Suspension scheme for fuel pin

Claim 2

A nuclear fuel pin suspension arrangement comprising, in combination, a rod; a first beam member connected to said rod at one end thereof; a plurality of parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates attached to said first beam member, the longitudinal axis of said first beam member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of said fuel support plates, a first coupling means disposed along the length of the first beam member for permitting said slidable fuel support plates parallel movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of said first beam member, a second coupling means located at one end of each of said slidable fuel plates for slidably engaging said first coupling means of said first beam member, a second beam member connected to the other end of each of said parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates and providing an extension thereof, said second beam member being provided with a third coupling means disposed along the length of said second beam member at one end thereof; and a plurality of fuel pins provided with a fourth coupling means located at one end of each of said fuel pins for slidably engaging said third coupling means of said second beam member to permit each of said fuel pins parallel movement with respect to thE longitudinal axis of said second beam member.

Claim 3

A nuclear fuel pin suspension arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first coupling means comprises a first male coupling element, said second coupling means comprises a first slidable female coupling element, said third coupling means comprises a second male coupling element, and said fourth coupling means comprises a second slidable female coupling element.

Claim 4

A nuclear fuel pin suspension arrangement comprising, in combination, a rod; a first beam member connected to said rod at one end thereof, the longitudinal axis of said first beam member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said rod; said first beam member being provided with a first male coupling element at one end of said first beam member, said first male coupling element being substantially U-shaped and located along the length of said first beam member; a plurality of parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates each having a first slidable female coupling element at one end of each of said support plates engaging said first male coupling element of said first beam member, said first slidable female coupling element defined by an inwardly directed substantially spade-shaped configuration; a second beam member located at the other end of each of said parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates and providing an extension thereof; each of said second beam members being provided with a second male coupling element at one end thereof, said second beam member of each of said fuel support plates having a reduced portion located adjacent to said second male coupling element, said reduced portions of alternate second beam members being shorter in width than the reduced portions of the other adjacent second beam members, said second male coupling element being substantially U-shaped and located along the length of said second beam member; and a plurality of fuel pins each being provided with a second slidable female coupling element at one end thereof engaging said second male coupling element of said second beam member, said second slidable female coupling element defined by an inwardly directed substantially spade-shaped configuration, each of said fuel pins being provided with an annular concave portion adjacent said second slidable female coupling element, said annular concave portions of the fuel pins attached to alternate second beam members providing a substantially spherical configuration, said one end of each of said fuel pins attached to the other adjacent second beam members substantially located within said spherical configuration provided by the concave portions of said fuel pins attached to alternate second beam members.

Claim 5

A nuclear fuel pin suspension arrangement comprising, in combination, a rod; a first beam member connected to said rod at one end thereof, the longitudinal axis of said first beam member being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said rod; said first beam member being provided with a first male coupling element at one end of said first beam member, said first male coupling element being substantially U-shaped and located along the length of said first beam member; a plurality of parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates each having a first slidable female coupling element at one end of each of said support plates engaging said first male coupling element of said first beam member, said first slidable female coupling element defined by an inwardly directed substantially spade-shaped configuration; a second beam member located at the other end of each of said parallel-spaced slidable fuel support plates and providing an extension thereof; each of said second beam members being provided with a second male coupling element at one end thereof, said second beam member of each of said fuel support plates having a reduced portion located adjacent to said second male coupling element, said reduced portions of alternate second beam members being shorter in width than the reduced portions of the other adjacent second beam members, said second male coupling element being substantially U-shaped and located along the length of said second beam member; and a plurality of fuel pins each being provided with a second slidable female coupling element at one end thereof engaging said second male coupling element of said second beam member, said second slidable female coupling element defined by an inwardly directed substantially spade-shaped configuration, each of said fuel pins being provided with an annular concave portion adjacent said second slidable female coupling element, said annular concave portions of the fuel pins attached to alternate second beam members providing a substantially spherical configuration, said one end of each of said fuel pins attached to the other adjacent second beam members substantially located within said spherical configuration provided by the concave portions of said fuel pins attached to alternate second beam members.