Nuclear fuel assembly holddown apparatus
Patent
·
OSTI ID:5486395
A fuel assembly has a lower end fitting and a spidered actuating rod interacting therewith for holding the assembly down on the core support stand against the upward flow of coolant. Locking means and bracing means for interacting with projections on the support stand are carried by the lower end fitting and are actuated by the movement of the actuating rod operated from above the top of the assembly. The locking means include weak springs mounted near some but not all of the end fitting posts, for engaging the support stand. Stiff springs are mounted internal to the other posts, for holding the posts against adjacent support stand projections to provide a bracing for the locking means as the spider portion of the actuating rod presses against the locking spring. The angle and spring rate per unit length of the bracing spring are preset to assure a fairly constant locking force during the life of the assembly.
- Assignee:
- Combustion Engineering Inc
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4309251
- OSTI ID:
- 5486395
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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