Funnel for fuel pin loading system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsDavid W. Christiansen, Jim M. Steffen, William F. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enlarged funnel is releasably mounted at the open end of a length of cladding by an encircling length of shrink tubing which securely engages outer surfaces of both the funnel and cladding. The shrink tubing overlaps an annular shoulder against which pulling force can be exerted to remove the tubing from the cladding. The shoulder can be provided on a separate collar or ring, or on the funnel itself.
Claims7
In combination with a length of tubular fuel cladding for a nuclear reactor, in which the cladding has an open axial end;
- a funnel mounted to the open axial end of the cladding, said funnel having an enlarged outer open end leading to a reduced diameter neck that is at least partially inserted within the open axial end of the cladding as a coaxial outwardly protruding attachment;
- and a continuous length of tubing shrunk about both the cladding and funnel to grip and maintain them as a unit during handling of the unfilled cladding and reception of fuel into the cladding through the attached funnel.
In combination with a length of nuclear fuel cladding having an inner cylindrical diameter and an outer cylindrical diameter, in which the cladding is partially pre-assembled for loading of fuel pellets through an open axial end;
- a funnel mounted to the open axial end of the cladding, said funnel having a neck with an outside diameter complementary to the inner diameter of the cladding and a coaxial enlarged open end adapted to facilitate reception of fuel, the funnel neck being at least partially inserted within the open axial end of the cladding as a coaxial outwardly protruding attachment;
- and a continuous length of shrink tubing tightly encircling and gripping both the cladding and funnel adjacent the open axial end of the cladding to maintain them as a unit during handling of the unfilled cladding and reception of fuel into the cladding through the attached funnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.