Apparatus for assembling nuclear fuel assembly

An apparatus for assembling a nuclear fuel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a deflecting device which is disposed adjacent to the grid and deflects grid springs away from dimples opposing thereto. The deflecting device includes a tubular member, a rod member and a drive mechanism. The tubular member has a plurality of circumferentially divided sleeve pieces. The rod member is releasably inserted in the tubular member for sliding movement therealong. The drive mechanism is drivingly connected to the rod member and moves the rod member in the tubular member in a longitudinal direction thereof to bring the rod member into urging engagement with the sleeve pieces of the tubular member, whereby the sleeve pieces are deflected to be urged against the spring to deflect the same.