Patent Number: 050230468
Section: claims

1. A drive unit for use in inspecting nuclear fuel rods, comprising: a. a housing;  b. a drive motor mounted at the first end of said housing;  c. a spindle directly coupled to said drive motor and rotatably mounted in said housing; and  d. means mounted in said spindle adjacent the second end of said housing for gripping a fuel rod, comprising:  a. a housing;  b. a drive motor mounted at the first end of said housing;  c. a spindle directly coupled to said drive motor rotatably mounted on bearings in said housing and having a recess at its end adjacent the second end of said housing; and  d. means received in the recess of said spindle for gripping a fuel rod, comprising:  a. a housing;  b. a drive motor mounted at the first end of said housing;  c. a spindle directly coupled to said drive motor rotatably mounted on bearings in said housing and having a recess at its end adjacent the second end of said housing;  d. a substantially donut shaped rubber bladder received in said recess and having its longitudinal axis coaxial with that of said spindle whereby said bladder rotates in conjunction with said spindle in response to driving rotation by said drive motor; and  e. a flanged port extending radially from said bladder and in fluid communication with the interior thereof whereby said bladder may be pressurized, causing radial internal expansion thereof for gripping a fuel rod. 2. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein said spindle is rotatably mounted on bearings in said housing. 3. The drive unit of claim 1, further comprising a plunger slidably received in a longitudinal bore in said spindle and biased toward said gripping means. 4. A drive unit for use in inspecting nuclear fuel rods, comprising: 5. The drive unit of claim 4, further comprising a plunger slidably received in a longitudinal bore in said spindle and biased toward said gripping means. 6. A drive unit for use in inspecting nuclear fuel rods, comprising: 7. The drive unit of claim 6, further comprising a plunger slidably received in a longitudinal bore in said spindle and biased toward said rubber bladder.