Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of removing detector cables from a nuclear reactor using an instrument removal system comprising a removal cart and a disposal cask, the removal cart comprising a base, a plurality of wheels coupled to the base, a motor mounted on the base, a drive shaft operatively coupled to the motor, a disposal spool removably mounted on the drive shaft, a notch in the disposal spool sized to receive the detector cable, a housing mounted on the base that encloses the disposal spool, an entrance port in the housing sized to permit the detector cable to enter the housing, the reactor comprising a pressure vessel, an under vessel platform, and a plurality of transfer rails, said method comprising:positioning the removal cart and the disposal cask under the reactor pressure vessel;attaching the detector cable to the disposal spool;winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool;transferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask; andmoving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein attaching the detector cable comprises inserting the detector cable into the notch in the disposal spool. 3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool comprises activating the motor to turn the drive shaft and the disposal spool. 4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the disposal cask comprises a main body having a cavity therein sized to receive at least one disposal spool, an access door in the main body that permits access to the cavity when the access door is in an open position, and a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the main body, the removal cart further comprising a housing door and at least one air piston mounted in a bearing block attached to the base; andtransferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask comprises activating the at least one air piston to extend and push the disposal spool off the drive shaft and out the housing door into the disposal cask. 5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein moving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel comprises rolling the disposal cask along the transfer rails on the disposal cask wheels. 6. A method of removing detector cables from a nuclear reactor, the reactor comprising a pressure vessel, an under vessel platform, and a plurality of transfer rails, said method comprising:providing an instrument removal system, the instrument removal system comprising:a removal cart and a disposal cask, the removal cart comprising a base, a plurality of wheels coupled to the base, a motor mounted on the base, a drive shaft operatively coupled to the motor, a disposal spool removably mounted on the drive shaft, a notch in the disposal spool sized to receive the detector cable, a housing mounted on the base that encloses the disposal spool, an entrance port in the housing sized to permit the detector cable to enter the housing;positioning the removal cart and the disposal cask under the reactor pressure vessel with the removal cart wheels riding on the transfer rails;attaching the detector cable to the disposal spool;winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool;transferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask; andmoving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel. 7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein attaching the detector cable comprises inserting the detector cable into the notch in the disposal spool. 8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool comprises activating the motor to turn the drive shaft and the disposal spool. 9. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the disposal cask comprises a main body having a cavity therein sized to receive at least one disposal spool, an access door in the main body that permits access to the cavity when the access door is in an open position, and a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the main body, the removal cart further comprising a housing and at least one air piston mounted in a bearing block attached to the base; andtransferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask comprises activating the at least one air piston to extend and push the disposal spool off the drive shaft and out the housing door into the disposal cask. 10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein moving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel comprises rolling the disposal cask along the transfer rails on the disposal cask wheels. 11. A method of removing detector cables from a nuclear reactor, the reactor comprising a pressure vessel, an under vessel platform, and a plurality of transfer rails, said method comprising:providing an instrument removal system, the instrument removal system comprising:a removal cart and a disposal cask, the removal cart comprising:a base, a plurality of wheels coupled to the base, a motor mounted on the base, a drive shaft operatively coupled to the motor, a disposal spool removably mounted on the drive shaft, a notch in the disposal spool sized to receive the detector cable, a housing mounted on the base that encloses the disposal spool, an entrance port in the housing sized to permit the detector cable to enter the housing, the disposal cask comprising:a main body having a cavity therein sized to receive at least one disposal spool, an access door in the main body that permits access to the cavity when the access door is in an open position, and a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the main body;positioning the removal cart and the disposal cask under the reactor pressure vessel with the removal cart wheels and the disposal cask wheels riding on the transfer rails;attaching the detector cable to the disposal spool;winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool;transferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask; andmoving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel. 12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein attaching the detector cable comprises inserting the detector cable into the notch in the disposal spool. 13. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein winding the detector cable onto the disposal spool comprises activating the motor to turn the drive shaft and the disposal spool. 14. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the removal cart further comprises a housing and at least one air piston mounted in a bearing block attached to the base; andtransferring the disposal spool to the disposal cask comprises activating the at least one air piston to extend and push the disposal spool off the drive shaft and out the housing door into the disposal cask. 15. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein moving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel comprises rolling the disposal cask along the transfer rails on the disposal cask wheels.