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:
Jun. 27, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1988
Douglas J Attix, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Michael J Kelly, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Fred L Mason, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Carlton E Stinnett, Lynchburg, VA (US);
The Babcock & Wilcox Company, New Orleans, LA (US);
Abstract
A rod arraying system for nuclear fuel rods or burnable poison rods. A support structure positions a consolidation canister vertically to receive the rods. A rod loading pattern provides a gap between rods to allow projections to hold each rod in position. One or more rod arraying devices positioned vertically along and inclined toward the canister provide a triangular pitch loading configuration. A guide assembly slidably mounted on the mounting base of the rod arraying device has two guide plates with scalloped edges. The guide plates are offset relative to each other with one being cycled back and forth by an air cylinder to allow individual loading of fuel rods one row at a time. The inclined weight of the guide plates keeps them in position against the rods to prevent unwanted shifting of rods during the loading operation.