Patent · US Expired

Plenum chamber length measurement system for nuclear fuel

US3967382A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 10, 1975
Grant dateJul 6, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B7/14
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for the measurement of the length of the plenum chamber in a nuclear fuel rod, both before and after service in the nuclear reactor. The system basically comprises inserting the fuel rod into a casing having an eddy current sensing coil therein and advancing it until the coil output provides a signal indicative of the end of the plenum spring being centrally located within the coil. At an end of the casing is provided a plenum chamber length transducer of the displacement type, such as a linear variable differential transformer, which contacts the adjacent end cap of the fuel rod and when the coil provides an appropriate readout corresponding to proper location of the plenum spring end produces an output signal which is indicative of the length of the plenum chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.