Abstract: A fuel exchange apparatus, comprising: a traveling carriage moving horizontally in one direction; a traversing carriage moving horizontally on the traveling carriage in a direction orthogonal to the one direction in which the traveling carriage moves; and a fuel holding unit attached to the traversing carriage, and including an telescopic tube enabling to extend and contract, a holding tool for holding a fuel assembly and releasing the held fuel assembly, and a lifter for raising and lowering the holding tool by winding and running out linear members for suspending and supporting the holding tool from the traversing carriage, wherein the holding tool is selectively placed in a constrained state in which the holding tool is subject to a constraint by the telescopic tube and in a freely suspended state in which the holding tool is released from the constraint by the telescopic tube and freely suspended by the linear members.

Abstract: A fuel exchange apparatus, comprising: a traveling carriage moving horizontally in one direction; a traversing carriage moving horizontally on the traveling carriage in a direction orthogonal to the one direction in which the traveling carriage moves; and a fuel holding unit attached to the traversing carriage, and including an telescopic tube enabling to extend and contract, a holding tool for holding a fuel assembly and releasing the held fuel assembly, and a lifter for raising and lowering the holding tool by winding and running out linear members for suspending and supporting the holding tool from the traversing carriage, wherein the holding tool is selectively placed in a constrained state in which the holding tool is subject to a constraint by the telescopic tube and in a freely suspended state in which the holding tool is released from the constraint by the telescopic tube and freely suspended by the linear members.