Apparatus for the ordered, complete filling of a container with rods, particularly rods of spent fuel assemblies from nuclear facilities, in a hexagonally close-packed structure

摘要

A filling apparatus for the ordered, complete filling of a container with rods, such as spent nuclear fuel rods, in a hexagonally close-packed structure, includes a device for orderly positioning a first row of rods at predetermined positions in a container which has an opening formed in a side thereof opposite the positioning means and an interior with a given width. Two slides disposed one above the other can reach through the opening over the entire given width of the interior of the container. Each of the slides has depressions formed therein defining support teeth. The depressions define openings at predetermined positions for receiving rods of a row. The depressions in one of the slides is offset relative to the depressions in the other of the slides so that the support teeth in one of the slides covers the openings in the other of the slides when the slides are superimposed. The support teeth of one of the slides braces the rods of a row disposed in the predetermined positions of the other of the slides after the introduction of a row of rods. The predetermined positions of the one slide are uncovered for the introduction of a further row of rods into the predetermined positions of the one slide by retraction of the other slide. The positioning means can be in the form of a further slide for reaching through another opening in the container.