Abstract: A manufacturing installation having several fixed work stations and a handling device, said work stations being disposed along at least one handling bay. It further comprises a handling device having, on the one hand, an overhead transporter movable along the handling bay and having means for grasping, transporting and setting down a batch of a given number of objects and, on the other hand, at right angles to each work station, an intermediate take up and storage device having an upstream station for setting down by the transporter, a downstream station for taking up by the transporter and a conveyor capable of grasping the batch of objects as a whole at the upstream station, presenting the objects one by one at the work station and placing them as a whole in the downstream station, so as to completely decouple the operation of the transporter from each work station.

Abstract: A device is provided for transferring nuclear fuel element sheaths to a fixed pellet filling station. This device comprises a sheath transfer assembly. This latter comprises a first transporter for taking as a whole a layer of several sheaths placed on the laying rack of the first means associated with the first transporter and intended for changing the spacing pitch of the sheaths in the layer and for presenting the layer at the position for simultaneous filling of several sheaths by the vibrating table machine (50) for inserting fuel pellets, second pitch change means for bringing the sheaths back to the original pitch, a transporter cooperating with a second pitch change means for bringing the layer of sheaths as a whole onto a take up rack and means for the automatic synchronized control of the components of the assembly ensuring the movements of the sheaths always in the same direction.

Abstract: The apparatus is for welding grids, particularly for a nuclear fuel assembly, constituted by two sets of strips at right angles and whose terminal portions are made fast to a belt. It comprises, in an enclosure with a controlled atmosphere provided with a lock, a double cross movement table bearing at least one orientation device and which is capable of bringing each surface and each side of the grid in its turn into an orientation perpendicular to the firing line of a radiation welding member and to move the frame in two directions perpendicular to the firing line, so as to bring each spot to be welded in its turn opposite the firing line. The orientation device and the table are provided with control motors and constitute an automation for presenting all the weld spots to be formed successively opposite the firing line.

Abstract: Device for inserting hair pin springs with two legs astride a plate having windows for locally welding the legs against one another. It comprises movable modules which receive one plate at a time in the vertical position and move it in the lengthwise direction for bringing it into successive positions each corresponding to the arrival of one of the spring reception zones in an insertion position where centering means temporarily hold the plate in said successive positions. A vibrating rail guides the springs to a take up position where a gripper takes each spring in turn by the end of one of its legs, then moves in a plane perpendicular to the plate along a path for introducing the other leg of the spring in the plate.

Abstract: The device of the invention allows a hair-pin spring with two legs to be inserted astride a plate having windows for locally welding the legs together. This device receives one plate at a time and moves it lengthwise, and a corridor guides each spring in turn, the spring being moved along the corridor towards its insertion position. A mask movable parallel to the plane of the plate from the edge furthest from the zone through which the introduction takes place allows the window to be covered furthest from the zone through which the introduction takes place so as to avoid jamming.

Abstract: For welding a grid formed by sets of plates disposed orthogonally and whose endmost parts are secured to a surround, it is placed in a shaping and mechanically holding frame allowing access to the point to be welded. The frame containing the grid is then placed on a revolving device belonging to a roundabout, at a first welding position and welding is carried out therein on at least one face of the grid by means of a welding member movable in two perpendicular directions for bringing it at right angles to each of the welding points on the face. The frame is then brought to a second welding position in which the plates are welded to the surround by means of a second welding member movable in only one direction, after rotation through 90.degree. of the frame by means of the revolving device; and the operations are repeated as necessary until the whole of the welds have been executed.

Abstract: Apparatus and means for assembling strips in grilles, comprising a carriage (24) displaceable vertically on a sub-frame, and a device (26) displaceable horizontally on the sub-frame parallel to the slots in the strips, and comprising a table equipped for receiving and centering a strip, and for enabling a frame forming an assembly jig to be retained in successive predetermined positions in which the slots in the strips carried by the frame face the path of the strip carried by the movable device.