US3940908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear fuel pellet loading machine
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-13
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1992-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear fuel pellet loading machine including an inclined rack mounted on a base and having parallel spaced grooves on its upper surface arranged to support fuel rods. A fuel pellet tray is adapted to be placed on a table spaced from the rack, the tray having columns of fuel pellets which are in alignment with the open ends of fuel rods located in the rack grooves. A transition plate is mounted between the fuel rod rack and the fuel pellet tray to receive and guide the pellets into the open ends of the fuel rods. The pellets are pushed into the fuel rods by a number of mechanical fingers mounted on a motor operated block which is moved along the pellet tray length by a drive screw driven by the motor. To facilitate movement of the pellets in the fuel rods the rack is mounted on a number of spaced vibrators which vibrate the fuel rods during fuel pellet insertion. A pellet sensing device movable into an end of each fuel rod indicates to an operator when each rod has been charged with the correct number of pellets.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Dazen
- 👤 John V. Denero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:19
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C21/00; G21C21/02; G21C21/08; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A machine for loading fuel pellets into fuel rods to be used in a nuclear reactor comprising: a base supporting a rack arranged to hold a multiplicity of fuel rods in a stationary position; means on the base in longitudinal alignment with said rack for holding multiple columns of fuel pellets respectively corresponding to the number of fuel rods; said means and said rack being inclined at an angle to the horizontal; and a power driven device on said base having members arranged to contact said columns of fuel pellets to feed said pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A machine for loading fuel pellets into fuel rods to be used in a nuclear reactor comprising: a base supporting a rack arranged to hold a multiplicity of fuel rods in a stationary position; means on the base in longitudinal alignment with said rack for holding multiple columns of fuel pellets respectively corresponding to the number of fuel rods; said means and said rack being inclined at an angle to the horizontal; and a power driven device on said base having members arranged to contact said columns of fuel pellets to feed said pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said power driven device includes a power driven block movable on said base; and said members comprise mechanical fingers on said block positioned in alignment with said columns of fuel pellets so that upon movement of said block the fingers engage said columns of pellets to urge said pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 2 including means mounted in said block for relieving the force applied by said block to any one of said fingers in the event pellets jam in any one of said fuel rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said power driven device comprises a block and said members comprise mechanical fingers thereon in axial alignment with said columns of fuel pellets; means on said base arranged to support said block and to facilitate its movement in a direction towards said fuel rods; and a controllable speed motor connected with said block for moving it in a direction toward said fuel rods thereby causing said fingers to contact the ends of said columns of fuel pellets to move the pellets into said fuel rods as said block moves in the fuel rod direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein a drive screw is supported on said base and extends through said block; a motor driven gear reducer connected with said drive screw to rotate it at a preselected speed; a bore in said block having internal threads complementary to said drive screw; whereby upon actuation of said motor, said drive screw rotates and causes said block to traverse the drive screw length and move the fingers on said block into engagement with the ends of said fuel pellet columns to drive the fuel pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination according to claim 4 including a switch mounted on said base in a location for contact by the block when the block reaches its end of travel; and means connected with said switch and motor for reversing the motor to cause said block to return to its start position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 1 including vibration means mounted on said base and wherein said rack is supported by said vibration means; and a control system connected to said vibration means for controlling the frequency and amplitude of vibratory forces imparted to said fuel rods.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein transition means are interposed between said columns of fuel pellets and said fuel rods for facilitating the movement of said fuel pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said transition means includes a plate adjustably mounted on said base; said plate including a multiplicity of semi-circular grooves in alignment with said columns and corresponding to the dimensions of said pellets; a clamp mount on said plate and having multiple grooves therein complementary to the grooves in said plate for providing passageways through which said fuel pellets move prior to being inserted in the fuel rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein funnel means are attached to the loading end of each of said fuel rods, said funnel means having an opening therein of a size greater than said fuel pellets for channeling said fuel pellets into said fuel rods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein said funnel means comprises a first funnel insertable in the loading end of each of said fuel rods and having a flared end extending outwardly therefrom; and a second funnel of similar design having an end insertable in the flared end of each of said first funnels; said funnels being positioned to guide fuel pellets into each of said fuel rods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein a table is positioned in alignment with the end of said fuel rods opposite from the feed end; fuel pellet sensing means mounted on said table, said sensing means having a member associated with an end of each of said fuel rods for determining the position of pellets loaded therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises a multiplicity of pins, each pin being adapted to extend into an end of each of said fuel rods; and visual indicating means arranged to be actuated by each of said pins and which illuminate when the first pellet loaded in each of said fuel rods engages any one of said pins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein a biasing device in said sensing means holds said pin in a predetermined position; and multiple switches mounted on said sensing means, each of said switches being aligned with a pin and positioned to be engaged by an end of said pin so that when said pellets move said pin in a rearward direction, it engages said switch which illuminates said visual indicating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
A machine for loading fuel pellets into fuel rods to be used in a nuclear reactor comprising a base having at least one vibrator attached thereto and a fuel rod rack attached to the upper surface of said vibrator; grooves in said rack for respectively receiving fuel rods; a table on said base supporting a fuel pellet tray, said tray having means thereon for receiving multiple columns of fuel pellets; said rack and table being mounted on said base at an angle to the horizontal; means separately interconnecting said rack with the vibrators and table with said base for aligning said grooves with said pellets; means positioned between the pellet discharge side of said tray and the end of each of said fuel rods for channeling said fuel pellets thereinto; drive means on said base having mechanical fingers thereon in alignment with each of said fuel pellet columns; said drive means including a power actuated device which moves said fingers into engagement with the end of said fuel pellet columns to push said pellets into said fuel rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
A machine for loading fuel pellets into fuel rods to be used in a nuclear reactor comprising a base having at least one vibrator attached thereto and a fuel rod rack attached to the upper surface of said vibrator; grooves in said rack for respectively receiving fuel rods; a table on said base supporting a fuel pellet tray, said tray having means thereon for receiving multiple columns of fuel pellets; said rack and table being mounted on said base at an angle to the horizontal; means separately interconnecting said rack with the vibrators and table with said base for aligning said grooves with said pellets; means positioned between the pellet discharge side of said tray and the end of each of said fuel rods for channeling said fuel pellets thereinto; drive means on said base having mechanical fingers thereon in alignment with each of said fuel pellet columns; said drive means including a power actuated device which moves said fingers into engagement with the end of said fuel pellet columns to push said pellets into said fuel rod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1774401A
Cited
US3212226A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |