Rod arraying system.

摘要

A rod arraying system for nuclear fuel rods or burnable poison rods has a support structure which positions a consolidation canister vertically to receive the rods. A rod loading pattern provides gaps between adjacent rods to allow projections to hold each rod in position. One or more rod arraying devices positioned vertically along and inclined toward the canister provide a triangular pitch loading configuration. A guide assembly (26) slidably mounted on a mounting base of the rod arraying device has two guide plates (38, 40) with scalloped edges. The guide plates (38, 40) are offset relative to each other with one being cycled back and forth by an air cylinder (44) to allow individual loading of fuel rods (20) one row at a time. The inclined weight of the guide plates (38, 40) keeps them in position against the rods (20) to prevent unwanted shifting of rods (20) during the loading operation.