US 5,490,192 A · Fuel assembly

Abstract

A fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel rods, tie plates for holding both ends of these fuel rods, and spacers which support these fuel rods. The spacer comprises a plurality of cells into which the fuel rods are inserted respectively, the adjacent cells being joined to each other at axial ends thereof, whereby a space between these cells being held or retained, and a plurality of loop springs held respectively on the cells. Each of the loop springs has a pair of resilient members which are located within the pair of adjacent cells and which urge the fuel rods in a radial direction, and a pair of connections which connect axial ends of the resilient members to each other. Each of the connections have a passage through which coolant flows axially and which is defined by a closed peripheral wall. The closed peripheral wall is not uniform in thickness. The pair of adjacent cells have at axial end portions of peripheral walls openings for accommodating or receiving the connections of the loop spring.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fuel assembly comprising:

a plurality of fuel rods;
tie plate means for holding opposite ends of said fuel rods;
and
a spacer for supporting said fuel rods, said spacer including:
a plurality of cells connected with one another, into which said fuel rods are respectively inserted;
a plurality of loop springs held by said cells, each of said loop springs being provided with a pair of resilient members being located in a pair of the cells adjacent to each other and urging said fuel rods radially and with a pair of connecting members connecting axial ends of said resilient members, each of said connecting members having a passage through which coolant flows axially and which is defined by a closed circumferential wall, said connecting member having means for generating on said loop spring a rotational force in a predetermined direction;
and
openings being formed in a circumferential wall of said cell and receiving said connecting members of said loop spring.

5 more elements

A fuel assembly comprising:

a plurality of fuel rods;
a water rod having an outer diameter;
tie plate means for holding opposite ends of said fuel rods and said water rod;
and
a spacer for holding said fuel rods by a pitch smaller than the outer diameter of said water rod and holding said water rod among said fuel rods, said spacer including:
a plurality of cells connected with one another, into which said fuel rods are inserted respectively;
a plurality of first loop springs held by said cells, each of said loop springs being provided with a pair of first resilient members located in a pair of said cells adjacent to each other and urging said fuel rods radially and with a pair of first connecting members for connecting axial ends of said first resilient members to each other, each of said first connecting members having a passage through which coolant flows axially and which is defined by a closed circumferential wall, said first connecting member having means for generating on said first loop spring a rotational force in a predetermined direction;
openings formed in circumferential walls of said cells adjacent to each other, and receiving said first connecting members of said first loop springs;
a plurality of supporting members mounted onto said cells facing said water rod;
and
a plurality of second loop springs held by said supporting members, each of said second loop springs being provided with a pair of second resilient members one of which urges said water rod radially and with a pair of second connecting members connecting axial ends of said second resilient members to each other, each of said second connecting members having a passage through which the coolant flow axially and which is defined by the closed circumferential wall.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel assembly

Life of this patent

Fuel assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19