METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE SPACING BETWEEN THE JACKET TUBE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL RODS AND THE CHARGE OF FUEL RECEIVED THEREIN

摘要

Method of reducing the spacing between the jacket tube of nuclear reactor fuel rods and the charge of fuel received therein includes pressing and permanently deforming by means of a ring-shaped hydraulic pressure cushion a respective ring-shaped zone of the jacket tube onto a body disposed in the tube and having substantially the cross-sectional dimension of the charge of fuel to be received in the tube, and simultaneously advancing the jacket tube and the body stepwise through the pressure cushion, the length of each advancing step being adjusted to the width of the ring-shaped zone.