US 12,308,132 B2
Recovery tool for recovering a solid element, in particular a radioactive material, comprising a capture head and a cup
Cédric Escoffier, Bagnols-sur-Ceze (FR); François Catsivelas, Violes (FR); and Sébastien Bouzat, Saint Privat des Vieux (FR)
Assigned to ORANO DS13 DÉMANTÈLEMENT ET SERVICES, Gif sur Yvette (FR)
Appl. No. 17/597,252
Filed by ORANO DS—DÉMANTÈLEMENT ET SERVICES, Gif sur Yvette (FR)
PCT Filed Jun. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/FR2020/051142
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/001624, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1907380 (FR), filed on Jul. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0319725 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G21F 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC G21F 7/067 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A recovery tool for recovering a solid element which is a radioactive material, comprising:
a chassis;
a capture head which is movable relative to the chassis between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the capture head is housed inside an enclosure of the recovery tool in the retracted position, and wherein in the extended position, the capture head is for capturing the solid element;
at least one bucket which is movable relative to the chassis between an opening position and a closing position, wherein the capture head is in an extended position when the bucket is in the opening position, wherein the bucket is in an opening position when the capture head is in the extended position; and
an elastic return member which is configured to elastically bias the capture head towards the retracted position,
wherein the elastic return member comprises a tensions spring,
wherein the capture head is in the retracted position to retain the solid element inside the enclosure when the bucket is in the closing position, wherein the bucket is in the closing position when the capture head is in the retracted position, and
wherein the capture head comprises a cushion which is inflatable by a fluid, wherein the capture head is configured to retain the solid member relative to the chassis at least partially by suction by at least partially emptying the cushion of fluid.