Fuel Exchange Apparatus Segmentation for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of fabricating fuel exchange apparatuses is attributed to the demand for high stiffness and precision in telescopic tubes and orientating mechanisms, which increases the complexity and weight of the fuel holding unit, leading to elevated manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The fuel exchange apparatus employs a telescopic tube with reduced precision requirements by allowing it to be in a freely suspended state, using gravity to align the holding tool vertically, and an independent rotating mechanism for the holding tool, eliminating the need for a heavy orientating mechanism that rotates the telescopic tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high stiffness and precision are demanded for telescopic tubes and orientating mechanisms, then positioning precision of the holding tool is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The orientating function is segmented from the telescopic tube system. The holding tool is equipped with an independent rotating mechanism that can rotate independently of the telescopic tube, separating the positioning function (performed by the simple telescopic tube) from the orientating function (performed by the independent rotating mechanism). This segmentation allows the telescopic tube to have reduced precision requirements while maintaining overall system precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent rotating mechanism acts as an intermediary between the telescopic tube and the holding tool. It decouples the relationship between telescopic tube positioning and holding tool orientation, allowing the holding tool to be precisely oriented regardless of the telescopic tube's precision limitations. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling precise orientation without requiring the telescopic tube to have high precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If high stiffness and precision are demanded for telescopic tubes and orientating mechanisms, then positioning precision of the holding tool is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a simple telescopic tube for positioning and an independent rotating mechanism for orientation. This segmentation allows the telescopic tube to be manufactured with lower precision standards, reducing its manufacturing cost, while the rotating mechanism handles the precision orientation requirements separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic tube is designed with reduced precision requirements and can be manufactured more cheaply using conventional machining methods. The patent explicitly states that the telescopic tube does not need to be fabricated by extremely special machining methods, making it a more economical, shorter-lived component that can be replaced more easily if needed.
3Ease of operation
If a heavy orientating mechanism that rotates the telescopic tube is used, then orientation control is improved, but weight of the fuel holding unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation control function is segmented from the heavy telescopic tube and assigned to a lightweight independent rotating mechanism attached to the holding tool. This segmentation allows orientation control to be achieved with a much lighter mechanism, as the rotating mechanism only needs to rotate the holding tool itself rather than the entire telescopic tube assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the telescopic tube to orient the holding tool (which would require a heavy mechanism), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the telescopic tube stationary and rotating the holding tool independently. This inversion dramatically reduces the weight of the orientating mechanism while maintaining orientation control capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise fuel assembly exchange with reduced manufacturing costs by allowing the telescopic tube to have rough precision and simplifying the orientating mechanism, thus lowering the overall cost of the apparatus while maintaining effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
allowing it to be in a freely suspended state, using gravity to align the holding tool vertically
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel exchange apparatus, comprising:a traveling carriage moving horizontally in one direction;a traversing carriage moving horizontally on the traveling carriage in a direction orthogonal to the one direction in which the traveling carriage moves; anda fuel holding unit attached to the traversing carriage, and including an telescopic tube enabling to extend and contract, a holding tool for holding a fuel assembly and releasing the held fuel assembly, and a lifter for raising and lowering the holding tool by winding and running out linear members for suspending and supporting the holding tool from the traversing carriage,wherein the holding tool is selectively placed in a constrained state in which the holding tool is subject to a constraint by the telescopic tube and in a freely suspended state in which the holding tool is released from the constraint by the telescopic tube and freely suspended by the linear members.