| 摘要 |
<p>An automated fuel assembly loader (50) capable of patterned loading moves nuclear fuel rods (22) in a loading direction between a fuel rod skeleton (20) defining an array of receptacles (24) for the fuel rods (22), and a fuel rod magazine (40) supplying or receiving the fuel rods (22). A table (12) supports the fuel rod skeleton (20) at a loading position. A movable carriage (58) having a line (72) of individual fuel rod engaging devices (60) moves a subset of fuel rods (22) along the line forward in the loading direction. The rods (22) are selected via a pattern stored in a controller (102). Selection devices (90) such as pneumatic clamps (92) mechanically couple the selected engaging devices (60) to the carriage (58) for movement while others are left behind. A ball screw carriage drive arrangement (84, 86) moves the carriage parallel to the loading direction and a jack screw positioning drive (122) displaces the carriage (58) perpendicular to the line of fuel rods. A controller (102) is coupled to the carriage drive (82, 122) and to the selection devices (90), and stores data defining a preset pattern of receptacles in the array, operating the selection devices (90) for actuating a group of engaging devices (60) corresponding to the pattern. The controller (102) also controls displacement speed, permitting patterned loading of the skeleton (20), for example to obtain a particular pattern of fuel rod enrichments, the controller (102) moving line by line through an array of fuel rod receptacles (24) in the skeleton (20). <IMAGE></p> |
