Abstract: Machine for compacting fuel assemblies, constituted by protective structures containing the fuel and carrying caps at their ends, and for separating the caps from said structures, wherein it comprises a frame forming a lateral bearing surface, a compacting slide block forming a lateral bearing surface facing the first-mentioned bearing surface, a feed opening formed in the frame for introducing an assembly between these surfaces, means for displacing the slide block in a direction perpendicular to these surfaces, two cutting members carried by the slide block and respectively facing the two discharge openings for the caps formed in the frame at the ends of the bearing surface formed thereon, means for displacing the cutting members in said direction in order to separate the caps from the structures, and means for discharging the compacted structure to a discharge opening for the same, formed in the frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for shearing irradiated fuel assemblies, wherein a counterblade is mounted on a counterblade carriage, which normally bears against a detachable member, the counterblade carriage, a side-clamping carriage and a blade holder carriage being arranged on rails disposed in a direction perpendicular to the counterblade, a confinement cell communicating with an intervention cell by a passage normally sealed by a cover, the rails being extended in said intervention cell by said passage, whose dimensions make it possible for the carriages to travel in the intervention cell when the detachable member and the cover are removed.

Abstract: A band saw and an assembly having an interchangeable casing bearing the saw blade, the saw comprising a leading wheel and at least one led wheel on which the blade is mounted; one of the wheels can be moved by tensioning means between a blade-tensioning position and an action-taking position in which the assembly comprising the casing and the blade can be interchanged.