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:
Apr. 03, 1990
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1988
Pat F Moreno, Roswell, GA (US);
Robert H Lewis, Cary, NC (US);
Robert G MacIvergan, Wilmington, NC (US);
Harold B King, Jr, Wrightsville Beach, NC (US);
General Electric Company, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
To assemble nuclear fuel bundle spacers comprised of a multiplicity of rod-positioning ferrules, automated apparatus is provided comprising an indexing table mounting a plurality of identical, angularly spaced ferrule fixtures which are successively positioned at a first station for receipt of a pair of properly oriented ferrules. The table is indexed to present the ferrule pairs in turn to a second station where a spring is loaded in pre-assembly relation thereto. At the next table index position, a third station manipulates the successive fixture-mounted ferrule pairs to interlock the spring with each ferrule pair as a subasssembly which is then indexed in turn to a fourth station for assembly into a spacer fixture.