AUTOMATIC TRANSFER LINE FOR MANUFACTURING FUEL-ELEMENT CANS Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; manufacture of fuel elements for nuclear reactors. SUBSTANCE: axial reciprocating motion drive of mechanisms for double-ended cutting of tubes into lengths to fit can size and axial reciprocation motion drive of mechanism for calibrating one end of mentioned can-size tube lengths are made in the form of air cylinders communicating through air throttle, air distributor, and pneumatic unit incorporating compressor station for feeding compressed air; they also have hold-down devices for securing can-size tube lengths on tilted rack table, parting tools with shaping cutters, tube- length ejector from cutting position, movable stop of mechanism for checking size of mentioned tube lengths, expanding clamp of rod- calibrating mechanism, mechanism for press-fitting of plug into calibrated end of can-size tube length, and mechanism for leveling can ends. Weld cleaning and weld ultrasonic inspection mechanisms are provided with air cylinders communicating through air throttles, air distributors, and pneumatic units with air-feed compressor station; mechanisms for checking can-size tube length, for rod calibration of tube length on one end, for press-fitting plug into calibrated end of can-size tube length, for weighing tube length with plug, for leveling ends of cans, weld cleaning and ultrasonic inspection are equipped with ejectors whose air cylinders communicate with air-feed compressor station through air throttles, air distributors, and pneumatic units. Mechanism for checking size of tube length has indication matching unit, automatic control and positioning system. Can weighing mechanism is provided with automatic control system, computer, and overlap removal system; mechanism for cleaning internal and external surfaces of tubular can is integrated with cutting mechanism where hollow rod of air cylinder communicating with air-feed compressor station through air throttle, air distributor , and pneumatic unit arranged coaxially to tube length is used for cleaning internal surfaces and compressed-air inlet duct of rod built in tangentially to tubular can disposition channel, for cleaning external surfaces. EFFECT: enhanced yield and reduced manufacturing cost due to dispensing with wet-cleaning mechanism. 2 cl, 10 dwg