PROCESS LINE DEVICE FOR LOCKING NUCLEAR FUEL PELLET STACK IN FUEL ELEMENT Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: manufacture of fuel elements for nuclear reactors. SUBSTANCE: device intended for manufacture of fuel elements primarily for VVER-440 water- cooled reactors is provided with feeder, storage bin, and mechanism for piece-by-peace supply of locks to be press-fitted into inlet channel and to open end of pellet-charged can made in the form of drum turned by means of step-by-step actuator; drum is provided with peripheral holes accommodating spring locks with their holding sections protruding towards open end of can in parallel with drum axis; it also has stepping rod with two drillings; diameter of first drilling running from rod end is smaller than that of holding section and its length equals that of holding section in compressed state of spring lock; diameter of second section is smaller than inner diameter of wedging section but greater than inner diameter of spring lock holding section; diameter of third part of rod is smaller than inner diameter of can but greater than that of wedging section of spring lock; one of peripheral holes of drum, spring lock inlet channel, and open end of can engageable with lever of mechanism sensing can in lock press-fitting position are disposed coaxially to rod axis; annular drilling is made over generating line of drum and holds spring-loaded sensor engageable with device sensing can in lock press-fitting position under bottom peripheral hole of drum. EFFECT: enhanced yield of fuel elements and quality of locking pellet stack in them. 2 cl, 3 dwg