Fuel rod gripper end cap for minimizing impact with grid cell dimples

Abstract

An end cap is mounted on a fuel rod gripper to cover the end portions of fingers thereon to minimize impacts with grid cell dimples. The fingers are defined by circumferentially-spaced and longitudinally-extending slots in the gripper which permit the finger end portions to radially expand and retract between corresponding expanded and collapsed conditions. The end cap includes a body having a forward camming portion and a rearward mounting portion. The rearward mounting portion is hollow and configured to fit over and cover the end portions of the gripper fingers with the forward camming portion extending forwardly thereof. Also, circumferentially-spaced and longitudinally-extending attachment flutes are dispsoed internally of the hollow mounting portion of the body and project radially inwardly therefrom. The flutes are configured to releasably fit within the respective slots of the gripper when the finger end portions thereof are in the expanded condition and to be retained therein when the finger end portions are in the retracted condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.