Patent Number: 042742056
Section: claims

1. A device for measuring dimensional characteristics of an elongated component comprising: a vertically positioned elongated support beam; an elongated straight edge member supported and held in a position generally parallel to said support beam by support means at its ends secured to said support beam, the support means at one end of said straight edge providing freedom of longitudinal expansion and contraction of said straight edge and freedom from torsional constraint thereof, the support means at the other end of said straight edge providing torsional constraint whereby said straight edge is torsionally constrained only at said other of its ends; means for mounting said component in generally parallel alignment with said straight edge; a carriage mounted on said straight edge for movement along the length thereof adjacent said component; and at least one measuring device mounted on said carriage for indicating variation of the distance between said component and said carriage as said carriage is moved along said straight edge. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support means at one end of said straight edge includes a slidable, spherical bearing. 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said support means at the other end of said straight edge includes a pair of pivot pins engaging said straight edge. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said straight edge is rectangular in transverse cross section shape. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said straight edge is formed with a series of relatively large holes through its thickness to minimize thermal distortion thereof. 6. The device of claim 4 wherein said measuring device includes a body secured to said carriage and resiliently supporting a movable element adapted to maintain contact with said component as said carriage is moved along said straight edge and wherein movement of said movable element is in the direction of the width of said straight edge. 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said support beam has a length greater than the length of said straight edge and wherein the portion of said support beam between the support means at the ends of said straight edge includes means for increasing the torsional distortion resistance of said portion of said beam whereby transfer of torsional distortion of said beam to said straight edge is minimized. 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said straight edge is mounted between an intermediate bracket and a lower bracket both secured to said support beam. 9. The device of claim 8 further including a component support socket secured to said lower bracket for receiving and positioning the lower end of said component, said support socket being journalled to allow rotational motion of said component about its longitudinal axis whereby the lower end of said component is free from torsional constraint; and a selectively operable clamp arrangement secured to the upper end of said straight edge for receiving and holding the upper end of said component in position with respect to said straight edge, said clamp arrangement including adjustable stops engaging said component to dictate its angular position. 10. The device of claim 9 wherein said component is a flow channel mounted on a nuclear fuel assembly and wherein a bore of said support socket is formed to mate with the nose piece of said fuel assembly. 11. The device of claim 9 wherein said component is an empty nuclear fuel assembly flow channel provided with an adapter for mating the lower end of said flow channel to said support socket. 12. The device of claim 9 wherein said clamp arrangement includes a remotely operable movable arm. 13. The device of claim 8 including a calibration block providing a plurality of reference planes engageable by said measuring device. 14. The device of claim 8 further including an upper bracket secured to the upper end of said support beam for suspending said device from a wall of a pool of shielding water. 15. The device of claim 14 including remotely operable means for moving said carriage along said straight edge comprising a chain secured at both ends to said carriage and threaded over an idler sprocket mounted on said lower bracket and a driven sprocket mounted on said intermediate bracket; a handwheel operable at pool side shaft mounted on said upper bracket and shaft linkage means transmitting rotary motion of said handwheel to said driven sprocket. 16. The device of claim 15 including a counter coupled to the shaft of said handwheel for indicating rotations thereof by which the position of said carriage along said straight edge can be determined. 17. The device of claim 15 including a detent wheel fixed to the shaft of said handwheel for providing incremental positioning of said carriage along said straight edge. 18. The device of claim 15 wherein said chain is attached to said carriage near the center of gravity thereof. 19. The device of claim 15 including a counter weight attached to said chain to substantially balance the weight of said carriage. 20. The device of claim 14 wherein said means for mounting said component includes a relatively large passage for water circulation through said component. 21. The device of claim 1 wherein said carriage is mounted on said straight edge by a system of rollers. 22. The device of claim 1 wherein said component has a substantially square transverse cross section and wherein a plurality of spaced measuring devices are mounted on said carriage for providing distance variation measurements along a like plurality of spaced tracks along the length of the adjacent side of said component from which flatness, twist and bow of that side of said component can be determined. 23. The device of claim 22 wherein said measuring devices produce electrical signals and including a processing device for receiving said signals.