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Title: Automatic inspection system for nuclear fuel pellets or rods

Abstract

An automatic inspection system is provided for determining surface defects on cylindrical objects such as nuclear fuel pellets or rods. The active element of the system is a compound ring having a plurality of pneumatic jet units directed into a central bore. These jet units are connected to provide multiple circuits, each circuit being provided with a pressure sensor. The outputs of the sensors are fed to a comparator circuit whereby a signal is generated when the difference of pressure between pneumatic circuits, caused by a defect, exceeds a pre-set amount. This signal may be used to divert the piece being inspected into a "reject" storage bin or the like.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. (Oak Ridge, TN)
  2. Knoxville, TN
  3. Concord, TN
  4. Oak Ridge, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
863124
Patent Number(s):
4098408
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
automatic; inspection; nuclear; fuel; pellets; rods; provided; determining; surface; defects; cylindrical; active; element; compound; plurality; pneumatic; jet; units; directed; central; bore; connected; provide; multiple; circuits; circuit; pressure; sensor; outputs; sensors; fed; comparator; whereby; signal; generated; difference; caused; defect; exceeds; pre-set; amount; divert; piece; inspected; reject; storage; bin; surface defects; fuel pellet; fuel pellets; nuclear fuel; pressure sensor; central bore; active element; provide multiple; comparator circuit; automatic inspection; determining surface; /209/73/376/976/

Citation Formats

Miller, Jr., William H., Sease, John D, Hamel, William R, and Bradley, Ronnie A. Automatic inspection system for nuclear fuel pellets or rods. United States: N. p., 1978. Web.
Miller, Jr., William H., Sease, John D, Hamel, William R, & Bradley, Ronnie A. Automatic inspection system for nuclear fuel pellets or rods. United States.
Miller, Jr., William H., Sease, John D, Hamel, William R, and Bradley, Ronnie A. Sun . "Automatic inspection system for nuclear fuel pellets or rods". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863124.
@article{osti_863124,
title = {Automatic inspection system for nuclear fuel pellets or rods},
author = {Miller, Jr., William H. and Sease, John D and Hamel, William R and Bradley, Ronnie A},
abstractNote = {An automatic inspection system is provided for determining surface defects on cylindrical objects such as nuclear fuel pellets or rods. The active element of the system is a compound ring having a plurality of pneumatic jet units directed into a central bore. These jet units are connected to provide multiple circuits, each circuit being provided with a pressure sensor. The outputs of the sensors are fed to a comparator circuit whereby a signal is generated when the difference of pressure between pneumatic circuits, caused by a defect, exceeds a pre-set amount. This signal may be used to divert the piece being inspected into a "reject" storage bin or the like.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1978},
month = {1}
}