EP0140588A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly with a removable top nozzle
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-09-28
Abstract
Abstract @ The invention relates to a nuclear fuel assembly having an improved attaching structure for removably mounting the top nozzle of the fuel assembly on the upper end of a control-rod guide thimble. The attaching structure comprises an outer socket (42) defined in a portion (24) of the top nozzle, an inner socket (40) extending from the upper end of the guide thimble (14) and removably received in the outer socket for interlocking engagement therewith, and an elongate locking member (44) adapted to be inserted into the inner socket to maintain said interlocking engagement. Removal of the locking member from the inner socket enables the latter to be withdrawn from the outer socket, thereby enabling the top nozzle to be removed from the guide thimble.
Inventors
- 👤 John Milton Shallenberger
- 👤 Stephen Joseph Ferlan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/33; G21C3/3315; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A fuel assembly having a control-rod guide- thimble and a top nozzle, characterized by an attaching structure for removably mounting the top nozzle on the guide thimble, comprising means defining an outer socket (42 or 84) in the top nozzle (22); means on an upper end of said guide thimble (14) defining an inner socket (40 or 82 or 96) which is movable between a compressed releasing position enabling the inner socket to be inserted into and removed from the outer socket, and an expanded locking position for interlocking the inner and outer sockets with each other; and a locking member (44 or 86) inserted into said inner socket for retaining the latter in its locking position and thereby maintaining attachment of the top nozzle to the guide thimble, said locking member being removable from the inner socket to allow compression of the latter to its releasing position and thereby allow detachment of the top nozzle from the guide thimble.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fuel assembly having a control-rod guide- thimble and a top nozzle, characterized by an attaching structure for removably mounting the top nozzle on the guide thimble, comprising means defining an outer socket (42 or 84) in the top nozzle (22); means on an upper end of said guide thimble (14) defining an inner socket (40 or 82 or 96) which is movable between a compressed releasing position enabling the inner socket to be inserted into and removed from the outer socket, and an expanded locking position for interlocking the inner and outer sockets with each other; and a locking member (44 or 86) inserted into said inner socket for retaining the latter in its locking position and thereby maintaining attachment of the top nozzle to the guide thimble, said locking member being removable from the inner socket to allow compression of the latter to its releasing position and thereby allow detachment of the top nozzle from the guide thimble.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the means defining said inner socket (40 or 82 or 96) comprises an elongate sleeve (46) extending upward from the upper end of the guide thimble.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said top nozzle (22) includes a transversely extending plate (24), and the means defining said outer socket (42 or 84) comprises a passageway which extends through the plate, and in which is received an upper end portion of the sleeve (46).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said passageway has formed therein an annular groove (58 or 102), and said upper end portion of the sleeve (46) includes a circumferential bulge (48 or 88) shaped and disposed to be seated in said annular groove in interlocking relation therewith when the inner socket within the outer socket is in the expanded locking position thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said annular groove (58 or 102) and said circumferential bulge (48 or 88) are arcuate in cross- section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said upper end portion of the sleeve (46) has formed therein at least one elongate slot (50 or 92) for enabling said upper end portion to elastically collapse, under compression, radially inward sufficiently for the circumferential bulge (48 or 88) to permit axial movement of the sleeve into and from said passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said or each elongate slot (50 or 92) extends from the upper end of the sleeve (46) downward and -through the circumferential bulge (48 or 88).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that said locking member (44 or 86) is a tube which extends through the passageway and into said sleeve (46) in telescoped relationship therewith, said tube having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the elongate sleeve (46).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said passageway consists of an upper bore (52), an intermediate bore (54), and a lower bore (56) in which said annular groove (58) is located between and in spaced relationship with the opposite ends of the lower bore, said upper, intermediate and lower bores being axially aligned with each other, and the intermediate bore (54) being smaller in diameter than the upper bore and the lower bore, whereby the intermediate bore forms an upwardly facing ledge (60) and a downwardly facing ledge (62) at its intersections respectively with the upper and lower bores.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking tube (44 or 86) has, adjacent its upper end, a radial flange (66) which is disposed within said upper bore (52) and rests upon the upward ledge (60) when the locking tube is inserted in the inner socket (40).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the width of the downward ledge (62) is substantially equal to the radial thickness of the wall of said sleeve (46).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the diameter of the intermediate bore (54) is equal to the inner diameter of said sleeve (46) and slightly larger than the outer diameter of said locking member (44).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that said upper end portion of the sleeve (46) extends into said lower bore (56) and cooperates with the downward ledge (62) to align said circumferential bulge (48) with said annular groove (58).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13, characterized in that the outer diameter of the sleeve (46) above and below said bulge (48) is substantially equal to the diameter of said lower bore (56) above and below, respectively, said annular groove (58).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said passageway consists of an upper bore (98), and a lower bore (100) for receiving said upper end portion of the sleeve (82 or 96), said lower bore having said annular groove (102) formed therein and being larger in diameter than the upper bore so that the intersection between the bores forms a downwardly facing ledge (104) cooperating with the upper end of the sleeve (82 or 96) to align said circumferential bulge (88) with said annular groove (102).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fuel assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 15, characterized in that said locking member (44 or 86) has associated therewith means (68-70 or 72-74 or 76-78 or 80 or 106 or 108) for securing the inserted locking member against displacement thereof relative to the inner socket (40 or 82 or 96).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the securing means comprises a deformable flange (68) extending from the locking member (44) and deformed into interlocking engagement with locking indentations (70) formed in the top nozzle (22).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the securing means comprises an annular recess (74) formed in said top nozzle (22), and a split retainer ring (72) seated in said recess and disposed in retaining engagement with the locking member (44).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the securing means comprises a circumferential bulge (80) formed on the locking member (44) and retainably engaging the inner socket (40).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fuel assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the securing means comprises at least one bulge (106) formed in the locking member (82) and extending into retaining engagement with the concave side of the circumferential bulge (88) of the inner socket (82).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A fuel assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 20, characterized in that locking member (86) has an upper peripheral edge portion (108) which is flared outward so as to engage and to form a frictional fit with a wall portion of said passageway when the locking member is inserted in the inner socket (40 or 82 or 96).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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