Patent ID: 7965807

Claim:
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; and moving the disposal cask from under the reactor pressure vessel.