Importance

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Abstract

A measuring tool (10) comprising two jaws (15b, 15c) which can be moved one with respect to the other in a first horizontal direction and moved back towards each other by an elastic means, is set up level with the spacer-grid (3) of the fuel assembly. The measuring tool (10) is displaced in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and to a front face (6a) of the spacer-grid (3) such that the jaws (15b, 15c) each come into contact with a lateral face (6b, 6c) of the spacer-grid (3) and the distance between the jaws (15b, 15c) is measured in the first horizontal direction. The tool (10) is mounted so as to rotate freely about an axis parallel to the vertical longitudinal direction of the fuel assembly (1) such that the measuring tool (10) is oriented freely with respect to the front face (6a) of the spacer-grid (3), when the measuring tool is displaced in the second horizontal direction. After having engaged the jaws (15b, 15c) on the lateral faces (6b, 6c) of the spacer-grid (3), the measuring tool (10) is made to rotate about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the front face (6a) of the spacer-grid (3). Measurements are made while the measuring tool (10) rotates and the minimum value of the separation of the jaws (15b, 15c) is determined, which forms the measurement of the transverse dimension of the spacer-grid (3).

First Claim