Patent Number: 050135201
Section: abstract

An apparatus for the insertion of mutually parallel, elongated fuel rods into an elongated can having a rectangular cross section, a longitudinal direction and a lateral transverse slit formed therein, includes a holder for holding a can. A fuel rod positioning arm has an insertion end for insertion through the slit in the can in an insertion direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the can. A support structure is attached to the insertion end of the arm for supporting fuel rods. The support structure has a pivot axis at right angles to the insertion direction of the arm and to the longitudinal direction of the can about which the support structure is pivotable back and forth within a given pivot angle. The support structure has a jacket surface with two fuel rod support surfaces being curved outwardly about the pivot axis and offset alongside one another in the direction of the pivot axis. One of the support surfaces merges from a first segment with a relatively shorter radial spacing from the pivot axis than the other of the support surfaces, into a second segment with a relatively greater radial spacing from the pivot axis than the other of the support surfaces. The radial spacings of the two support surfaces from the pivot axis increases in infinite graduations within the given pivot angle, as seen in opposite directions.