FUEL COLUMN CONTINUITY CHECKING DEVICE Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: checking nuclear reactor fuel-element columns made in the form of tubes filled with nuclear fuel pellets for continuity. SUBSTANCE: device has gamma-ray source unit, detecting unit, both placed in shields with collimating channels, controlled-frequency pulse generator, and fuel element displacing unit. Control input of pulse generator is coupled with fuel element under check. Device is provided, in addition, with second gamma-ray source unit, second detecting unit, both placed in shields with collimating channels which are perpendicular to collimating channels of first gamma-ray and detecting units. Device also has base section start and end sensors, computer, input/output unit with four counters, digital-signal input register, digital-signal output register, and reference-frequency oscillator. Output of first detecting unit is connected to complementing input of second counter; output of second detecting unit is connected to complementing input of third counter; output of reference-frequency oscillator is connected to complementing input of first counter; output of first counter is connected to control input of second and third counters. Output of controlled-frequency pulse generator is connected to complementing input of fourth counter; outputs of measurement start and end sensors are connected to inputs of digital signal input register; output of digital-signal output register is connected to input of fuel element displacement device; computer system input/output bus is connected to system bus of input/output unit. EFFECT: improved design. 2 dwg