Online inspection system for surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets

Abstract

The present invention discloses an online inspection system for the appearance surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets, comprising a feed guide groove connected to the production line of the previous process, a peripheral surface detection guide groove, a double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging guide groove connected in sequence after the feed guide groove, a feed pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the feed guide groove, a peripheral surface detection component and a diameter detection component arranged corresponding to the peripheral surface detection guide groove, an end surface detection component arranged corresponding to the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the discharging guide groove. The present invention directly connects the production line through the set guide groove and transmission mechanism, realizes the synchronous operation of the detection system and the production line, and simultaneously respectively sets the peripheral surface detection component, the diameter detection component and the end surface detection component to comprehensively detect the nuclear fuel pellets passing through the transmission line one by one, cleverly uses the slope transmission to achieve the purpose of end surface detection, and realizes the comprehensive appearance defect detection of the nuclear fuel pellets and the integration of the connection with the production line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of pellet appearance detection, and particularly to an online inspection system for surface defects of nuclear fuel pellet appearance. Background Art

[0002] The nuclear fuel pellet is the core part of the nuclear fuel element, generally a small cylindrical block. After the nuclear fuel pellet is manufactured, it will be ground first to remove burrs and other surface problems, and then its surface condition needs to be inspected to avoid appearance defects such as lack of material, excess material, cracks, etc., which may cause unforeseen accidents in subsequent use. Since the nuclear fuel pellet itself is small in size, it is very inconvenient to grab it individually for inspection. Therefore, inspection through automated equipment is an effective inspection method. However, it is difficult to fully inspect its appearance at one time on assembly line equipment. At the same time, how to connect with the production line of the nuclear fuel pellet itself to realize online inspection is also a difficulty in this field. In particular, it is difficult to make the inspection surface of the nuclear fuel pellet correspond to the corresponding inspection device during the online transmission of the nuclear fuel pellet. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out targeted design for the online transmission of the nuclear fuel pellet. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an online inspection system for the appearance surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets, which can be directly connected to the pellet production line to achieve comprehensive online inspection of the appearance defects of the pellets.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted is as follows:

[0005] An online inspection system for the appearance surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets comprises a feed guide groove connected to the production line of the previous process, a circumferential surface detection guide groove, a double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging guide groove which are sequentially connected to the feed guide groove, a feed pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the feed guide groove, a circumferential surface detection component and a diameter detection component arranged corresponding to the circumferential surface detection guide groove, an end surface detection component arranged corresponding to the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the discharging guide groove, wherein the double-row belt conveyor mechanism is provided with a slope, and the end surface detection component performs end surface detection on the passing nuclear fuel pellets at the outer convex corner of the slope.

[0006] Furthermore, the feed pushing mechanism includes a feed linear shaft running along the feed direction and fixed by a bracket, a feed moving block arranged on the feed linear shaft, a feed motor arranged on the feed linear shaft for driving the feed moving block to move, a pushing clamp fixedly arranged on the feed moving block and corresponding to the feed guide groove, and a feed fixed clamp fixedly arranged at the entrance of the feed guide groove.

[0007] Furthermore, the circumferential surface detection guide groove is provided with a first detection notch corresponding to the circumferential surface detection component and a second detection notch corresponding to the diameter detection component in sequence.

[0008] Furthermore, the circumferential surface detection component includes an annular detection frame having a through hole in the middle for the circumferential surface detection guide groove to pass through, four detection ports arranged in a circumferentially evenly distributed manner on the circumference of the annular detection frame, a linear array camera mounted on the annular detection frame and corresponding to the detection ports, and a built-in light source arranged inside the annular detection frame, wherein the linear array camera is facing the first detection notch position through the detection port.

[0009] Furthermore, the diameter detection component adopts a laser outer diameter measuring instrument.

