Means for supporting fuel elements in a nuclear reactor

USRE30247E · kind E · reissue

Assignee

• United States Department of Energy · US

Inventors

• Harry N. Andrews · Murrysville, US
• Herbert Keller · Pulheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 25, 1975
• Grant date: Apr 1, 1980
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 1995

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

5. A grid structure for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly comprising a plurality of connecting members forming .[.at least one.]. longitudinally extending .[.opening.]. .Iadd.peripheral and inner fuel element openings .Iaddend.through .Iadd.each of .Iaddend.which .Iadd.openings .Iaddend. at least one nuclear fuel element extends, said connecting members forming wall means surrounding .[.said.]. .Iadd.each peripheral and inner fuel element .Iaddend.opening, a pair of rigid projections .Badd.longitudinally spaced from one another .Baddend.extending from a portion of said wall means into .[.said.]. .Iadd.each peripheral and inner .Iaddend.opening for rigidly engaging .[.said.]. .Iadd.each .Iaddend.fuel element, .Iadd.respectively, yet permit individual longitudinal slippage thereof, .Iaddend.and resilient means .Badd.formed integrally on and from said wall means and .Baddend.positioned in .[.said.]. .Iadd.each peripheral and inner .Iaddend.opening in opposed relationship with said projections and located to engage said fuel element to bias the latter into engagement with said rigid projections, .Iadd.respectively. .Iaddend.