Top nozzle and guide thimble joint structure in a nuclear fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Aug 18 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6157593

Gjertsen, R K; Wilson, J F

This patent describes a nuclear fuel assembly having at least one control rod guide thimble and a top nozzle, the guide thimble including an upper extension member, the top nozzle including a lower adapter plate supported on the guide thimble with the extension member extending above the lower adapter plate, an upper hold-down plate having a passageway slidably receiving an upper end portion of the extension member and at least one hold-down spring disposed between the plates so as to bias the upper hold down plate for movement upwardly along the extension member in a direction away from the lower adapter plate, an improved joint structure flexibly interconnecting the hold-down plate with the upper end portion of the guide thimble upper extension member.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4687630
• OSTI ID: 6157593
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
CONTROL ELEMENTS
FLEXIBILITY
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
JOINTS
MACHINE PARTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NOZZLES
PLATES
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SPRINGS
SUPPORTS
TENSILE PROPERTIES