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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Nuclear reactor fuel assembly spacer grid

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5692572
This patent describes a grid for the spacing of fuel rods and control rod guide thimbles in a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, consisting of (a) interleaved grid straps arranged in an egg crate configuration defining standard cells therein for the separate enclosure of each of the fuel rods and defining thimble cells therein for the separate enclosure of each of the control rod guide thimbles; and (b) a first spring clip having an elongated band with two ends, coextensive first and second segments, and a middle equidistant from the two ends dividing the band into the first and second segments. The band is bent at the middle and disposed to widthwise encircle a first grid strap having two lengthwise edges, with the middle proximate one of the two lengthwise edges, and with the two ends attached together and disposed proximate the other of the two lengthwise edges.
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4578240
OSTI ID:
5692572
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English