Spent fuel plant out-transport container hoist and method of operation

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of spent fuel plant transport container lifting appliance and working method, including frame and the corner block at the corner point of frame, corner block is equipped with for being connected with the upper lifting lug of unloading buckle and the lower lifting lug connected with connecting rod, frame includes fork support beam, long support beam and short support beam, corner block is connected with fork support beam, long support beam and short support beam by side dovetail groove, and is fixed by cover plate connected on the corner point of frame.It is the lifting appliance of assembly structure formed by the dovetail groove of corner block side and the component in frame, corner block at the corner point of frame is the main component of load bearing, the upper lifting lug and the lower lifting lug of corner block bear tension, three dovetail grooves of side bear positive pressure from fork support beam, long support beam and short support beam transmission respectively, three loads converge at a point, cooperate frame structure to make the force balance of lifting appliance, meet the hoisting requirement of spent fuel transport container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nuclear power equipment technology, specifically to a spent fuel off-site transport container hoisting device and its operating method. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are merely background information related to the present invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] Spent fuel is nuclear fuel used by nuclear power plants. Suryan contains a large amount of unused propagating material, uranium-238 or thorium-232, but it can no longer sustain nuclear reactions. It needs to be stored in a special container and transported to a spent fuel plant for reprocessing. During the transportation process, there is a hoisting process for the external transport container. It is necessary to ensure that the external transport container is placed horizontally on the transport pallet. After being connected and fixed, the transport container and the entire cargo package together with the transport pallet are hoisted onto the transport vehicle using a lifting device.

[0004] Due to the special limitations of spent fuel, the currently common lifting tools are made of sheet metal or profiles and manufactured through extensive welding. Although the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, it is difficult to control the amount of deformation of the resulting lifting tools. This makes it difficult to guarantee the form and position tolerance of the lifting holes that bear the load in the lifting tools, which in turn affects the lifting process of spent fuel transport containers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address at least one of the technical problems mentioned above, this invention provides a lifting device and working method for spent fuel transport containers outside a plant. The device connects long, short, and fork support beams via corner blocks with dovetail groove structures. The lifting device, formed by fasteners, has upper and lower lugs on the corner blocks bearing tensile force, while the side dovetail grooves bear positive pressure. This reduces the amount of welding, making the lifting device less prone to deformation due to welding, and also promotes force balance, thereby meeting the lifting requirements for spent fuel transport containers.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention provides a spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device, including a frame and corner blocks located at the corners of the frame. The corner blocks are provided with upper lifting lugs for connection with shackles and lower lifting lugs for connection with connecting rods. The frame includes a fork support beam, a long support beam and a short support beam. The corner blocks are connected to the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam through dovetail grooves on the sides and are fixed by cover plates connected to the corners of the frame.

[0008] The corner block has an upper lifting lug on its upper surface and a lower lifting lug on its lower surface. The side is provided with dovetail grooves that connect to the fork support beam, the long support beam, and the short support beam, respectively.

[0009] The upper lifting lug has a hole for the upper lifting device, and the lower lifting lug has a hole for the lower lifting device.

[0010] The cover plate is located at the corner of the frame. After the dovetail groove of the corner block is connected to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam, the corner block is fixed to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam through the cover plate.

[0011] The fork support beam includes steel sections that intersect at a point. The steel sections are connected at the intersection point by connecting plates. The outer surfaces of the end plates at both ends of the steel sections are provided with inserts. The surfaces of the inserts are provided with dovetail grooves that match the sides of the corner blocks.

[0012] The long and short support beams have the same structure, are arranged perpendicularly to each other, and are connected end to end to form a rectangle.

[0013] Both ends of the long and short support beams are provided with dovetail grooves that match the sides of the corner blocks.

[0014] The top of the connecting rod is connected to the lower lifting lug of the corner block via a pin, and the bottom is provided with a pin for connecting to the transport bracket. The pin is provided with a cotter pin for preventing loosening.

