Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor

An improved nuclear fuel assembly of the type having a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported in a generally parallel array by fuel support structures which are rigidly attached to vertically extending hollow structural members at least one of which is in turn connected to upper and lower end fittings, said upper and lower end fittings include upper and lower end plates respectively, and means for alignment of the fuel within a reactor core comprising at least one vertically extending post, adapted to slidably engage corresponding openings in the reactor core structure, extending from the upper and lower end fitting plates, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a threaded spindle integral with and extending from said at least one vertically extending post to penetrate an aperture in said end fitting plate, said aperture being defined by a first bore section adjacent said vertically extending post having a diameter substantially the same as said spindle and a second bore section larger in diameter than said first bore, the transition between said first and second bores defining a first shoulder;
• a second shoulder on said vertically extending post to limit the penetration of said spindle;
• and
• mating threads on the interior of an end of said at least one hollow structural member to be threadably engaged with said spindle and into said second bore to bear against said first shoulder and secure said means for alignment, said end fitting plate, and said structural member to one another.