PROCESS LINE FOR MANUFACTURING FUEL ELEMENT CLADDING Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; fuel elements for nuclear reactors. SUBSTANCE: horizontally mounted between sensors at position where tube is cut to fit cladding size and between those at calibration position for one end of cladding are sensors engageable with counterweights of vertically mounted supporting rollers provided with flutes over generating line engageable with cladding where each counterweight is made of metal with its diameter being equal to that of horizontal sensor; supporting roller body is made of polymeric material ; each horizontal sensor is electrically connected to off-operation circuit of tube cutting mechanisms used for cutting tube sections to fit cladding size and for calibrating one end of cladding; these mechanisms are turned off as soon as supporting roller shifts about its axis and its counterpoise deflects from horizontal sensor axis. EFFECT: enhanced yield. 3 dwg