[0010] Furthermore, the double-row belt conveyor mechanism includes a double-row round belt for conveying nuclear fuel core blocks, a feed flat trough, a detection chute and a discharge flat trough for supporting the double-row round belt and connected in sequence, a driving wheel, a tensioning wheel and a plurality of driven wheels arranged through an axle seat for driving the double-row round belt transmission, a conveying motor connected to the driving wheel, and a waste rejection port arranged on the side of the discharge flat trough, wherein the feed flat trough is connected to the circumferential surface detection guide groove, the discharge flat trough is connected to the discharge guide groove, the feed flat trough is arranged higher than the discharge flat trough, and the end face detection assembly is arranged on the front and rear sides of the convex corner formed by the connection between the feed flat trough and the detection chute.

[0011] Furthermore, the end face detection component includes a front-end area array camera and a rear-end area array camera arranged by a bracket, and an area array light source matched therewith, wherein the front-end area array camera is arranged above the detection chute directly facing the end of the feed chute, and the rear-end area array camera is arranged above the feed chute directly facing the end of the detection chute.

[0012] Specifically, one driven wheel is arranged at the head end of the feed trough, one is arranged at the position where the feed trough and the detection chute are connected, and one is arranged at the end of the discharge trough. Three driven wheels are arranged in a herringbone shape at the connection between the detection chute and the discharge trough to form an inner corner steering wheel group, and the double-row round belt passes around the three driven wheels of the inner corner steering wheel group in sequence.

[0013] Furthermore, the discharging pushing mechanism includes a discharging linear axis running along the discharging direction and fixed by a bracket, a discharging moving block arranged on the discharging linear axis, a discharging motor arranged on the discharging linear axis for driving the discharging moving block to move, and a discharging clamp fixedly arranged on the discharging moving block and corresponding to the discharging guide groove.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] (1) The present invention directly connects to the production line through multiple guide grooves and transmission mechanisms, thereby realizing synchronous operation of the detection system and the production line. At the same time, a circumferential detection component, a diameter detection component and an end face detection component are respectively provided to comprehensively detect the nuclear fuel pellets passing through the transmission line one by one. The slope transmission is cleverly used to achieve the purpose of end face detection, thereby realizing comprehensive appearance defect detection of nuclear fuel pellets and integration with the production line, and effectively improving the efficiency of pellet surface detection.

[0016] (2) The feeding and pushing mechanism of the present invention utilizes the cooperation between the feeding fixed jaws and the pushing jaws to achieve accurate and stable clamping of the nuclear fuel pellets by the jaws during pushing, thereby improving the stability during pushing and facilitating the nuclear fuel pellets to enter the subsequent detection process.

[0017] (3) The present invention ingeniously sets a first detection notch and a second detection notch on the circumferential surface detection guide groove. The size of the notch matches the detection line surface of the linear array camera and the laser outer diameter measuring instrument, and is much smaller than the nuclear fuel pellet itself. It does not affect the transmission of the pellet in the circumferential surface detection guide groove, but can detect its circumference and measure its diameter when it passes through the corresponding notch, thereby ingeniously realizing synchronous detection during the pellet transmission process.

[0018] (4) The circumferential surface detection assembly of the present invention uses four circularly evenly distributed linear array cameras to detect the circumferential surface of the nuclear fuel core block. Each linear array camera corresponds to at least a 90° range of the circumferential surface. In conjunction with the first detection notch on the guide groove, comprehensive detection of the circumferential surface of the core block during the transmission process is achieved.

[0019] (5) The transmission mechanism of the present invention is cleverly designed with an inclined detection groove, which changes the previous transmission mode of the guide groove which is all in a straight direction, so that it forms an outward convex corner with the feeding flat groove, and utilizes the outward convex corner to separate the transmission direction of the double-row round belt into two mutually staggered directions. By arranging a surface array camera for end face detection in the staggered direction, the problem that the straight guide groove in the past affects the surface array camera's detection of the core block end face is cleverly avoided, thereby achieving the purpose of accurately detecting the end face status of the core block.

