Patent Number: 042235758
Section: claims

1. Apparatus for manipulating reactor vessel studs comprising: a carriage;  engagement means associated with said carriage for firmly contacting said studs;  rotation means mounted on said carriage and connected to said engagement means for rotating said engagement means when said engagement means is in contact with said studs thereby manipulating said stubs;  drive means mounted on said carriage and connected to said rotation means for rotating said rotation means;  a vertical mounting member;  a load equalizing device attached to said vertical mounting member for establishing a uniform vertical force; and  a swivel connecting rod attached at one end to said load equalizing device and removably attachable to said studs at the other end for transmitting a uniform vertical force from said load equalizing device to said studs for maintaining a uniform vertical force on said studs.  inserts mounted on said rotation means having sides complimentary to the sides of said studs for firmly contacting said studs; and  a bar mounted on said inserts and extending across the top of said studs and near said swivel connecting rod for preventing rotation of said swivel connecting rod with respect to said studs while said studs are being rotated.  a motor having a drive shaft and mounted on said carriage; and  a first gear mounted on said drive shaft for rotating said rotation means under the influence of said motor.  bearings mounted on said carriage;  a gear segment mounted on said bearings for supporting said engagement means; and  a second gear mounted around said gear segment and engaged with said first gear for rotating said gear segment and said engagement means about said bearings under the influence of said first gear.  struts mounted on said carriage; and  a ring attached to said struts with said swivel connecting rod disposed in said ring for supporting said carriage by contact of said swivel connecting rod and said ring.  handles mounted on said carriage having controls mounted thereon for controlling said carriage and said motor. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical mounting member is an overhead crane. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said engagement means comprises: 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises: 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said rotation means comprises: 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises: 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said engagement means further comprises spacers mounted on said second gear and extending along the inside of said gear segment for contacting said studs. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said apparatus further comprises: 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said apparatus further comprises bumpers mounted on said carriage for protecting said carriage.