Patent Number: 047972483
Section: abstract

During the dismantling of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, there is a simultaneous gripping of all the rods (a) arranged in square grid form in said assembly using a device (10) which effects a clamping or locking at the end of the rows of rods. For this purpose, device (10) has passageways (26) penetrated by the ends of two adjacent rows of rods (a). In said passage ways are trapped mobile members (34, 34') arranged in such a way that each rod is placed between two adjacent members. By applying a locking force on the mobile end members in each passageway (26), each rod is gripped between two members (34, 34'). Preferably, the mobile members (34, 34') are provided with abutments limiting the locking or clamping force individually applied to each rod. For filling the gaps of the grid of rods (a) corresponding to the locations occupied by the guide tubes in the assemblies, rollers (78) are placed in the passageways (26) at the corresponding locations.