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 including upper and lower end plates respectively, and means for alignment of the fuel assembly 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 extending from said at least one vertically extending post to penetrate an aperture in said end fitting plate, said aperture having substantially the same diameter as said spindle;
• a shoulder on said at least one vertically extending post to limit the penetration of said spindle;
• an inwardly extending flange on one end of said structural member defining an opening in said end having substantially the same diameter as said spindle;
• and
• a nut, disposed in the interior of said structural member and retained therein at said one end of said member by said inwardly extending flange, said nut threadably engaging said threaded spindle to clamp said flange between said nut and said end fitting plate.