Abstract: The invention relates to a docking arrangement for docking a transport container to a lock opening of a radioactively charged work chamber for loading and unloading radioactive materials. In order to dock the heavy transport container precisely at the lock opening and to reliably remotely manipulate the closure cover of the container, the lock opening is covered from within the work chamber by a bell-shaped closure device which can be removed inwardly. This bell-shaped closure device is laterally displaceable in the lock opening and is resiliently journalled and therefore can align itself with respect to the docked transport container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for handling a fuel element skeleton f an irradiated nuclear reactor fuel element from which the fuel rods have been removed. The fuel element skeleton is placed horizontally in a compacting shaft of a ram-type press in order to obtain a simple and reliable compaction of the skeleton. After the compacting shaft is closed, the fuel element skeleton is compacted against a press base. The compacted fuel element skeleton is pushed out of the compacting shaft and into a transportable transfer shaft. The loaded transfer shaft is removed from the ram-type press and transported away to a transfer loading location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for handling a fuel element skeleton of an irradiated nuclear reactor fuel element from which the fuel rods have been removed. The fuel element skeleton is placed horizontally in a compacting shaft of a ram-type press in order to obtain a simple and reliable compaction of the skeleton. After the compacting shaft is closed, the fuel element skeleton is compacted against a press base. The compacted fuel element skeleton is pushed out of the compacting shaft and into a transportable transfer shaft. The loaded transfer shaft is removed from the ram-type press and transported away to a transfer loading location.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for pulling a plurality of fuel ds out of a fuel element structure and has a gripping device which is capable of clamping the fuel rods. To reliably pull the fuel rods from an irradiated nuclear reactor fuel element, the apparatus includes an upper guide rod and a lower tension rod which lie horizontally and are arranged one above the other. The rods extend through a plurality of clamping plates in a direction perpendicular to the latter. The clamping plates are mounted so as to be parallel to each other and spacers are arranged between each two mutually adjacent ones of the clamping plates. The spacers are arranged on both rods with the width of the spacers on the lower rod beign slightly less than the diameter of a fuel rod. The clamping plates are pressable together by means of a tensioning device. The apparatus of the invention enables the gripping device to be placed on the fuel element in a simple manner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods or fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sectons.

Abstract: A storage container is disclosed for accommodating fuel rods of disassemb irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements. The storage container includes a circular storage space into which a cage receiving the canned fuel rods is inserted. The individual fuel-rod cans are arranged in the insert cage in the form of a circle in order to achieve a good removal of heat. Hold-down springs bear on the end faces of the cans. The radial extension of the fuel-rod cans towards the longitudinal center of the container is limited to accommodate an empty square central shaft in the middle of the insert cage.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods r fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods r fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections.