Patent ID: 7139353

Claim:
A lifting support for a boiling water reactor nuclear fuel assembly comprising: a grappling head configured to allow attachment of a lifting device; a body with an upper end and a lower end, the upper end connected to the grappling head, the body configured to be inserted into a water channel of the boiling water reactor nuclear fuel assembly; and an end connected to the lower end, the end configured to be accepted by the water channel of the nuclear fuel assembly, wherein the body defines an interior volume and the lifting support further comprises: an inner rod with a first end and a second end, the inner rod positioned in the interior volume; an actuator connected to the inner rod at the first end, the actuator configured to actuate and move the inner rod; and a ball lock end connected to the second end, the ball lock end configured to be actuated by the inner rod, the end further configured to be inserted into a water channel of a boiling water nuclear fuel assembly in a non-extended position and provide a load path for lifting the fuel assembly when in an extended position, the ball lock end positioned at the end connected to the lower end, wherein the lifting support has a length sufficient to insert the ball lock end to an elevation of a single lower tie plate of the fuel assembly.