Removable top nozzle and tool for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly
A fuel assembly is described for a nuclear reactor including a bottom nozzle, at least one longitudinally extending control rod guide thimble having an upper end and a lower end being attached to the bottom nozzle and projecting upwardly therefrom, transverse grids axially spaced along-the thimble for supporting an array of upstanding fuel rods, and a top nozzle subassembly removable mounted on the upper end of the guide thimble for obtaining top access to the fuel rods upon removal thereof. The top nozzle subassembly consists of: (a) a section integrally formed on the upper end of the guide thimble and having external threads thereon; (b) a lower adapter plate having a guide thimble hole for receiving the guide thimble so as to mount the adapter plate on the guide thimble for slidable movement therealong; (c) a retainer mounted on the guide thimble for restably supporting and limiting the downward movement of the adapter plate along the guide thimble; (d) an upper hold-down plate having a guide thimble passageway with an internal ledge for receiving the thimble so as to mount the hold-down plate on the thimble for slidable movement therealong; (e) spring means interposed between the upper hold-down plate and the lower adapter plate for biasing the hold-down plate upwardly when a downward force is applied thereon whereby the downward force is yieldably transmitted to the fuel assembly; and (f) a collar disposed within the passageway and in abutment with the ledge, the collar having an internal threaded section engageable with the externally threaded section to move the hold-down plate down against the spring means and thereby mounting of the subassembly on the guide thimble.
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4603027
- OSTI ID:
- 5358690
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 21 Dec 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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