Patent ID: 8009790
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: G21C,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A debris trap for catching debris falling through a fuel bundle orifice in a nuclear reactor, the debris trap comprising: a shaft including a pivot actuator at one end thereof; a debris capture tray pivotally attached to an opposite end of the shaft; a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot actuator and the debris capture tray and displaceable by the pivot actuator relative to the shaft; and a pivot mechanism connected between the pivot shaft and the debris capture tray, the pivot mechanism being actuated by the pivot actuator, wherein the debris capture tray includes a tray cavity, wherein the pivot actuator is operable to displace the pivot shaft relative to the shaft to pivot the debris capture tray about a pivot joint between an insertion position and a capture position, wherein in the insertion position, a lengthwise axis of the debris capture tray is substantially in alignment with the shaft, and wherein in the insertion position, the debris capture tray in its entirety extends beyond the pivot joint in substantial alignment with the shaft.