Thimble guide assembly

Patent · Tue Jan 05 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5283893

Merkovsky, D; Schwirian, R E

In a nuclear reactor having a reactor core plate with a bore and having an elongated hollow thimble which is longitudinally movable through the bore in the reactor core plate and into a fuel assembly supported by the core plate, the bore having an axis and the fuel assembly having a bottom nozzle with an aperture to receive the thimble, the bottom nozzle having legs which rest on the core plate around the bore and the aperture in the bottom nozzle being spaced apart from the core plate and being positioned along the axis of the bore therein, a thimble guide assembly is described comprising: an elongated first element having an axis, a top end, and a thimble channel which extends along the axis of the first element to the top end thereof; and a second element having a top end, a bottom end, an axis running through the top and bottom ends of the second element, and a thimble channel along the axis of the second element, wherein the thimble is longitudinally movable through the first and second elements along the thimble channels thereof.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4717529
• OSTI ID: 5283893
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
DESIGN
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NOZZLES
PLATES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
SLEEVES
SUPPORTS