Nuclear fuel assembly spacer

Patent · Tue Feb 18 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5903834

Johanssen, E B; Matzner, B

In a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor including a plurality of elongated elements, a spacer is described for retaining the elements in lateral position. The spacer consists of: an array of laterally positioned, cojoined tubular ferrules, each of the ferrules providing a passage for one of the elements, laterally oriented leaf spring members, each of the spring members spanning two adjacent ones of the ferrules and extending therein to engage and laterally support the elements extending through the adjacent ferrules, facing sides of the adjacent ferrules being formed with cutouts to receive and support the spring member. The sides of the ferrules opposite the facing sides are formed with openings to receive and restrain the ends of the spring member, the spring member being formed with a generally V-shaped central portion with an apex extending toward the adjacent sides of the adjacent ferrules whereby in the absence of elements through the adjacent ferrules the central portion contacts the adjacent sides to provide a preload on the spring member and limit the amount of projection of the spring member into the ferrules whereby the insertion of the elements through the ferrules is facilitated. The central portion of the spring member is unrestrained in the presence of the elements through the ferrules, the spring member having left and right arms extending outward from the V-shaped central portion, each of the arms including a relatively long center portion for contacting a respective one of the elements. A shorter end portion is angled toward the ferrules and a tab of reduced height at the end of each arm engaging a respective one of the openings whereby the resulting shoulders at the ends of the spring member engage the inner surface of the ferrules adjacent the openings to laterally locate and retain the spring member.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4571324
• OSTI ID: 5903834
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
DESIGN
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
MACHINE PARTS
OPENINGS
POSITIONING
REACTORS
SPACERS
SPRINGS