Patent ID: 7986760
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: G01D,G21C,G21D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of permitting movement of a nuclear reactor component within a nuclear reactor, comprising: sensing a mast and grapple location; sensing a grapple orientation by configuring a cam, attached to a gimbal plate, such that the cam and the gimbal plate rotate in unison and in response to an angular rotation of the grapple while detecting a position of the cam using a plurality of switches positionable in proximity to the gimbal plate, the cam, the gimbal plate and the grapple configured to rotate bi-directionally and in a same direction with each other; calculating whether the sensed location and the sensed orientation, respectively, match a requested pick-up location and a requested pick-up orientation; and prohibiting lowering and grasping of the grapple, unless the sensed location and sensed orientation match the requested pick-up location and the requested pick-up orientation.