Methods for guiding a fuel bundle into a channel

Abstract

A guide assembly is seated at the upper end of a channel for a nuclear fuel bundle. The guide assembly includes a lower guide plate with an opening corresponding in dimension to the dimension of the spacers of the fuel bundle to be inserted. The lower guide plate mounts depending locators to locate the guide apparatus on the channel. An upper guide plate spaced above the lower guide plate mounts rollers spaced from the lower guide plate a distance corresponding to the distance between the first and second spacers of the fuel bundle. The fuel bundle is lowered through the guide apparatus by engagement of the spacers with the rollers and in the channel opening to ensure the fuel bundle is guided into the channel without damage to either.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.