Patent · US Expired

Device for positioning hair pin springs on plates, more especially for fuel assembly grids

US4646431A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
2References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 10, 1985
Grant dateMar 3, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 10, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/531
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Device for inserting hair pin springs with two legs astride a plate having windows for locally welding the legs against one another. It comprises movable modules which receive one plate at a time in the vertical position and move it in the lengthwise direction for bringing it into successive positions each corresponding to the arrival of one of the spring reception zones in an insertion position where centering means temporarily hold the plate in said successive positions. A vibrating rail guides the springs to a take up position where a gripper takes each spring in turn by the end of one of its legs, then moves in a plane perpendicular to the plate along a path for introducing the other leg of the spring in the plate.

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