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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mechanism for testing fuel tubes in nuclear fuel bundles

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5934607
This patent describes an apparatus for testing the fuel rods of a nuclear fuel assembly, the rods being arranged in parallel rows, comprising a probe, a carrier for guiding and moving the probe, means for guiding the carrier and the probe in a predetermined pattern in straight lines parallel to the rows and at right angles to the axes of the tubular members. The means consist of a substantially horizontal stationary groove plate having parallel grooves in its upper surface, means on the carrier for engagement within the grooves, reciprocating means for moving the carrier parallel to the rows, means for moving the carrier perpendicular to the rows at the end of each stroke to move the probe from one row of tubular members to another. The groove plate further consists of deflective means facing one end of each of the grooves and extending between each adjacent pair of grooves to guide the carrier from one groove to the next in sequence.
Assignee:
Exxon Nuclear Co., Inc., Richland, WA
Patent Number(s):
US 4689193
OSTI ID:
5934607
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English