Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires

Michel Marchand

Pascal Engelvin

Bernard Picco

Serge Masson

Jean Couzy

Christian Richaud

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for rectifying cylindrical articles, in particular nuclear fuel pellets. In said method, in characteristic manner, the dust generated by the rectification by a working grind wheel acting on said pellets remains confined and practically all of it is entrained beside said working grind wheel so as to be taken away by forced suction.

Method and apparatus for rectifying cylindrical articles, in particular nuclear fuel pellets

In order to control the perpendicularity of a component ( ) such as a nuclear fuel pellet, this component is placed upon a support plane and measurements are taken, by means of two pairs of laser micrometers (A , A ; B , B ), of the distances separating diametrically opposed generators of the component from a rod of reference (T, T&prime;), at two different levels and in two measuring planes (P, P&prime;) perpendicular to each other. From this is derived a maximum out-of-true perpendicularity of the component being controlled.

Method for controlling perpendicularity of a cylindrical part, such as a nuclear fuel pellet

For conveying in single file and in a lying position substantially cylindrical objects such as nuclear fuel pellets (P) in a substantially horizontal, non-linear path, a conveying system (20) is proposed, which comprises an endless belt (26) running over pulleys having substantially vertical axes. Regulatable guides (44) maintain the objects laterally on the upper edge (30) of the endless belt (26).

Conveying system for conveying substantially cylindrical objects such as

The invention relates to a process for removing dust from at least one nuclear fuel pellet (7) having undergone a grinding operation, which has left on the pellet surface dust of the material from which said pellet is formed. The process comprises subjecting said surface to the impact of a laser beam (3) having characteristics suitable for bringing about the disincrustation of the dust from said surface, and eliminating from said surface the products resulting from the dust disincrustation. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this process. Application to the dust removal from MOX pellets.

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Fontenay le Fleury, France

Michel Marchand