[0020] (6) The present invention also uses the driven wheels to form an inner corner steering wheel group to correct the oblique transmission direction of the detection chute, thereby ensuring the stability of the core block during the subsequent transmission process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the feeding and pushing mechanism.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the peripheral surface detection guide groove.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the peripheral surface detection component.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of a double-row belt transmission mechanism.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the inner corner steering wheel group.

[0027] Figure 7 It is a structural diagram of the discharging and pushing mechanism.

[0028] The names corresponding to the reference numerals are:

[0029] 1-feed guide groove, 2-peripheral detection guide groove, 3-double-row belt transmission mechanism, 4-discharge guide groove, 5-feed push mechanism, 6-peripheral detection component, 7-diameter detection component, 8-end detection component, 9-discharge push mechanism, 10-first detection gap, 11-second detection gap, 12-feed linear axis, 13-feed moving block, 14-feed motor, 15-push jaw, 16-feed fixed jaw, 17-ring Detection frame, 18-detection port, 19-linear array camera, 20-double-row round belt, 21-feeding flat trough, 22-detection inclined trough, 23-discharging flat trough, 24-driving wheel, 25-tensioning wheel, 26-driven wheel, 27-transmission motor, 28-waste removal port, 29-front end surface array camera, 30-rear end surface array camera, 31-discharging linear axis, 32-discharging moving block, 33-discharging motor, 34-discharging clamp, 37-transition trough. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The implementation methods of the present invention include but are not limited to the following examples.

[0031] Example

[0032] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the online inspection system for the appearance surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets comprises a feed guide groove 1 connected to the production line of the previous process, a peripheral surface detection guide groove 2, a double-row belt conveyor mechanism 3, and a discharging guide groove 4 connected in sequence after the feed guide groove, a feed pushing mechanism 5 arranged corresponding to the feed guide groove, a peripheral surface detection component 6 and a diameter detection component 7 arranged corresponding to the peripheral surface detection guide groove, an end surface detection component 8 arranged corresponding to the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging pushing mechanism 9 arranged corresponding to the discharging guide groove, wherein a slope is arranged on the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and the end surface detection component performs end surface detection on the passing nuclear fuel pellets at the outer convex corner of the slope. And the peripheral surface detection guide groove is sequentially provided with a first detection notch 10 corresponding to the peripheral surface detection component and a second detection notch 11 corresponding to the diameter detection component.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the feeding and pushing mechanism 5 includes a feeding linear shaft 12 that runs along the feeding direction and is fixed by a bracket, a feeding moving block 13 that is arranged on the feeding linear shaft, a feeding motor 14 that is arranged on the feeding linear shaft and is used to drive the feeding moving block to move, a pushing jaw 15 that is fixedly arranged on the feeding moving block and corresponds to the feeding guide groove, and a feeding fixed jaw 16 that is fixedly arranged at the entrance of the feeding guide groove by an external bracket. Among them, the feeding fixed jaw and the pushing jaw correspond to each other and cooperate to achieve accurate clamping and pushing of the core block during feeding and pushing. The feeding linear shaft adopts an existing integrated device, which is fixedly arranged by its own bracket and the external frame, and the feeding moving block can be smoothly driven to move by driving the transmission screw inside it through the feeding motor.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, the circumference detection assembly 6 includes an annular detection frame 17 with a through hole in the middle for the circumference detection guide groove to pass through, four detection ports 18 arranged in a circumferentially uniform manner on the circumference of the annular detection frame, a linear array camera 19 arranged on the annular detection frame and corresponding to the detection port, and a built-in light source arranged inside the annular detection frame, wherein the linear array camera faces the first detection notch position through the detection port. When the nuclear fuel pellet to be detected is transported and moved on the circumference detection guide groove, its circumference passes through the first detection notch from beginning to end in sequence, and the four linear array cameras sequentially detect the state of each cross section scanned on the 360° circumference of the pellet, so as to achieve comprehensive detection of the pellet circumference.

