[en] The described remote handling unit for X-ray generators connected to various diagnostic X-ray machines is aimed at minimizing the effort in adjusting it to individual diagnostic units by automatic connection

[en] Radiation sources for medical or metering applications must be shielded if not in use or in case of malfunction. Use of absorbers, brought into the trace of the rays, requires a minimum distance between radiation source and objects to be exposed. With the device described the radiation source is moved into the desired position by use of a connecting rod. When drawing-out, two semimonocoque shields are openend compulsory. Draw-out is done by compressed air preferably, draw-in uses a restoring spring. Due to the compulsory operation of the shields safety is granted. A fluorescent area is mounted on the connecting rool which allows to indicate the reset position by use of an optical fibre. (J.K.)

[en] A method and apparatus for loading nuclear fuel pellets in levels onto a horizontally and vertically indexing tray string-by-string. The apparatus includes a belt feeder assembling each string at a location on pivotal blades over the tray. Arrival is optically noted and a pusher delivers the string to a drop site, completely loading the string onto the blades for delivery to the indexing tray

[en] The device comprises steel cables, eventually rubber coated, that are maintained parallel by spreaders positioned along the belt. Application is made to handling in a radioactive medium for instance a swimming pool

[en] This paper presents an account of carrying out a hazard analysis to define the safety requirements for an autonomous robotic excavator. The work is also relevant to the growing generic class of heavy automated mobile machinery. An overview of the excavator design is provided and the concept of a safety manager is introduced. The safety manager is an autonomous module responsible for all aspects of system operational safety, and is central to the control system's architecture. Each stage of the hazard analysis is described, i.e. system model creation, hazard definition and hazard analysis. Analysis at an early stage of the design process, and on a system that interfaces directly to an unstructured environment, exposes certain issues relevant to the application of current hazard analysis methods. The approach taken in the analysis is described. Finally, it is explained how the results of the hazard analysis have influenced system design, in particular, safety manager specifications. Conclusions are then drawn about the applicability of hazard analysis of requirements in general, and suggestions are made as to how the approach can be taken further

No abstract available

[en] The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has a wide ranging research and development program in active handling equipment and this is now being extended into the application of teleoperators and robotics. As a direct spin-off from this work the Harwell Laboratory is undertaking a feasibility study into the application of advanced robotics in the nuclear industry for an initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Together with the Culham Laboratory and Industry, an R and D program into the application of robotics in space is being undertaken. This paper is an overview of these and associated programs giving the background and content of the work being undertaken

[en] Separate abstracts were prepared for 21 papers of this meeting

[en] A custom-designed tensile machine is developed to characterize the mechanical properties of ink micro-filaments deposited by the direct-write method. The direct-write method has been used for the fabrication of a wide variety of micro-systems such as microvascular networks, chaotic mixers and laboratory on chips. The tensile machine was used to measure the induced force in ink filaments during tensile and tension-relaxation tests as a function of the applied strain rate, the ink composition and the filament diameter. Experimental data were fitted by a linearly viscoelastic model using a data reduction procedure in order to identify the constitutive theory parameters of the deposited ink filaments. The model predictions based on the linearly viscoelastic model and the defined constitutive theory parameters give a close approximation of all experimental data generated in this study. Such models will be useful for the development and optimization of future 3D complex structures made by the direct-write method

[en] A nuclear fuel bundle fuel transfer system includes a transfer pool containing water at a level above a reactor core. A fuel transfer machine therein includes a carriage disposed in the transfer pool and under the water for transporting fuel bundles. The carriage is selectively movable through the water in the transfer pool and individual fuel bundles are carried vertically in the carriage. In a preferred embodiment, a first movable bridge is disposed over an upper pool containing the reactor core, and a second movable bridge is disposed over a fuel storage pool, with the transfer pool being disposed therebetween. A fuel bundle may be moved by the first bridge from the reactor core and loaded into the carriage which transports the fuel bundle to the second bridge which picks up the fuel bundle and carries it to the fuel storage pool. 6 figures