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

Guide thimble captured locking tube in a reconstitutable fuel assembly

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6245158
A reconstitutable fuel assembly is described including a top nozzle with an adapter plate having at least one passageway, at least one guide thimble with an upper end portion, and an attaching structure for mounting the top nozzle adapter plate in releasable locking engagement upon the guide thimble upper end portion, the improvement which comprises: (a) a locking tube mounted within the guide thimble upper end portion for movement relative between an upper locking position where the adapter plate and guide thimble upper end portion are maintained in the locking engagement and a lower unlocking position where the adapter plate is releasable from the guide thimble upper end portion; and (b) cooperating means defined on the locking tube and the guide thimble for releasably retaining the locking tube at either of the upper and lower positions in the guide thimble.
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4684498
OSTI ID:
6245158
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English