Fuel element loading system

A nuclear fuel element loading system in combination with a fuel element having a plurality of longitudinal passages, each for receiving a plurality of fuel rods aligned axially therein, said system comprising, conveyor means for conveying fuel rods in succession into a tube disposed in axial alignment with and above the longitudinal passages, adapter means for guiding the fuel rods from said tube into the longitudinal passages, said adapter means defining a transfer passage extending from said tube to a longitudinal passage, said axially aligned tube including a section having two pinch valve means which are vertically spaced apart and insertion means for inserting a spacer element located between said two pinch valve means, means for operating said two pinch valve means and said insertion means to assemble two fuel rods in said tube section with a spacer element therebetween and to release the fuel rods to allow said released fuel rods and spacer element to fall together as a three-member group toward the fuel element, said transfer passage having a cross-sectional size which is larger than the cross-sectional size of the corresponding longitudinal passage by an amount sufficient that the entrance to the longitudinal passage is within the perimeter of said transfer passage for maximum misalignment due to dimensional variations within tolerances, and vibrator means for vibrating the fuel elements to cause the fuel rods to fall into the longitudinal passages, said vibrator means being adapted to impart both horizontal and vertical components of oscillation to the fuel elements.