Patent Number: 046997504
Section: abstract

In a system for inspecting fuel assembly guide thimbles, an apparatus for handling drag gages insertable within the guide thimbles includes a spider rotatably mounted to an upright support structure and supporting drag gages in a series of angularly-displaced storage positions about the support structure, and a drive operable to rotate the spider relative to the support structure and thereby moving the gages about an endless path to dispose a selected one thereof at a retrieval-and-return station. An elongated track mounted to the support structure extends outwardly above the spider, and a trolley is movable along the track between a remote position overlying a work station containing the fuel assembly to be inspected and a position adjacent to the support structure and overlying the drag gage retrieval-and-return station. A gripper mechanism, supported by a hoist which in turn is supported by the trolley, is operable for respectively gripping and releasing the selected one gage at the retrieval-and-return station. The hoist is operable to raise and lower the gripper mechanism and selected gage therewith away from and toward the retrievel-and-return station when the trolley is positioned adjacent the support structure and to raise and lower the gripper mechanism and gage therewith away from and toward the fuel assembly guide thimbles when the trolley is at the remote position. Also, a safety sleeve is normally disposed about the gripper mechanism for restraining it in a gripping relation with the drag gage.