Patent ID: 6359953
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
In combination with a nuclear power station having a reactor core and fuel elements, a loading machine for transferring the fuel elements in the nuclear power station, comprising:a trolley movable in a horizontal plane in the nuclear power station between a point above the reactor core and a further point above a set-down location; a hollow mast held by said trolley, said hollow mast having an open end pointing downward from said trolley; gripping devices, guiding devices and holding devices movable together with said hollow mast for gripping the fuel elements individually, moving the fuel elements up and down in said hollow mast and, at the same time, guiding and holding the fuel elements inside said hollow mast; said hollow mast having an inner cross section adapted to a cross section formed by two of the fuel elements closely adjacent to one another, corresponding to a position of the fuel elements in the reactor core, said hollow mast being divided into two mast parts, the two fuel elements being received simultaneously in said hollow mast; said gripping devices, said guiding devices and said holding devices each being assigned to a respective one of the two fuel elements for gripping, holding, moving up and down and guiding the two fuel elements independently of one another; and said two mast parts being movable on said trolley in a horizontal direction relative to one another, each respective one of said two mast parts being movable together with respective ones of said gripping devices, said guiding devices and said holding devices assigned the respective one of the two fuel elements.