Paul J Hubert

US Patent:

51223317, Jun 16, 1992

Filed:

May 13, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/699120

Inventors:

Glen E. Schukei - South Windsor CT
Paul W. Hubert - Simsbury CT
Gilles J. Page - Enfield CT
Robert W. Franzen - West Suffield CT

Assignee:

Combustion Engineering, Inc. - Windsor CT

International Classification:

G21C 2100

US Classification:

376261

Abstract:

A device for aligning nuclear fuel pellets, for insertion into fuel rods, comprises a vibrating table and a conveyor assembly adapted to receive pellets poured from a container and to deposit them in a single layer on the table. The upper surface of the table is formed with a number of parallel, substantially v-shaped grooves in which the pellets become aligned. The conveyor assembly, which comprises a horizontal traveling belt and an inclined planar slide, is slid along above the table to facilitate the distribution of pellets thereon. An inspection station, adjacent the table, comprises a number of rotating, parallel rollers in columnar-flow communication with the table grooves. Aligned pellets from the table are delivered onto the rollers where they slowly rotate, presenting their circumferential surfaces for visual inspection. A displaceable control member, transversely disposed between the table and the inspection station, controls transfer of pellets therebetween. A number of trough members, each adapted to receive a column of aligned pellets, are releasably attachable to the distal end of the inspection station.