Nuclear reactor fuel rod attachment system

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864310

Christiansen, David W.

A reusable system for removably attaching a nuclear reactor fuel rod (12) to a support member (14). A locking cap (22) is secured to the fuel rod (12) and a locking strip (24) is fastened to the support member (14). The locking cap (22) has two opposing fingers (24a and 24b) shaped to form a socket having a body portion (26). The locking strip has an extension (36) shaped to rigidly attach to the socket's body portion (26). The locking cap's fingers are resiliently deflectable. For attachment, the locking cap (22) is longitudinally pushed onto the locking strip (24) causing the extension (36) to temporarily deflect open the fingers (24a and 24b) to engage the socket's body portion (26). For removal, the process is reversed.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-14-2170
• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 4,344,915
• Application Number: 06/187913
• OSTI ID: 864310
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1980 Sep 17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
fuel
rod
attachment
reusable
removably
attaching
12
support
14
locking
cap
22
secured
strip
24
fastened
opposing
fingers
24a
24b
shaped
form
socket
portion
26
extension
36
rigidly
attach
resiliently
deflectable
longitudinally
pushed
causing
temporarily
deflect
engage
removal
process
reversed
nuclear reactor
reactor fuel
fuel rod
opposing finger
removably attaching
locking cap
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