[0015] It also has rigging of a set length and quantity, with one end of the rigging connected to the upper lug of the corner block via a shackle, and the other end used to hook onto the hook.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating the above-mentioned lifting device, comprising the following steps:

[0017] After the corner blocks are connected to the short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam through dovetail grooves, the corner blocks, short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam are connected together through the cover plate to complete the assembly of the lifting device;

[0018] Using a rigging of a set length, the rigging is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a D-type shackle. The connecting rod is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a pin. The connecting rod is also connected to the lifting lug on the transport bracket via a pin. The rigging is then hooked onto the crane hook, and the lifting hook lifts the entire cargo package, including the transport bracket, onto the transport vehicle to complete the lifting operation.

[0019] Compared with existing technologies, one or more of the above technical solutions have the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. The lifting device is assembled with the components in the frame through the dovetail grooves on the side of the corner block. The corner block located at the corner of the frame is the main component that bears the load. The upper and lower lifting lugs of the corner block bear the tensile force, and the three dovetail grooves on the side bear the positive pressure transmitted from the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam respectively. The three loads converge at one point, and the frame structure makes the force of the lifting device balanced, which meets the lifting requirements of spent fuel transport containers.

[0021] 2. Due to the adoption of an assembly structure, a large amount of welding work is reduced, making the lifting equipment less susceptible to welding deformation, meeting the requirements for transporting spent fuel, and facilitating installation and adjustment. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the lifting device provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a corner block structure provided for one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a fork support beam structure provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a long and short support beam structure provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a connecting rod structure provided for one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Rigging; 2. D-type shackle; 3. Corner block; 4. Cover plate; 5. Short support beam; 6. Connecting rod; 7. Pin; 8. Cotter pin; 9. Fork support beam; 10. Long support beam; 91. Connecting plate; 92. Structural steel; 93. End plate; 94. Panel. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further illustration of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0031] Spent fuel, also known as irradiated nuclear fuel, is nuclear fuel that has been exposed to radiation and has been used. It is usually produced by nuclear reactors in nuclear power plants. Spent fuel is transported to designated processing plants for reprocessing using special containers and dedicated transport vehicles under safe protective measures.

[0032] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0033] As described in the background section, current general-purpose lifting tools, manufactured using sheet metal or profiles and welded together, are simple in structure and easy to manufacture. However, this makes it difficult to control the amount of deformation, resulting in unreliable form and position tolerances of the lifting holes that bear the load. During the lifting of spent fuel transport containers, the lifting tools may become unbalanced and tilt, failing to meet the horizontal requirements of the containers. Furthermore, due to the extensive welding work involved in general-purpose lifting tools, the resulting deformation is complex, and it is difficult to change the force balance point by adjusting the sling length after manufacturing. Therefore, they cannot be directly applied to the lifting of spent fuel transport containers.

[0034] Therefore, the following embodiments provide a lifting device and working method for spent fuel transport containers outside the plant. The long, short, and fork support beams are connected by corner blocks with dovetail groove structures. The lifting device formed by fasteners bears tensile force through the upper and lower lifting holes of the corner blocks, and bears positive pressure through the side dovetail grooves. This allows the loads in three directions to converge at one point, which reduces the amount of welding, making the lifting device less prone to deformation due to welding, and also helps to balance the force of the lifting device, thereby meeting the lifting requirements of spent fuel transport containers.

[0035] Example 1:

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, a spent fuel plant external transport container lifting device includes a frame and corner blocks located at the corners of the frame. The upper surface of the corner block is provided with an upper lifting lug for connection with a shackle, and the lower surface is provided with a lower lifting lug for connection with a connecting rod. The frame includes a fork support beam, a long support beam, and a short support beam. The corner block is connected to the fork support beam, the long support beam, and the short support beam through a dovetail groove on its side and is fixed by a cover plate connected to the corner of the frame.

[0037] The shackle can be a D-type shackle 2. The D-type shackle 2 connects to the rigging 1, and each of the four corner points connects to a set of rigging 1. The four sets of rigging 1 can be hooked together on the same hook.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the upper surface of corner block 3 has an upper lifting lug, and the lower surface has a lower lifting lug. The upper lifting lug has an opening as an upper lifting hole, and the lower lifting lug has an opening as a lower lifting hole. The dovetail grooves on the side are connected to the fork support beam, the long support beam, and the short support beam, respectively.

