Patent ID: 8644445

Claim:
Spring mounting device configured to mount a spring in a cladding tube for nuclear fuel, comprising: a spring distributor, a spring loader configured to be inserted into the cladding tube, the spring distributor configured to supply springs to the spring loader, said spring loader comprising: a longitudinal slide configured to receive the springs, said slide comprising: an outlet end whereby the spring is configured to be placed in the cladding tube, a pusher able to move in the slide and configured to set the spring into place in the cladding tube, and means of displacement of said pusher, and mechanical control that connects the spring loader to the spring distributor, causing the supply of the spring after the actuation of the spring loader, wherein the spring distributor comprises a cylinder barrel of longitudinal axis pivotable around its axis, said cylinder barrel comprising longitudinal grooves on its outer peripheral surface able to each receive one spring, a jacket surrounding the cylinder barrel, provided with a longitudinal slot able to allow a spring to pass, said cylinder barrel and said jacket being able to turn independently of each other around the longitudinal axis in order to align the slot with a groove, the jacket being able to be in a filling position of the cylinder barrel and to be in a distribution position of the cylinder barrel, said slot being arranged to face the slide of the spring loader in distribution position, the actuation of the means of displacement causing by the intermediary of the mechanical means the rotation of the cylinder barrel in relation to the jacket and the alignment of the slot with a groove loaded with a spring.