| 摘要 |
A die and punch cutter 32 for releasing rods or elongate elements (22, Fig. 1), respective ends of which extend through respective holes (14) in a grid (10), which are arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The cutter comprises a die 40, a punch 32 and a drive 44 coupled to the die and the punch to drive them towards one another for cutting portions of the grid, and away from one another to ready them for the next cutting operation. The punch is provided with three cutting edges (68, 70, 72, Fig. 9) corresponding in their relative positioning to three mutually adjacent bridging portions of the grid. Also claimed is a die and punch cutter in which the die is provided with hollows or recesses (58, 60, 62, Fig. 8) to accommodate at least one of the upper ends of the rods extending through the grid. The punch is located below the die when the cutter is in use. Also claimed is a method of cutting a grid to release elongate elements using a die and punch cutter made as disclosed. The inventions are particularly suitable for use in decommissioning nuclear power stations, wherein spent fuel rods or the like may be held in position by a metal grid. |
