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:
Sep. 13, 1994
Filed:
Jul. 09, 1993
John A Kervinen, Palo Alto, CA (US);
General Electric Company, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved method for examining fuel bundle spacers using fiber-optic visual inspection apparatus. A distal end of a fiber-optic scope having image and light guides is inserted through an upper tie plate and between the fuel rods of a fuel bundle assembly at the top thereof. The distal end of the scope is then lowered into the space between a group of spacer ferrules until a side aperture of the scope is at the elevation of the spacer spring to be inspected. Light is supplied to the light guide and redirected out the side aperture to a spot proximal to the field of view of the image guide. The distal end of the scope is rotated until the spacer spring to be inspected is visible through an ocular lens coupled to the image guide. The spring is visually inspected for defects by moving the scope to scan the spacer spring.