Support structure for vertical stack of solid moderator

Claim 1

IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR, A VERTICAL STACK OF SOLID MODERATOR WHEREIN SAID STACK IS MADE UP OF ADJACENT VERTICAL COLUMNS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER BY A SYSTEM OF LONGITUDINAL KEYS ENGAGED IN RADIAL GROOVES FORMED IN SAID COLUMNS, CLEARANCES BEING PROVIDED BETWEEN ADJACENT COLUMNS AND BETWEEN THE KEYS AND THE BOTTOM OF THE GROOVES IN WHICH SAID KEYS ENGAGE SO AS NOT TO IMPAIR, DURING THE OPERATION OF THE REACTOR, THE LATTICE PITCH ON WHICH SAID COLUMNS ARE DISPOSED, SUPPORT STRUCTURE CONSISTING OF AN ASSEMBLY OF ADJACENT TILES SEPARATED BY A LATERAL CLEARANCE AND DISPOSED SIDE BY SIDE IN A SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE, EACH TILE HAVING A POLYGON-SIDED CONFIGURATION ADMITTING OF A VERTICAL AXIS OF SYMMETRY AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AN ASSEMBLY UNIT WHICH IS FORMED BY A LIMITED NUMBER OF SAID COLUMNS, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT EACH TILE IS COUPLED ONLY TO THE CENTRAL COLUMN WHICH FORMS PART OF THE ASSEMBLY UNIT CARRIED ON SAID TILE AND WHICH IS DISPOSED ALONG THE AXIS OF SYMMETRY OF SAID TILE, AND IS SUPPORTED ON A STATIONARILY FIXED BVEARING SURFACE BY PILLARS WHICH ARE SPACED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT SAID AXIS AND THE LOWER PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE THERMALLY INSULATED FROM SAID TILE.