[0039] In this embodiment, corner block 3 is machined from a forging machine. The upper and lower lifting holes of the corner block bear tensile force, while the dovetail groove on the side bears normal pressure. The three loads converge at one point.

[0040] like Figure 3 As shown, the fork support beam 9 includes steel sections 92 that intersect at a point. The steel sections 92 are connected at the intersection point by a connecting plate 91. The outer surfaces of the end plates 93 at both ends of the steel sections 92 are provided with insert plates 94. The surfaces of the insert plates 94 are provided with dovetail grooves that match the sides of the corner block 3.

[0041] In this embodiment, the connecting plate is welded to the steel profile and the end plate; the insert plate is provided with a dovetail groove structure, and the insert plate is bolted to the end plate.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, the long support beam 10 and the short support beam 5 have the same structure, are arranged perpendicularly to each other and are connected end to end to form a rectangle. The long support beam 10 and the short support beam 5 are provided with dovetail grooves at both ends that match the side of the corner block 3.

[0043] In this embodiment, both the long and short support beams are composed of steel profiles, end plates, and inserts; the steel profiles and end plates are welded together; the inserts are provided with dovetail groove structures and are bolted to the end plates.

[0044] like Figure 5 As shown, the top end of the connecting rod 6 is connected to the lower lifting hole of the corner block 3 through the pin 7, and the bottom end is connected to the transport container through the pin 7. A cotter pin 8 is inserted into the pin 7 to prevent loosening.

[0045] In this embodiment, the connecting rod is welded together from a connecting plate and a web plate.

[0046] The cover plate 4 is located at the four corners of the frame. After the dovetail groove of the corner block is connected to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam, the corner block is fixed to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam through the cover plate.

[0047] In this embodiment, after the corner block is connected to the short support beam, the long support beam, and the fork support beam, fasteners are inserted into the short support beam, the long support beam, and the fork support beam, and the cover plate 4 is pressed onto the short support beam, the long support beam, and the fork support beam to achieve a fixed connection between the corner block and the frame.

[0048] When using, assemble the lifting equipment:

[0049] The corner blocks are connected to the short support beams, long support beams, and fork support beams via dovetail grooves. Then, the corner blocks, short support beams, long support beams, and fork support beams are connected together with cover plates to form a stable rigid frame structure.

[0050] After assembly, the hoisting process is completed.

[0051] The rigging is connected to the lifting lugs on the corner block via D-type shackles, the connecting rod is connected to the lifting lugs on the corner block via pins, and the connecting rod is connected to the lifting lugs on the transport bracket via pins. The four rigging rigging rigs are hooked onto the crane hook, and finally the lifting hook is used to lift the entire cargo package, including the transport container and transport bracket, onto the transport vehicle to complete the lifting operation.

[0052] After assembly and adjustment, determine the relative positions of the plates and end plates on the fork support beam, long support beam, and short support beam, make the pin holes, and tighten the bolts.

[0053] In the above structure, the corner blocks are connected to the components in the frame through the dovetail grooves on the side of the corner blocks. The corner blocks located at the four corners of the frame are the main load-bearing components. The upper and lower lifting lugs of the corner blocks bear the tensile force, and the three dovetail grooves on the side bear the normal pressure from the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam respectively. The three loads converge at one point, and the frame structure makes the force of the lifting device balanced.

[0054] The use of an assembly structure reduces a significant amount of welding work, making the lifting equipment less susceptible to welding deformation, meeting the requirements for transporting spent fuel, and facilitating installation and adjustment.

[0055] The load-bearing directions of the lifting slings can be further converged at a single point by adjusting the sling length.

[0056] Example 2:

[0057] The working method of the above-mentioned lifting device includes the following steps:

[0058] After the corner blocks are connected to the short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam through dovetail grooves, the corner blocks, short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam are connected together through the cover plate to complete the assembly of the lifting device;

[0059] Using a rigging of a set length, the rigging is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a D-type shackle. The connecting rod is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a pin. The connecting rod is also connected to the lifting lug on the transport bracket via a pin. The rigging is then hooked onto the crane hook, and the lifting hook lifts the entire cargo package, including the transport bracket, onto the transport vehicle to complete the lifting operation.

