Nuclear fuel pellet transfer escalator
US5048666A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1989 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pellet escalator in a pellet loading apparatus for loading nuclear fuel pellets from a pellet press into a sintering boat includes a conveyor in the form of an elongated arm for moving pellets and being pivotable to vertically move its discharge end toward and away from a sintering boat. The arm has an elongated recessed channel through which travels the upper run of an endless flexible conveying belt for transporting pellets from a receiving end to the discharge end of the conveyor. A chute is mounted to the arm at its discharge end and extends therebelow such that the chute is carried by the arm at its discharge end for vertical movement therewith toward and away from the sintering boat. Resiliently-flexible, deflectable bristled brushes are attached to the chute in opposing vertical rows. The brushes in one row are oppositely inclined and vertically offset from brushes in the other row for defining a gravity feed flow path of non-linear configuration between adjacent inner brush ends for transferring pellets downwardly through the chute along the flow path at a drop rate controlled by brush deflections. A stop finger mounted to the arm at its discharge end is actuatable betwee…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.