Abstract: A compacting method and apparatus particularly adapted to compacting hazardous materials, and in particular radioactive waste, in which a container (1, 1', 1", 1"') is compacted inside a compacting skirt (20) by cooperation between a support surface (7) on which the compacting skirt (20) with the container (1') is placed and a compactor (9) disposed faing the support surface (7) and displaceable along a vertical axis inside the compacting skirt (20). According to the compacting method the compacting skirt (20) containing the container (1, 1', 1", 1"') is moved in translation, in particular between a loading station (I) for loading the container (1), a compacting station (II) where the container (1') is compacted, and an unmolding station (III) for unmolding the compacted container (1") and for evacuating the compacted container (1"') downwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for cutting irradiated fuel elements when in the horizontal position. A fuel element is placed on a support and presents a cross-section for cutting. The fuel element may be displaced along its longitudinal axis. In the immediate proximity of the cutting section, the fuel element is compressed by at least one side clamp, and between two cuts the side clamp(s) is/are unclamped, the fuel element is then advanced by a desired length, and the side clamp(s) is/are reclamped. The end pieces cut off by end piece cutters fall into a fixed end piece removal apparatus. The rods are cut up inside a cavity in such a manner as to confine the cut-off lengths therein, the cavity being provided with a bottom opening enabling the cut-off lengths to be removed and directed towards a fixed rod-removal apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the end pieces are cut off against the front face of the carriage which carries the rod-cutting blade.

Abstract: A saddle with two cutting stations, i.e., front and rear openings, moves forward and backward horizontally within a chassis. The rear opening includes a cutting blade. The chassis includes a front counter blade. A magazine holds a tube bundle and includes a rear face clamp and rear counter blade. In a first cutting operation, skirting at the base of the tube bundle is placed in the front opening and is cut by first moving the saddle rearward against the rear face clamp and rear counter blade, and then frontward against the front counter-blade. In a second cutting operation, the tube bundle is placed in the rear opening. As the saddle is moved frontward, the cutting blade in the rear opening cooperates with the front counter-blade on the chassis to cut the tubes. This second cutting operation is continued until the tubes are cut.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pusher placed in a magazine for irradiated fuel elements which allows displacement thereof for the cutting operations. The pusher according to the invention allows the displacement of elements of small section in a magazine of large section. At the end of a cutting operation, the pusher applies its blank against the auxiliary holding clamp forming a continuous surface and the element is pushed by a blade, the body of the pusher being immobilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel remotely dismountable valves comprising a valve body welded to the pipes and having a truncated seat, an outwardly truncated member fitting on said seat, an obturator whose movements may be remotely controlled due to an extension element and a heavy element made fast with the member via a cross-piece presenting an upper surface in the form of a segment of a sphere on which surface the likewise spherical surface of the lower face of said heavy element abuts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for cutting a bundle of irradiated nuclear fuel tubes so as to cut the fuel into pieces of a suitable length for subsequent operation.According to the invention the fuel tubes are moved from the storage pond by manipulating means to the store of the cutting machine. Means is provided for detecting the position of the bottom end of the bundle with respect to a cutting section in the cutter by means of a movable reference plate so as to enable the bundle to be moved to an operative position in which the first cut can be made in the immediate neighborhood of the base spigot. The arrangement also includes means for moving the bundle forwards while adjusting its position between two cutting operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for cutting a bundle of tubes containing a nuclear fuel into pieces having a preset length so that the fuel can be dissolved in a suitable solution.The bundle of tubes is introduced into a guide tube in a shearing machine and is clamped by two side clamps within the tube so as to limit the width of the bundle to the diameter of one tube of the bundle. The side clamps subject the bundle to a sideways thrust so that the tubes in the bundle are maintained contiguous without any excessive curvature. The bundle of tubes is then submitted to a cutting operation at right angles to its major dimension and after the blade has been returned to its inoperative position a safety plate is positioned near the cut section at a distance slightly greater than the forward movement of the bundle between two successive cutting operations. The side clamps are then withdrawn by a limited amount so that the resilience of the tubes causes them to remain in contact with the clamps.