Spacer capture rod to space grid attachment device

Patent · Tue Sep 08 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5835757

Osborne, J L

In a nuclear fuel assembly having a parallel array of fuel rods, at least one of the fuel rods which is described, serves as a spacer capture rod. The fuel rods are positioned for longitudinally extending through openings formed from intersecting walls of a grid spacer. Some of the walls are flat and others of the walls have protrusions extending into the openings and coacting springs for holding the fuel rods in laterally fixed positions. The protrusions and springs are horizontally and vertically oriented, relative to the longitudinal axes of the fuel rods. A spacer capture system which secures the grid spacer in fixed position relative to the fuel rods, comprises a cylindrical-like sleeve rigidly fixed to the spacer capture rod. The sleeve includes a longitudinal guide slot; and spaced apart horizontally oriented pairs of vertically opposed bosses extending radially outward from the outer face of an upper portion of the sleeve for engaging at least one of the protrusions from the grid spacer walls; at least one vertically oriented slot located in a lower portion of the sleeve for receiving and locking against one of the springs, the coaction therebetween substantially preventing axial rotation of the capture rod relative to the grid spacer.

• Assignee: Exxon Nuclear Co., Inc., Florham Park, NJ
• Patent Number(s): US 4692303
• OSTI ID: 5835757
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
APERTURES
DESIGN
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
MACHINE PARTS
OPENINGS
POSITIONING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SLEEVES
SPRINGS
WALLS