Seal containment system
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsRalph W. Kugler, Kenneth S. Gerkey, William H. Kasner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated system for transporting nuclear fuel elements between fuel element assembly stations without contaminating the area outside the sealed assembly stations. The system comprises a plurality of assembly stations connected together by an elongated horizontal sealing mechanism and an automatic transport mechanism for transporting a nuclear fuel element in a horizontal attitude between the assembly stations while the open end of the fuel element extends through the sealing mechanism into the assembly station enclosure. The sealing mechanism allows the fuel element to be advanced by the transport mechanism while limiting the escape of radioactive particles from within the assembly station enclosure.
Claims4
An automated system for assembling nuclear fuel elements including transporting nuclear fuel elements between fuel element assembly stations comprising:
- a fuel pellet load station containing fuel pellet loading apparatus and having an open horizontal slot in the side thereof for accommodating the insertion of the open end of said fuel element for loading fuel pellets into said fuel element;
- a plug insertion station arranged near said fuel pellet load station containing end plugs and welding apparatus and having an open horizontal slot in the side thereof for accommodating the insertion of the open end of said fuel element for inserting said end plug into said open end of said fuel element thereby sealing said fuel pellets in said fuel element;
- sealing means connected to said open horizontal slots of said assembly stations for connecting said assembly stations together and for sealing said open horizontal slots while said fuel element extends therethrough and into said assembly station;
- and,
- transport means arranged along said sealing means for transporting said fuel elements between said assembly stations without removing said fuel element from within said sealing means, said sealing means limiting release of radioactive contaminants from within said assembly stations during said transport.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.