Nuclear fuel pellet turning apparatus and method
US5174947A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pellet turning apparatus for facilitating surface inspection of nuclear fuel pellets includes a pellet turner assembly and a pellet supply tray interface assembly. The pellet turner assembly includes a pellet turner deck and a swivel mechanism supporting the deck. The pellet turner deck is composed of a base frame mounted on the swivel mechanism, a plurality of elongated laterally-spaced pellet channel-defining members extending between and mounted at the opposite ends of the frame, a pellet rolling plate supported on the frame below the pellet channel-defining members, and an actuating mechanism coupled to the pellet rolling plate for moving the plate in oscillatory direction substantially perpendicular to the pellet channels for producing in situ turning of the pellets. The interface assembly is mounted to a pellet loading end of the pellet turner deck. The interface assembly is operable for disposing a pellet transfer end of a pellet supply tray at a desired elevation relative to the pellet loading end of the pellet turner deck. The interface assembly includes a tray elevating mechanism having engaging elements for coupling to the transfer end of the pellet supply tray, and an…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.