Patent · US Expired

Boiling water reactor fuel rod assembly with fuel rod spacer arrangement

US5259009A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
12References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 1991
Grant dateNov 2, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A boiling water reactor fuel rod assembly is provided having a plurality of fuel rod spacers which are slidably receivable within an outer channel. Each of the rod spacers is formed of at least one lattice which defines a plurality of fuel rod retaining cells. The lattice is constructed of a plurality of pairs of oppositely facing springy support strips, with each support strip having a plurality of spring-loaded indentations. In an unloaded condition, oppositely facing indentations of each pair of strips, which define each cell, are displaced closer to one another. In a loaded condition, the oppositely facing cell indentations are forced away from each other by the fuel rods so that the springloaded indentations support and retain the fuel rods.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.