GRIPPING AND LOCKING/UNLOCKING SYSTEM, AND APPLICATION TO THE HANDLING OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS SPECIMEN HOLDERS

摘要

The gripping and locking/unlocking system has a inner tube in which a gripper head makes a downwards translational movement over a given travel (A), causes actuating lever (44) to pivot from actuating into second neutral position when inner tube is fitted inside outer tube and locked by locking hook (40). A downwards translational movement of gripper head and inner tube over a given travel (B), causes gripping hook (41) to be released from the groove and actuating lever to disengage from second neutral position when gripper head and inner tube are locked together by gripping hook. The gripping and locking/unlocking system has a gripper unit with a gripper head, is housed in inner tube. The catching device (4) in the inner tube, comprises locking and gripping hooks mounted to pivot about a pivot pin (42) between locked and gripping positions to lock the inner and outer tubes together and grip inner tube respectively, and an unlocked and release positions in which hooks are distant from groove. An actuating lever is mounted on pivot pin about which locking hook pivots between first and second neutral positions.