Abstract: Control for the operation of a mechanical handling and gauging system for nuclear fuel pellets. The pellets are inspected for diameters, lengths, surface flaws and weights in successive stations. The control includes, a computer for commanding the operation of the system and its electronics and for storing and processing the complex data derived at the required high rate. In measuring the diameter, the computer enables the measurement of a calibration pellet, stores that calibration data and computes and stores diameter-correction factors and their addresses along a pellet. To each diameter measurement a correction factor is applied at the appropriate address.The computer commands verification that all critical parts of the system and control are set for inspection and that each pellet is positioned for inspection. During each cycle of inspection, the measurement operation proceeds normally irrespective of whether or not a pellet is present in each station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing helically wound coils is disclosed which is capable of constantly producing dimensionally accurate edge-wound stator cores for dynamoelectric machines. The device uses a rotating ring of pins to pull a prepunched continuous strip of material between two components which operate cooperatively to deform the strip by thinning one of its edges. The deforming force is held constant to avoid aberrational deformations due to variations in strip thickness. A braking means provides tension on the strip as it progresses through its deformation and a suitable dereeler provides a continuous supply of straight, pre-punched strip material. The apparatus provides for either two power driven deforming members or one power driven member and one idler.

Abstract: The spent fuel consolidation system provides method and apparatus for remotely vertically and horizontally compacting an array of spent fuel rods while the fuel rods remain submerged in a coolant. The invention comprises a row ordering section for rearranging the configuration of the fuel rods, horizontal consolidation section for horizontally compacting several rows of fuel rods, and a vertical consolidation section for vertically compacting several rows of horizontally compacted fuel rods. The system is capable of compacting the fuel rods from a given fuel assembly to about one half of the volume originally occupied by such fuel rods in the fuel assembly thereby providing greater storage capacity for a given volume of spent fuel storage.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting nuclear fuel pellets in a sealed container for diameter, flaws, length and weight. The apparatus includes, in an array, a pellet pick-up station, four pellet inspection stations and a pellet sorting station. The pellets are delivered one at a time to the pick-up station by a vibrating bowl through a vibrating linear conveyor. Grippers each associated with a successive pair of the stations are reciprocable together to pick up a pellet at the upstream station of each pair and to deposit the pellet at the corresponding downstream station. The gripper jaws are opened selectively depending on the state of the pellets at the stations and the particular cycle in which the apparatus is operating. Inspection for diameter, flaws and length is effected in each case by a laser beam projected on the pellets by a precise optical system while each pellet is rotated by rollers.