Abstract: An interior image receiving apparatus which includes an image receiver positioned facing an opening of a hollow object. Also included is a reflecting mirror positioned between the image receiver and the opening, in which the image receiver receives an image of the inner surface of the object reflected by the mirror.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cylindrical body inspection apparatus characterized in comprising: a) rotating mechanism for supporting and rotating a cylindrical body; b) sensor comprising a light emitting unit for irradiating light onto a surface to be inspected of a cylindrical body, and a light detecting unit for detecting incoming light reflected from the surface to be inspected; this sensor detects displacement information corresponding to a displacement of distance from the surface to be inspected to the light detecting unit, and information regarding the quantity of incoming light corresponding to quantity of reflected light from the surface to be inspected; c) computing unit for computing surface information and external form formation based on the above displacement information and information regarding quantity of incoming light from the sensor; and d) discriminating unit for discriminating the presence or absence of defects relating to shape of the cylindrical body based on the surface informat

Abstract: A method of forming a nuclear fuel assembly grid, as well as the resulting grid itself, are disclosed. In the formation of the grid, formed straps having slits are prepared, arranged into a grid form by intersecting the straps with each other through the slits, and the intersections of the associated straps are brazed. Prior to the step of arranging the straps, those portions to be brazed are subjected to a pretreatment, in which an paste, prepared of a mixture of a filler metal and a vehicle, is applied to the portions to be brazed to form a thin film thereon.

Abstract: A fuel rod position determination apparatus and a method are presented to enable efficient and accurate determination of the positions of the fuel rods in a fuel assembly in which it is not possible to insert a measuring instrument in a straight line through the fuel assembly. The apparatus first measures the positions of the peripheral fuel rods from the outside of the fuel assembly. This operation is continued by inserting sensors into the assembly through the spaces between the fuel rods so as to measure the profiles of the fuel rods. The positions of all the fuel rods including the interior fuel rods are determined on the basis of the profile data, the reference data formed by the peripheral fuel rods, and the known diameter data of the fuel rods.

Abstract: A compact ultrasonic inspection device of high resolution and operating speed is presented for examining the defects in a welded section between the end plug and the fuel pipe. The welded fuel rod is inserted into an inspection section of a rotating member filled with water, and is held immovably. The rotating member, having a plurality of ultrasonic probes disposed around the periphery, is rotated around the axis of the fuel rod to examine the welded section.

Abstract: In a method for inspecting a dished end face of a nuclear fuel pellet, a focused beam of light is emitted to a dish of the end face of the nuclear fuel pellet while a parallel beam of light is being emitted to the end face thereof. An image of the end face of the nuclear fuel pellet is picked up and the quality of the pellet is judged based on the picked-up image. An apparatus for inspecting a dished end face of a nuclear fuel pellet is also disclosed. The inspection apparatus includes a handling unit for holding the pellet during inspection, a lighting unit for lighting the end face of the pellet, an image pick-up unit disposed adjacent to the handling unit for picking up image data as to the end face of the pellet, and a judging unit operably connected to the image pick-up unit for analyzing the image data outputted from the image pick-up unit to judge quality of the nuclear fuel pellet.

Abstract: A guiding apparatus and a method are presented for efficiently guiding and loading fuel rods into a fuel assembly without introducing surface damage to the fuel rod. The apparatus simultaneously loads a row of fuel rods into the grid cells of the grids using the guiding device, disposed at the entry side of each grid. The guiding device includes a comb-shaped section and a freely detachably engaged bottom side wall plate, forming a plurality of guiding spaces to superimpose on the plurality of grid cells requiring fuel rods. The guiding device is provided with protective guiding strips which are inserted into the grid cells prior to inserting the fuel rods so as to protect the fuel rod surface from being scratched by the springs and dimples provided. The method of fuel rod insertion using the apparatus is as follows. The guiding spaces formed by the comb-shaped section and the bottom side wall plate are placed adjacent to the opening end surface of a row of grid cells.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for drying wet ground fuel pellets for nuclear reactors, inspecting the surface quality of the pellets, and loading the inspected pellets on a tray for storage. The pellets are discharged from a wet grinder, and are charged one at a time into pellet pockets formed at the periphery of a rotation disc, with the pellet axis aligned in the direction of transport. The rotation disc changes the transport direction from an axial direction to a radial direction, at right angle to the pellet axis. The rotation disc is provided with a gas circulation device, which delivers a flow of air from in-ports to edge surfaces of the pellets and discharges the air from out-ports. The direction of the air flow is alternated so that both end surfaces of the pellets will be dried completely. The underside of the pellets is also dried by an air flow directed to the pellets from gas outflow port disposed at the bottom region of the pellet pocket.

Abstract: A process is presented for fabricating a fuel rod including an elongated fuel tube, a lower end plug for sealing one of the openings, and an upper end plug for sealing an opposite opening. The steps include sealing an opening of the aperture by melting the lead portion of the upper end plug in such way that welding is carried out along the lead portion and a welded portion formed by the welding is disposed below the lower portion of the chamfer. The elongated fuel tube has openings at opposite end thereof, and a plurality of fuel pellets inserted therein. The upper end plug has an end face and an outer peripheral surface, a chamfer formed at an intersection between the end face and the outer peripheral surface, an aperture formed in the center of the upper end plug, a groove formed around the aperture, and a lead portion formed between the aperture and the groove.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inspection apparatus for peripheral surfaces of nuclear fuel pellets which includes a handling unit, an image pick-up device, a judging device and a sorting unit. The handling unit holds a prescribed number of nuclear fuel pellets in a line and rotates the same on their axes. The image pick-up device is disposed adjacent to the handling unit, and picks up image data as to the peripheral surfaces of the nuclear fuel pellets. The judging device is operably connected to the image pick-up device, and analyzes the image data outputted from the image pick-up device to output judging signals. The sorting unit is operably connected to the judging device and separates defective pellets from non-defective pellets based on the judging signals. The sorting unit includes a plurality of sorting members and actuators. The sorting members are disposed adjacent to the handling unit so as to correspond to the nuclear fuel pellets, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pellet handling equipment for conveying pellets. The pellet handling equipment is essentially composed of a first roller device, a second roller device, and a pellet supplying device. The first roller device is supported generally horizontal and rotatable about an axis thereof for a rotation in a predetermined direction. The second roller device is disposed parallel and adjacent to the first roller device, supported rotatable about an axis thereof for a rotation in a same direction with the first roller device. The second roller device is provided with a slot formed in a circumferential surface thereof and extending in the axial direction. The slot is capable of receiving each one of the pellets. The pellet supplying device intermittently supplies the pellets to the first and second roller device.

Abstract: In a pipe inner-surface inspecting apparatus, a body is inserted into an interior of the pipe and has an illuminator mounted at a forward end of the body for emitting light forwardly from the forward end of the body. A reflecting mirror in the form of a conical surface is so arranged as to face toward the forward end of the body with a space left between the reflecting mirror and the forward end of the body. The reflecting mirror diverges away from the forward end of the body, and reflects the light from the illuminator to illuminate the inner surface of the pipe thereby forming an image thereof. A concentrating unit is arranged at the forward end of the body for concentrating the image of the inner surface of the pipe, which is reflected by the reflecting mirror, to transmit the image to a rearward end of the body. A transparent glass is interposed between the reflecting mirror and the forward end of the body.