[0060] The corner blocks are connected to the components in the frame through the dovetail grooves on the side of the corner blocks. The corner blocks located at the four corners of the frame are the main load-bearing components. The upper and lower lifting holes of the corner blocks bear the tensile force, and the three dovetail grooves on the side bear the normal pressure from the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam respectively. The three loads converge at one point, and the frame structure makes the force of the lifting device balanced.

[0061] Various modifications and variations can be made to this invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A lifting device for transporting spent fuel containers outside a plant, characterized in that, It includes a frame and corner blocks located at the corners of the frame. The corner blocks are provided with upper lifting lugs for connecting to shackles and lower lifting lugs for connecting to connecting rods. The frame includes a fork support beam, a long support beam and a short support beam. The corner blocks are connected to the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam through dovetail grooves on the side and are fixed by cover plates connected to the corners of the frame. The corner block is machined by a forging machine. The upper surface of the corner block has an upper lifting lug, the lower surface has a lower lifting lug, and the side is provided with dovetail grooves that connect to the fork support beam, the long support beam, and the short support beam respectively. The corner block is connected to the fork support beam, the long support beam, and the short support beam through the dovetail grooves on the side. Among them, the upper and lower lugs of the corner block bear the tensile force, and the three dovetail grooves on the side bear the normal force transmitted from the fork support beam, the long support beam and the short support beam respectively. The three loads converge at one point. The fork support beam includes steel sections that intersect at a point. The steel sections are connected at the intersection point by a connecting plate. The outer surfaces of the end plates at both ends of the steel sections are provided with inserts. The surfaces of the inserts are provided with dovetail grooves that match the sides of the corner blocks. The cover plate is located at the corner of the frame. After the dovetail groove of the corner block is connected to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam, the corner block is fixed to the short support beam, the long support beam and the fork support beam through the cover plate. When using, assemble the lifting equipment: The corner blocks are connected to the short support beams, long support beams and fork support beams through dovetail grooves, and then the corner blocks, short support beams, long support beams and fork support beams are connected together with cover plates to form a stable rigid frame structure. After assembly, the hoisting is completed: the rigging is connected to the lifting lugs on the corner block through D-type shackles, the connecting rod is connected to the lifting lugs on the corner block through pins, the connecting rod is connected to the lifting lugs on the transport bracket through pins, the four rigging are hooked onto the crane hook, and finally the lifting hook is raised to hoist the entire cargo package, including the transport container and transport bracket, onto the transport vehicle to complete the hoisting. After assembly and adjustment, determine the relative positions of the plates and end plates on the fork support beam, long support beam, and short support beam, make the pin holes, and tighten the bolts.

2. The spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The upper lifting lug opening serves as the upper lifting hole, and the lower lifting lug opening serves as the lower lifting hole.

3. The spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The long support beam and the short support beam have the same structure, are arranged perpendicularly to each other, and are connected end to end to form a rectangle.

4. The spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The long support beam and the short support beam are provided with dovetail grooves at both ends that match the sides of the corner blocks.

5. The spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The top end of the connecting rod is connected to the lower lifting lug of the corner block via a pin, and the bottom end is provided with a pin for connecting to the transport bracket. The pin is provided with a cotter pin for preventing loosening.

6. The spent fuel plant off-site transport container lifting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also has rigging of a set length and quantity, with one end of the rigging connected to the upper lug of the corner block via a shackle, and the other end used to hook onto the hook.

7. The working method of the lifting device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: After the corner blocks are connected to the short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam through dovetail grooves, the corner blocks, short support beam, long support beam and fork support beam are connected together through the cover plate to complete the assembly of the lifting device; Using a rigging of a set length, the rigging is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a D-type shackle. The connecting rod is connected to the lifting lug on the corner block via a pin. The connecting rod is also connected to the lifting lug on the transport bracket via a pin. The rigging is then hooked onto the crane hook, and the lifting hook lifts the entire cargo package, including the transport bracket, onto the transport vehicle to complete the lifting operation.

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