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:
Oct. 05, 1993
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1992
David F Wazybok, Castle Hayne, NC (US);
Bobby R Cosper, Piedmont, SC (US);
Harold B King, Jr, Wrightsville Beach, NC (US);
David K Underwood, Stokesdale, NC (US);
James E Pierce, Wilmington, NC (US);
General Electric Company, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A nuclear fuel pellet loading system includes pellet handling apparatus and cladding tube handling apparatus functionally interfaced by a bushing assembly. Pellet rows of varying zone lengths are alternately built up on two tracks, measured for zone length, weighed and then loaded by separate pusher carriages through separate bushing assembly passageways into a pair of empty cladding tubes indexed into loading positions by the tube handling apparatus. Separate zone interface tapes affixed to the pusher carriages indicate to an operator the length each pellet zone is to be built to. The tube handling apparatus accommodates cladding tubes of varying lengths and is equipped to automatically read a serial number imprinted on each tube endplug.