Top nozzle mounted reusable fastener device in a reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Aug 18 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5992399

Wilson, J F; Gjertsen, R K; Ferrari, H M

This patent describes a fuel assembly including a top nozzle with an adapter plate having at least one hole and at least one longitudinal structural member with a threaded upper end portion extending through the adapter plate hole so as to project therefrom, a reusable fastener device comprising: (a) attaching means threadable onto and from the upper end portion of the structural member between fastened and unfastened positions therewith for attaching and detaching the structural member to and from the top nozzle adapter plate; and (b) retaining means mounted on the top nozzle adapter plate so as to extend about the adapter plate hole and project outwardly from the adapter plate; (c) the retaining means including (i) a tubular hollow body having upper and lower opposite ends and a plurality of upper sectors connected to and extending radially inwardly from the upper end of the tubular body, (ii) the upper sectors together defining a central opening sized to receive the central stem of the attaching means and an interrupted upper surface surrounding the central opening; (iii) the upper sectors being disposed in a location spaced from the adapter plate at which their interrupted upper surface will be contacted by the lower surface of the upper flange of the attaching means when the central stem thereof is threaded onto the upper end portion of the structural member to the fastened position.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4687631
• OSTI ID: 5992399
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
FABRICATION
FASTENERS
FASTENING
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
JOINING
JOINTS
NOZZLES
PLATES
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
THREADED JOINTS