Patent ID: 7386087

Claim:
A device for loading a fuel assembly ( 5 ) into a loading location ( 3 ) in a core ( 1 ) of a nuclear reactor comprising fuel assemblies ( 5 ) of general right prismatic shape located within an enclosing wall ( 2 ) in adjacent prismatic locations ( 3 ) having vertical axes whose transverse cross-sections in a horizontal plane constitute a regular arrangement, a loading location ( 3 ) for the fuel assembly comprising at least one vertical lateral surface according to which a lateral surface of a fuel assembly ( 5 ) adjacent to the fuel assembly being loaded is positioned, characterized in that it comprises a fuel assembly realignment tool ( 4 ) in a form of a dummy assembly having a generally right prismatic shape of a location ( 3 ) for a fuel assembly ( 5 ) in the core and laterally bounded by smooth walls, and at least one tool for holding fuel assemblies ( 11 ) comprising a supporting plate ( 12 ) and positioning pins ( 14 ) designed to engage simultaneously the positioning openings of upper end members ( 10 ) of at least two different fuel assemblies in the core, and to keep said at least two fuel assemblies in relative positions, as well as at least one handling means ( 15 ) for gripping and handling the realignment tool for the fuel assemblies ( 4 ) and the at least one tool for holding the fuel assemblies ( 11 ) through suspension and holding means ( 8 , 13 ).