Patent Number: 046559914
Section: claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the absence of a spring element from among a fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor comprising a plurality of dimensionally similar grouped fuel rod elements mutually spaced in a predetermined array; said apparatus comprising:  a probe adapted to be guided along rows of said array;  said probe including at least one pawl capable of moving between a retracted and an extended position;  means for biasing said pawl toward said extended position, said biasing means adapted to urge said pawl into contact with said grouped fuel rod elements during probing along said rows; and  said probe being dimensional with respect to said spaced fuel rod elements to allow said pawl to assume said extended position only at a location where a spring element is missing;  whereby said probe is locked at said location against withdrawal from said array to indicate the absence of said missing spring element.  said pawl being supported substantially at said forward end of said arm; and  said biasing means urging said pawl outward relative to said arm.  an aperture communicating between opposite sides of said arm;  a pivot pin transversely positioned in said aperture;  said pawl including first and second opposite ends and being pivotably mounted on said pin at said first pawl end;  said aperture being dimensioned to completely contain said pawl in said retracted position; and  said biasing means including a torsion spring surrounding said pin and urging said second pawl end beyond one side of said arm and toward said forward end of said arm.  said pawl being constrained from pivoting beyond substantially 90.degree. in said forward direction; and  said pawl including a rounded forward surface portion at said second pawl end adapted to provide sliding contact with said springs during said probing in said forward direction, and a substantially flat rear pawl surface adjacent said rounded surface portion and angled relative to the latter to define a surface discontinuity therebetween at said second pawl end.  said torsion spring urging respective second pawl ends beyond opposite sides of said arm;  whereby a pair of adjacent rows can be probed simultaneously.  said probe comprising:  an elongate arm including oppositely positioned forward and holding ends, an aperture at said forward end communicating between opposite sides of said arm;  a pivot pin transversely positioned in said aperture;  a pair of substantially identical pawls mounted in superposed relationship on said pin;  a pair of substantially identical pawls mounted in superposed relationship on said pin;  each of said pawls being pivotably disposed on said pin at a first pawl end and being constrained to pivot between a retracted position wherein said pawl is completely contained in said aperture and an extended position substantially 90.degree. with respect to said arm;  each of said pawls including a rounded forward surface portion at a second pawl end opposite said first pawl end adapted to provide sliding contact with said springs during probing in said forward direction, each pawl further including a substantially flat rear pawl surface adjacent said rounded surface portion and angled relative to the latter to define a surface discontinuity therebetween at said second pawl end;  a torsion spring surrounding said pin and urging each of said second pawl ends toward said extended position and into contact with said helical springs during probing along said rows;  said probe being dimensioned with respect to said mutually spaced helical springs to allow said pawls to assume said extended position only at a location where a helical spring is missing;  whereby said probe is locked at said location against withdrawal from said array to indicate the absence of said missing helical spring. 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said probe comprises an elongate arm including oppositely positioned forward and holding ends respectively; 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pawl is adapted to pivot with respect to said arm between said retracted and extended positions. 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and further including: 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said elements comprise substantially identical helical springs each mounted on a separate vertical shank, said springs being disposed in a linear matrix array accessible to said probe only in a horizontal direction such that said springs are probed sequentially in a forward direction in each row; 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 or 5 wherein said pin carries a pair of substantially identical pawls pivotably mounted thereon at respective first pawl ends; 7. A probe for detecting the absence of a helical spring from a linear matrix array of mutually spaced, substantially identical helical springs each mounted on a separate vertical shank, said springs being obstructed by surrounding structure so as to be accessible to said probe only in sequence in a forward direction in each row of said matrix;