摘要 |
<p>There is provided apparatus for loading nuclear fuel pellets into a carrier tube. The nuclear fuel pellets being located, prior to loading, in a first zone and the carrier tube being located, prior to and after loading, in a second zone, the two zones being separated from each other by a barrier to prevent radioactive material (other than the pellets) passing from said first zone to said second zone, the apparatus comprising tube handling means, located in said second zone for supporting a carrier tube and for moving it longitudinally into engagement with a pellet load head, said pellet load head being positioned so that pellets may be loaded into it via an entrance located in said first zone, means for isolating the end of the tube from the second zone within a third zone located between the first and second zone and means for opening the first zone to said third zone to allow the handling means to move the tube into engagement with the load head while the tube head remains isolated from the second zone.</p> |