# US 2014/0192945 A1 · Fuel rod auto-loading apparatus for nuclear fuel assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192945 A1 - Document ID: US20140192945A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/149,872 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Kepco Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Kepco Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ju Young LEE; Chang Hwan HWANG; Hung Soon CHANG; Soon Ki GUK; Yeon Doo JUNG; Ui Jea LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192945A1 ## CPC - G21C 19/32: Apparatus for removing radioactive objects or materials from the reactor discharge area, e.g. to a storage place; Apparatus for handling radioactive objects or materials within a storage place or removing them therefrom (disposal of waste material G21F9/00) - G21C 3/334: Assembling {, maintenance or repair of} the bundles {(assembling, maintenance or repair of other reactor components G21C19/207)} - G21C 21/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof (in general section B, e.g. B23) - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Disclosed is a fuel rod auto-loading apparatus for a nuclear fuel assembly, which disposes fuel rods in a fuel rod case in a bundle to assemble the fuel rods into the nuclear fuel assembly. The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus includes a fuel rod storage unit having a plurality of stacked racks for fuel rods, a fuel rod loading unit raised/lowered to the racks and transferring the fuel rods, a feeding unit placing the fuel rods in rows and loading the fuel rods into the fuel rod case, a fuel rod unloading unit selectively unloading some of the fuel rods stored in the fuel rod storage unit and transferring the fuel rods to the feeding unit, a fuel rod assembly lifter which is disposed parallel to the feeding unit, and a controller controlling driving of the fuel rod loading unit, the feeding unit, and the fuel rod unloading unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel rod auto-loading apparatus for a nuclear fuel assembly, which disposes fuel rods, each of which is assembled as a unit part, in a fuel rod case in a bundle to assemble the fuel rods into the nuclear fuel assembly, the fuel rod auto-loading apparatus comprising: a fuel rod storage unit having a plurality of racks stacked so that the fuel rods are horizontally stored; a fuel rod loading unit raised/lowered to the racks according to a bar code marked on each fuel rod and transferring the fuel rods, each of which is assembled as the unit part, and completes an acceptance test; a feeding unit horizontally placing the fuel rods in a row unit and loading the fuel rods into the fuel rod case in the row unit; a fuel rod unloading unit selectively unloading some specific fuel rods stored in the fuel rod storage unit and transferring the specific fuel rods to the feeding unit; a fuel rod assembly lifter which is disposed parallel to the feeding unit, and on which the fuel rod case is placed so as to be able to move upward or downward; and a controller controlling driving of the fuel rod loading unit, the feeding unit, and the fuel rod unloading unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the fuel rod loading unit includes: a loading conveyer on which the fuel rod transferred from another process is placed; a tilting part handing over the fuel rod placed on the loading conveyer to the fuel rod storage unit; and a raising/lowering driver raising/lowering the loading conveyer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the tilting part includes a driving tilting part and a driven tilting part connected to the driving tilting part by a shaft so as to be cooperated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein the driving tilting part includes: a fuel rod seat bar that is pivotably provided; and a seat bar driver connected to the fuel rod seat bar by a link in order to rotate the fuel rod seat bar within a predetermined angle range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the feeding unit includes: a feeding guide module that has a drive source so as to be able to move leftward/rightward relative to an upper portion of a main frame and a fuel rod sear member so as to allow the fuel rods to be placed in a row; and a feeding module that provides a driving force for loading the fuel rods placed on the feeding guide module into the fuel rod case. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of guide wings at the upper portion of the main frame in order to guide the fuel rods to the fuel rod seat member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein the guide wings are provided in parallel in pairs, and a tilting member is provided between each pair of guide wings to transfer the fuel rods placed between the guide wings to the fuel rod seat member one by one. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the tilting member includes: a tilting lever having a second protrusion spaced apart from a first protrusion protruding from the guide wing; and a driver vertically driving the tilting lever. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel rod auto-loading apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the feeding unit further includes a bar code reader that reads a bar code marked on each fuel rod on a transfer path of the fuel rods loaded into the fuel rod case.