Patent Number: 056339038
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for dismantling bulky parts of pressure-vessel fittings of a nuclear plant into transportable part-sizes, which includes inserting a bulky part into an open transport container with the bulky part projecting by a predeterminable amount above an end surface of the transport container, supporting a separating device on the end surface of the transport container and fixing the separating device relative to the transport container, and separating the bulky part above the end surface. A method of that type is known from Published East German Application DD 222 997 A1. There, an absorber element being formed of a plurality of absorber rods is drawn out of a fuel assembly of a pressurized-water reactor into a transfer container. A ceiling is provided with a plurality of transfer wells, into each of which an ultimate-storage container that is open at the top is inserted. A separating device which is set down at the end surface of the ultimate-storage container has a top side on which the transfer container having the absorber element rests. The absorber element is then moved a predeterminable amount into the ultimate-storage container and is sheared off through the use of the separating device. Positioned underneath the ceiling is a transport container, into which the loaded ultimate-storage container is inserted. The method according to Published East German Application DD 222 997 A1 requires a very deep water tank, since disposed above the separating device is the transfer container which is at least 4 m long and above which a sufficient water covering of several meters is still necessary for shielding reasons. Furthermore, the provision of a plurality of containers (transfer, ultimate-storage and transport containers) is required. German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 40 31 153 A1 discloses an installation for the comminution of fuel-element cans. The fuel-element can is introduced into an introduction well and is supported on the bottom of a slide-guide chamber. A shearing slide detaches part of the fuel-element can and pushes the detached part to an ejection device. A container is disposed underneath the ejection device and receives the detached part. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for dismantling bulky parts of pressure-vessel fittings of a nuclear plant, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods of this general type and which makes do with few containers and with a small water-tank depth. With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for dismantling bulky parts of pressure-vessel fittings of a nuclear plant into transportable parts of smaller sizes, which comprises a) setting down a bottom part of an open transport container on a bottom of a water tank; inserting a bulky part into the bottom part of the open transport container; moving a casing part of the open transport container over the inserted bulky part like a sleeve until the casing part contacts the bottom part and the bulky part projects a predeterminable amount above an end surface of the casing part; connecting the casing part to the bottom part; supporting a separating device on the end surface of the transport container and fixing the separating device relative to the transport container; and separating the bulky part above the end surface of the casing part with the separating device. Thus, the transport container, which is necessary in any case at a later time, serves for receiving the bulky part during the separating operation, so that a complicated holding device for the bulky part and the separating device supported on the transport container are dispensed with. Furthermore, there is no need to lift the bulky part above the end surface of the transport container, thereby always guaranteeing a sufficient water covering. Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for dismantling bulky parts of pressure-vessel fittings of a nuclear plant, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.