Shearing fragile tubular bodies, partic. nuclear fuel elements - by machine incorporating blades which form circular rim applying constraint to break tube without harm

摘要

A machine for shearing fragile tubes incorporates blades which can be advanced towards a tubular body to be sheared so as to form a continuous rim of dimensions slightly smaller than those of the tubular body. Thus a constraint is applied to the body to break it at the place where the constraint is applied. Used e.g. in the retreatment of irradiated nuclear fuel elements which are in tubular form and are composed of metallic uranium. Such elements have welded end caps which facilitate the support of the element in the core of a nuclear reactor. These can now be removed without fracturing the tube.