The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 03, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1983
Wade H Widener, Cayce, SC (US);
Kenneth K Klapper, West Columbia, SC (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An orientation device for properly orienting nuclear fuel rod end plugs (18) in their proper mode for ultimate use and processing includes a funnel (12) the inside diameter (d) of which is greater than the diameter (D) of each end plug (18), and the diameter (D) of each plug (18) is greater than the length (L) of each plug. The plugs (18) are permitted to pass through the funnel bore (30), however, only when the longitudinal axis of each plug is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the funnel bore (30) because the diagonal dimension (DG) of each plug as defined between any point on the plug's upper peripheral surface (26) and a point disposed diametrically opposite the first point upon the lower peripheral surface (28) is greater than the diameter (d) of the funnel bore. Each plug (18) also includes a large diameter portion (20) having the diametrical dimension D, and a smaller diameter portion (22), and in order to insure the ultimate proper orientation of each plug such that the smaller diameter portion (22) is disposed downwardly, the plugs (18) are pivoted 90.degree. by a deflector plate (38) and are transferred to a second re-orientation zone which includes a semicircular trough (36) and a rectangularly configured trough (42) having rails (44) defined within the sidewalls for supporting the plugs (18') in their correctly oriented vertical mode. The plugs (18') are discharged through a port (58) to a shuttle mechanism for subsequent processing.