MACHINE TOOL FOR ASSEMBLING FUEL ELEMENTS TO FUEL ASSEMBLIES Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: manufacture and assembling processes, namely machine tools for assembling fuel elements to fuel assemblies for water-water type power generation reactors. SUBSTANCE: machine tool includes hinged housing moved from horizontal position to vertical and provided with power cylinder and stoppers for fixing it in horizontal position. Horizontally moving beam is arranged on coordinate block moved in vertical and horizontal directions. Accumulator for fuel elements, mechanism for axially moving fuel elements, mechanism for their pressing-in to technological spacing grids, mechanism for providing fuel elements with removable tips, die with reservoir for feeding lubricant and pickups for detecting length values of fuel elements are mounted on said beam. Holders for technological spacing grids are mounted on upper working surface of machine tool housing. Conveyor for transporting fuel elements may be arranged in said holders. Mechanism for axially moving fuel elements is in the form of roller table with pressure rollers made of polymeric material. Pressing-in mechanism is in the form of spring-loaded pusher and chain transmission; it provides controlled pressing-in effort. EFFECT: increased number of high-quality fuel assemblies, enhanced efficiency of machine tool, its enlarged manufacturing possibilities and radiation safety. 5 cl, 7 dwg