Patent Number: 047175311
Section: abstract

A fuel transfer system for a fuel container (26) within a nuclear reactor facility includes a transport car (10) for transporting the fuel container (26) through a transfer tube between a reactor containment handling pool and a spent fuel storage pool. The system includes upending mechanisms for automatically pivoting the fuel container (26) from its horizontal transport mode to its vertical, fuel loading-unloading mode when the fuel container (26) enters one of the pools in response to the translational drive of the transport car (10). The upending mechanisms include slotted brackets (46, 146) mounted upon the fuel container (26), and pivotable pick-up bars (44, 144) for engaging the brackets (46, 146) of the fuel container (26). As the transport car (10) translationally moves past the pick-up bars (44, 144), the brackets (46, 146) of the fuel container (26) engage the bars (44, 144) whereby the latter pivot so as to in turn cause pivotal movement of the fuel container (26) upon the transport car ( 10) through means of trunnions (28). Reverse translational movement of the transport car (10) causes reverse pivotal movement of the container (26) from the vertical to the horizontal mode and ultimate disengagement of the brackets (46, 146) from the pick-up bars (44, 144).