Handling and support equipment for flexible O-ring seals for a reactor vessel with head

A system is described for removing and replacing flexible metallic O-rings used for seals for the heads of reactor pressure vessels. Such seals are extremely difficult to remove from recesses in the head flange due to their large diameter and the radiation from the underside of the head, or from recesses in the vessel flange when the flange is covered with 6m of water. In the system here described, two such seal rings are employed, placed in recesses in the vessel flange, which recesses also accomodate two flanged support rings whose lower outer edges are formed as shoulders extending under the O-rings such that when these support rings are lifted they lift the O-rings. The upper parts of the support rings extend above the vessel flange into recesses in the head flange. The support rings have at their tops flanges partly covering the annular space between the support rings. A lifting ring may be placed over the support rings so that lifting lugs may be inserted between, and by rotation, under, the support ring flanges, and the whole assembly, with O-rings, thereby lifted. (JIW)