water into the interior of the hook box and thus prevent contamination of pieces of apparatus enclosed therein.

Abstract: A polisher is supported on either a frame/arm arrangement or on a vehicle which is guided by track, and is arranged to be energized to polish a predetermined surface of an annular flange or the like, when relative movement is sensed between the polishing element and the surface to be polished. The polishing arrangement can be motor driven so that the polisher can be left to polish the surface in the absence of an operator.

Abstract: A latch tool features two elongate arms which extend down along either side of a control rod. Rotatable actuating rods are mounted on the arms. The upper ends of the actuating rods are provided with cranks which engage in slots formed in an actuating disc. As the disc is rotated, the cranks rotate the actuating rods and swing cam-like members, which are fixed to the rods, into position under an unlatching handle. In the preferred embodiments, the actuating disc is threaded onto the exterior of a rotatable input member, so that after the cam-like members are swung into position, the actuating disc threads its way up the input member in a manner which pulls the cam-like members upwardly and pulls the unlatching handle. In addition to the cam-like members which actuate the unlatching handle, lifting cam-like members may additionally be provided to fit in under a lifting handle of the control rod, and facilitate lifting of the control rod out of its position.

Abstract: A boiling water reactor control rod drive housing support bars having wing assemblies to limit the travel of a control rod in the event that a control rod housing is ruptured. The wing assemblies are placed on support bars located in rows on opposing sides of the control rod drives. Each wing on the wing assemblies supports a quadrant of a control rod drive. The wing assemblies may be rotated from an operation position to a service position to allow replacement of the control rod drives.

Abstract: A boiling water reactor control rod drive housing support bars having radiation shields to limit the travel of a control rod in the event that a control rod housing is ruptured and protect persons working under the reactor vessel from radiation exposure. The radiation shield includes radiation shield cups for surrounding the bottom portion of a control rod drive. The radiation shield cups are placed on support bars located in rows on opposing sides of the control rod drives. The radiation shield may be easily raised and lowered automatically by the control rod drive installation/removal machine.

Abstract: A steam line plug support tool for maintaining steam line plugs in steam line nozzles during the local leak rate test of boiling water reactors which includes an elongated beam with a support piece attached at a location to coincide with the steam line plug. The steam line plug support tool may optionally have a steam line plug attached to the support plate so that the support tool may be used for both installation and support.

Abstract: An auxiliary platform has a one-ton hoist which may be used in conjunction with a rigid pole handling system. The positioning of the one-ton hoist, as well as the positioning of a trolley on which the hoist is mounted and the positioning of the platform, is centrally controlled at a control panel. In one embodiment, a new set of tracks are provided on either side of a refueling pool. A pair of cavity platforms are installed over the edges of the reactor cavity to receive the new set of tracks and to thereby allow the auxiliary platform to travel over the reactor cavity. In another embodiment, the existing tracks are extended and a single new track is provided between the equipment pool and the reactor pressure vessel head pedestal and spent fuel cask washdown area. The auxiliary platform is made extendable so that it can travel over the width of the existing tracks and also over width defined by the new track and one of the existing tracks.

Abstract: A method of removing in-core instruments and dry tubes from a boiling water reactor during a refueling outage wherein a pair of temporary storage containers are provided in the reactor core. A remotely operated cutting device is superposed on the first temporary storage container. An instrument is suspended by an end, with the in-core part uppermost, and lowered until a portion of the out-of-core part is within the first temporary storage container. The cutting device is then operated to sever the instrument portion within the temporary storage container. The instrument is repeatedly lowered, and portions severed, until all of the out-of-core part of the instrument is in the first temporary container. The in-core part of the instrument is then lowered into the second temporary container and the two temporary containers are removed from the reactor cavity using the existing equipment-handling crane.

Abstract: A watertight cover for the hook, hook block and cables of a crane comprises a hook box, of a size to receive the hook, fixed to a first cover member, which is of a size to receive the hook block. A second cover member is telescopically carried on the first cover member. Remotely controlled means are provided for displacing the second cover, relative to the first cover, as the hook is lowered into the water.

Abstract: A watertight cover for the hook of a crane comprises a cylindrical rod interposed between the hook and the load. A circular seal, slidingly carried on the rod, engages an imperforate cover member telescoped over the rod and the hook. A device is provided for drawing the seal and cover member toward the hook as the hook is lowered into the water.