Arrangement and method for attaching and reattaching a top nozzle in a reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly
This patent describes a reconstitutable fuel assembly having at least one control rod guide thimble and a top nozzle. The guide thimble includes an upper end portion. The top nozzle includes a lower adapter plate and an upper hold-down plate. The lower and upper plates have respectively an opening and passageway defined therethrough and aligned with one another. The opening in the lower plate receiving the guide thimble therethrough with its upper end portion extends above the lower plate and towards the passageway of the upper plate. An improved arrangement for mounting the top nozzle on the guide thimble is described comprising: (a) alignment means extending between the plates and receiving the guide thimble upper end portion, (b) complementary means formed on and interconnecting the alignment means and the guide thimble upper end portion so as to connect the alignment means and the guide thimble together. (c) The complementary means further include a secondary interior annular groove formed on the alignment means at a location spaced below the primary annular groove; (d) The complementary means still further include a primary interior section on the alignment means which contains the primary annular groove and a secondary interior section on the alignment means which contains the secondary annular groove. The secondary section is disposed below the primary section and has an interior diameter larger than that of the primary section for facilitating receiving of the severed guide thimble upper end portion back into the alignment means for reconnection of the alignment means and the severed guide thimble together.
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4707326
- OSTI ID:
- 5856641
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 26 Jul 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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