METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXCHANGING SPLIT PIN AGGREGATE OF GUIDE PIPE

摘要

Selected old split-pin assemblies of the lower guide tube of a nuclear reactor are replaced by new split-pin assemblies using a robotic work station under a pool of water. A plurality of remotely actuated robotic tools serve to position the guide tube precisely for a replacement operation, to fragment the old split-pin assemblies and dispose of the fragments under water, and to install a new split-pin assembly. The lower-guide-tube positioning means has a remotely operable hydraulic cylinder, for orienting the guide tube to be sequentially processed by different tools and also so that both split-pin assemblies in each guide tube may be replaced by the same set of tools.