DEVICE FOR MEASURING DIMENSIONS OF FUEL ASSEMBLIES Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; manufacturing fuel elements for nuclear power reactors.

SUBSTANCE: proposed device has base that mounts vertically secured column, brace, gage-socket for fuel-assembly bottom nozzle with two diametrically opposite laser levels on side, beams being directed in parallel to fuel assembly axis. Television cameras are mounted in diametric opposition to movable measuring coil pneumatically displaced by means of linear drive coaxially with respect to fuel assembly in two guides secured to base. Brace and two guides are secured in top part of column by means of plate provided with rim and unit that functions to align fuel assembly top nozzle in rim; this unit has pneumatic cylinder, as well as hold-down pieces in the form of levers and control rods. Measuring coil is provided with inductive sensors brought to fuel assembly under check by means of pneumatic cylinders. Mounted along measuring coil travel are contactless sensors responding to measuring coil stop at checkpoints, their quantity being equal to sum of checkpoints for top nozzle, spacer grid, and bottom nozzle. One of guides is made as pneumatic cylinder with carriage of pneumatic linear drive magnetically coupled thereto; base is secured to vibration-isolated foundation; use is made of model LIMKA-Zenith laser levels, model CV-MI digital television cameras, model WA-10 inductive sensors, and model SMEO-1-LED-24-K5-B contactless sensors.

EFFECT: reduced cost of inspection including complete check of assemblies for size on key-turn basis, for distortions and twisting.

3 cl, 4 dwg