Dismantling of nuclear fuel sub-assemblies

摘要

Apparatus for dismantling nuclear fuel sub-assemblies comprises a support 10 for mounting a nuclear fuel sub-assembly 12, a pin-engaging unit 16 mounted on a carriage 18, and piston and cylinder assemblies 20, 34 for moving the carriage 18. The pin-engaging unit 16 comprises an assembly 32 of pin-engaging chucks each of which is independently movable in the z-direction, and is biased forwardly to an extended position but retracts if the chuck encounters a fuel pin or other structural component which projects beyond a datum position. The carriage 18 is capable of movement in a direction transverse to the Z - direction.