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. 06, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1994
Thomas B Huggins, Columbia, SC (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A loading device for picking up and repositioning a plurality of upright cylinders arranged in a rectangular array includes a rectangular-shaped frame and a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the frame. A first fixed wall depends from a first end of the frame, and a second fixed wall depends from a second end of the frame adjacent the first end. A first movable wall adjacent a third end of the frame opposes the first fixed wall, and a second movable wall adjacent a fourth end of the frame opposes the second fixed wall. The first and second fixed walls and the first and second movable walls surround a rectangular-shaped enclosed area. A first motive mechanism couples the frame and the first movable wall for moving the first movable wall in a first direction, normal to the first fixed wall, for clamping the array between the first movable wall and the first fixed wall while maintaining the first movable wall vertical. A second motive mechanism couples the frame and the second movable wall for rotating the second movable wall about an axis of rotation parallel to the first direction for clamping the array between the second movable wall and the second fixed wall. A resilient surface on at least one of the walls enables the device to gently load fissile fuel pellets having an annular cross section into a sintering boat.