Charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9649724-B2
Application number	US-201514738030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 27, 2014
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid comprises a base frame; a conveyor for conveying a welding fixture horizontally over the base frame; and a gripper located over the base frame for gripping a welding fixture conveyed along the conveyor to charge a welding fixture into a welding chamber, wherein the gripper comprises a gripper body; and a gripping part installed horizontal to the end of the gripper body for gripping a welding fixture and capable of tilting in vertical direction to the gripper body in case more than a predetermined load is applied as a vertical load.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid, comprising:
a base frame;
a conveyor for conveying a welding fixture horizontally over the base frame; and
a gripper located over the base frame for gripping a welding fixture conveyed along the conveyor and charging it into a welding chamber, wherein the gripper comprises
a gripper body; and
a gripping part installed horizontal to the end of the gripper body for gripping a welding fixture, and capable of tilting in vertical direction to the gripper body in case more than a predetermined load is applied as a vertical load.

2. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper body and the gripping part have an elastic body between them and are connected by at least two or more than two connector pins placed at different levels.

3. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 2 , wherein a spacer of width identical to separation distance is arranged between the gripper body and the gripping part.

4. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of loading parts are arranged in a row along the conveyor in at least more than three (3) locations where a welding fixture is seated duly.

5. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the said loading parts is placed outside the conveyor.

6. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper body is placed in such a way that at least more than two of them are placed at different levels to form a long through hole vertically, and the gripping part comprises a guide rail arranged transversely;
a pair of grip arms slidable along the guide rail transversely;
a connector pin protruded corresponding to the through hole;
an elastic body inserted in the connector pin for supporting the gripper body and the gripping part elastically;
a spacer arranged between the gripper body and the gripping part; and
a grip mechanism for driving the grip arm horizontally from side to side.

7. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 6 , wherein the grip mechanism according to the present invention comprises a driving cylinder arranged between the grip arms for driving the grip arm horizontally;
a rotation plate having a fixed rotation axis and rotatable;
a pair of rotatable arms of which one end each is assembled to the rotation plate by a hinge and the other end each is assembled to each grip arm by a hinge.

8. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 7 , wherein the rotation plate has its rotation axis fixed to a cover plate arranged over the grip arm.

9. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 2 further comprises a proximity sensor for detecting change of separation distance between the gripper body and the gripping part.

10. The charging device of a welding fixture of spacer grid according to claim 6 further comprises a proximity sensor for detecting change of separation distance between the gripper body and the gripping part.

Assignees

• Kepco Nuclear Fuel Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Byeong Eun
• Yun Kwang Ho
• Shin Dong Kwang
• Yang Heui Seob
• Han Sang Jae
• Hong Jong Sung

Classifications

• B23K37/00 Primary

  Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass · CPC title

• G21C3/34

  Spacer grids · CPC title

• B23K31/022

  Making profiled bars with soldered or welded seams · CPC title

• G21C3/3424

  Fabrication of spacer grids · CPC title

• B23K26/0853 Primary

  Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least two axial directions, e.g. in a plane · CPC title