[0035] Preferably, the diameter detection component 7 adopts an existing laser outer diameter measuring instrument. It is placed at the position corresponding to the second detection notch, and the detection method is the same as when the core block passes through the first detection notch. When the core block completely passes through the second detection notch, the laser outer diameter measuring instrument completely detects the diameter of each circumferential section of the core block.

[0036] like Figure 5-6As shown, the double-row belt conveyor mechanism 3 includes a double-row round belt 20 for conveying nuclear fuel pellets, a feed flat trough 21, a detection chute 22 and a discharge flat trough 23 for supporting the double-row round belt and connected in sequence, a driving wheel 24, a tensioning wheel 25 and a plurality of driven wheels 26 for driving the double-row round belt transmission and arranged through an axle seat, a conveying motor 27 connected to the driving wheel, and a waste rejection port 28 arranged on the side of the discharge flat trough, wherein the feed flat trough is connected to the peripheral surface detection guide groove, the discharge flat trough is connected to the discharge guide groove, the feed flat trough is arranged higher than the discharge flat trough, and the end face detection assembly is arranged on the front and rear sides of the convex corner formed by the connection between the feed flat trough and the detection chute. Specifically, one driven wheel is arranged at the head end of the feed trough, one is arranged at the position where the feed trough and the detection chute are connected, and one is arranged at the end of the discharge trough. Three driven wheels are arranged in a herringbone shape at the connection point between the detection chute and the discharge trough to form an inner corner steering wheel group. The double-row circular belt passes around the three driven wheels of the inner corner steering wheel group in turn. In order to facilitate the transition of the double-row circular belts between the inner corner steering wheel groups, a transition groove 37 is also provided on the detection chute between the two driven wheels on the upper side; and the driven wheels can be set in corresponding multiple positions of the double-row belt transmission mechanism according to actual needs.

[0037] Specifically, the end face detection component 8 includes a front end area array camera 29 and a rear end area array camera 30 arranged by a bracket, and a matching area array light source, wherein the front end area array camera is arranged above the detection chute directly facing the end of the feed chute, and the rear end area array camera is arranged above the feed chute directly facing the end of the detection chute.

[0038] like Figure 7 As shown, the discharging pushing mechanism 9 includes a discharging linear shaft 31 that is fixed by a bracket and runs along the discharging direction, a discharging moving block 32 that is mounted on the discharging linear shaft, a discharging motor 33 that is mounted on the discharging linear shaft and is used to drive the discharging moving block to move, and a discharging clamp 34 that is fixedly mounted on the discharging moving block and corresponds to the discharging guide groove. The discharging linear shaft adopts the same existing integrated equipment as the feeding linear shaft, and is fixedly mounted by a self-contained bracket and an external frame. The discharging motor drives the transmission screw inside it to smoothly drive the discharging moving block to move.

[0039] Among them, the push jaws, feed fixed jaws and discharge jaws adopt the same specific structure, and their main bodies are air jaws. Polyethylene chucks are installed on the air jaws, which can not only ensure the stability of the core block clamping, but also avoid the air jaws directly clamping the core block and causing adverse effects on the core block surface.

[0040] When the present invention is used, the whole is docked to the processing production line of nuclear fuel core blocks, the head end of the feed guide groove is docked with the grinding line of the previous process, after the material is fed from the grinding line, the nuclear fuel core blocks are arranged along the axis, the core blocks stably positioned by the feed fixed jaws are clamped by the pushing clamps, and pushed into the peripheral surface detection guide groove, the peripheral surface detection components and the diameter detection components are used to perform peripheral surface detection and diameter measurement on the core blocks, and then the core blocks flow into the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and the end surface detection components cleverly arranged thereon are used to perform end surface detection on the core blocks on the line, when unqualified products are detected, the unqualified products are rejected at the waste rejection port by a toggling device or a blowing device, and finally the nuclear fuel core blocks arranged on the discharge guide groove are pushed back by the discharge clamps into the tray loading mechanism of the next process for subsequent processing.

