PROCESS LINE FOR MANUFACTURING GUIDE CHANNELS OF NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ASSEMBLY Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering. SUBSTANCE: process line for manufacturing guide channels of fuel assemblies for power reactors, mainly water-moderated ones of VVER-1000 type, has transport facility in the form of stepping conveyer assembled of parallel groups of fixed and feeding toothed racks covered with polymeric material such as caprolactam, the latter ones being mounted for rotation on coupled cranks; movable stop of length monitoring mechanism has seat for locking butt end of tube stop in position and hole whose diameter is smaller than inner diameter of tube through which it communicates with compressed-air source; fitting-to-tube welding mechanism has head for setting tube in rotary motion about its axis in welding chamber communicating with inert gas source; line is provided, in addition, with device for press-fitting bushings on other end of tube, mechanism for welding bushing to tube with head for rotating it about its axis in welding chamber communicating with inert gas source and facilities for axial displacement in all positions of tube treatment with its clamping mechanism. EFFECT: enlarged functional capabilities, improved quality and capacity. 3 cl, 8 dwg