Lifting apparatus for removing loose object from nuclear reactor control rod driver, designed to be lowered over piston tube so that object is positioned inside lifting device opening

摘要

An apparatus (16) is designed to be lowered over the piston tube so that the object is positioned inside a lifting device opening (29), then rotated so that the object is positioned above a lifting surface (28) on the device and then raised in order to lift the object up with it. An apparatus for removing a loose object from a driver for maneuvering a control rod in a nuclear reactor comprises a device (18) for lifting the object and an elongated connecting part (19) extending parallel to the apparatus length axis. The lifting device has an upper end connected to a first end of the connecting part, an outer surface (25) defined by a first circular cylindrical surface and having the apparatus length axis as its symmetry axis, an inner surface (26) defined by a second circular cylindrical surface also having the apparatus length axis as its symmetry axis and having a smaller diameter than the first surface, a lower surface (27) in between the inner and outer surfaces, and a lifting surface facing away from the lower surface and located in between the inner and outer surfaces. The lifting surface is connected to the lower surface in between the inner and outer surfaces so that the lifting device defines an opening extending! at right angles to the cylindrical surfaces in between the lower and lifting surfaces. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) removing a loose object from a driver for moving a control rod up and down inside a nuclear reactor, the driver comprising a piston tube which extends along the driver length axis and is designed to be secured to the control rod, in which the above apparatus is lowered over the piston tube so that the loose object is positioned inside the lifting device opening, the apparatus is rotated so that the object is positioned above the lifting surface and the apparatus is raised in order to lift the object up with it; and (B) sealing a driver from a nuclear reactor, the driver being used to maneuver a control rod up inside the reactor and comprising a piston tube which extends along the driver length axis and is designed to be secured to the control rod, in which the above apparatus is lowered over the piston tube so that the lifting device is in contact with the control rod seat containing the opening! in which the driver is located.