[0041] The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any changes that adopt the design principles of the present invention and are made through non-creative labor on this basis should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An online inspection system for surface defects of nuclear fuel pellets, characterized in that: It includes a feed guide groove connected to the production line of the previous process, a circumferential surface detection guide groove, a double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging guide groove connected in sequence behind the feed guide groove, a feed pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the feed guide groove, a circumferential surface detection component and a diameter detection component arranged corresponding to the circumferential surface detection guide groove, an end surface detection component arranged corresponding to the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and a discharging pushing mechanism arranged corresponding to the discharging guide groove, wherein a slope is arranged on the double-row belt conveyor mechanism, and the end surface detection component performs end surface detection on the passing nuclear fuel pellets at the outer convex corner of the slope; The circumferential surface detection guide groove is provided with a first detection notch corresponding to the circumferential surface detection component and a second detection notch corresponding to the diameter detection component in sequence; the circumferential surface detection component includes an annular detection frame with a through hole in the middle for the circumferential surface detection guide groove to pass through, four detection ports arranged in a circumferentially uniformly distributed manner on the circumference of the annular detection frame, a linear array camera arranged on the annular detection frame and corresponding to the detection ports, and a built-in light source arranged inside the annular detection frame, wherein the linear array camera is directly facing the position of the first detection notch through the detection port; the diameter detection component adopts a laser outer diameter measuring instrument.

2. The nuclear fuel pellet surface defect online inspection system according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The feed pushing mechanism includes a feed linear shaft running along the feed direction and fixed by a bracket, a feed moving block arranged on the feed linear shaft, a feed motor arranged on the feed linear shaft for driving the feed moving block to move, a pushing clamp fixedly arranged on the feed moving block and corresponding to the feed guide groove, and a feed fixed clamp fixedly arranged at the entrance of the feed guide groove.

3. The nuclear fuel pellet surface defect online inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The double-row belt conveyor mechanism includes a double-row round belt for conveying nuclear fuel core blocks, a feed flat trough, a detection chute and a discharge flat trough for supporting the double-row round belt and connected in sequence, a driving wheel, a tensioning wheel and a plurality of driven wheels arranged through an axle seat for driving the double-row round belt transmission, a conveying motor connected to the driving wheel, and a waste rejection port arranged on the side of the discharge flat trough, wherein the feed flat trough is connected to the peripheral surface detection guide groove, the discharge flat trough is connected to the discharge guide groove, the feed flat trough is arranged higher than the discharge flat trough, and the end face detection assembly is arranged on the front and rear sides of the convex corner formed by the connection between the feed flat trough and the detection chute.

4. The nuclear fuel pellet surface defect online inspection system according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The end face detection component includes a front-end area array camera and a rear-end area array camera arranged by a bracket, and an area array light source matched therewith, wherein the front-end area array camera is arranged above the detection chute directly facing the end of the feeding flat chute, and the rear-end area array camera is arranged above the feeding flat chute directly facing the end of the detection chute.

5. The nuclear fuel pellet surface defect online inspection system according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The driven wheels are arranged at the head end of the feed trough, at the position where the feed trough and the detection chute are connected, and at the end of the discharge trough. Three driven wheels are arranged in a herringbone shape at the connection between the detection chute and the discharge trough to form an inner corner steering wheel group, and the double-row round belt passes around the three driven wheels of the inner corner steering wheel group in sequence.

6. The nuclear fuel pellet surface defect online inspection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discharging pushing mechanism includes a discharging linear axis running along the discharging direction and fixed by a bracket, a discharging moving block arranged on the discharging linear axis, a discharging motor arranged on the discharging linear axis for driving the discharging moving block to move, and a discharging clamp fixedly arranged on the discharging moving block and corresponding to the discharging guide groove.

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