Claims
- 1. A nuclear fuel assembly comprising an elongated, impervious outer flow channel; and a plurality of fuel bundles separately disposed within and along the length of said outer flow channel, wherein each of said fuel bundles includes an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate and a plurality of nuclear fuel rods disposed between said upper tie plate and said lower tie plate, at least two said fuel rods being tie rods interconnecting said upper and lower tie plates; further comprising an upper yoke having a fuel assembly lifting handle secured thereto, said upper yoke being secured to said outer flow channel at one longitudinal end of said outer flow channel; and further comprising means for enabling relative axial movement between said upper tie plate and said upper yoke.
- 2. A nuclear fuel assembly comprising an elongated, impervious outer flow channel; and a plurality of fuel bundles separately disposed within and along the length of said outer flow channel, wherein each of said fuel bundles includes an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate and a plurality of nuclear fuel rods disposed between said upper tie plate and said lower tie plate, at least two said fuel rods being tie rods interconnecting said upper and lower tie plates; further comprising an upper yoke having a fuel assembly lifting handle secured thereto, said upper yoke being secured to said outer flow channel at one longitudinal end of said outer flow channel; and further comprising means for enabling relative axial movement between said upper tie plate and said upper yoke, wherein said relative axial movement enabling means comprises an elongated axially extending pin secured to said upper tie plate and an axially aligned pin receiving aperture formed in said upper yoke, said pin being received with a slip fit within said pin receiving aperture.
- 3. A nuclear fuel assembly comprising a plurality of separately disposed fuel bundles; and elongated means disposed within said fuel assembly and externally of said fuel bundles for separating said fuel assembly into a plurality of elongated, separate fuel sections, one of said plurality of fuel bundles being disposed in each one of said separate fuel sections, wherein said elongated separating means further comprises means for providing an elongated, moderator flow path for subcooled neutron moderator along the length of said fuel assembly, and wherein each of said fuel bundles includes an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate and a plurality of nuclear fuel rods disposed between said upper tie plate and said lower tie plate, at least two said fuel rods being tie rods interconnecting said upper and lower tie plates; and further comprising an elongated outer flow channel, an upper yoke secured to said outer flow channel at one longitudinal end of said outer flow channel and means for enabling relative axial movement between said upper tie plate and said upper yoke.
- 4. A nuclear fuel assembly comprising a plurality of separately disposed fuel bundles; and elongated means disposed within said fuel assembly and externally of said fuel bundles for separating said fuel assembly into a plurality of elongated, separate fuel sections, one of said plurality of fuel bundles being disposed in each one of said separate fuel sections, wherein said elongated separating means further comprises means for providing an elongated, moderator flow path for subcooled neutron moderator along the length of said fuel assembly, and wherein each of said fuel bundles includes an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate and a plurality of nuclear fuel rods disposed between said upper tie plate and said lower tie plate, at least two said fuel rods being tie rods interconnecting said upper and lower tie plates; and further comprising an elongated outer flow channel, an upper yoke secured to said outer flow channel at one longitudinal end of said outer flow channel and means for enabling relative axial movement between said upper tie plate and said upper yoke, wherein said relative axial movement enabling means comprises an elongated axially extending pin secured to said upper tie plate and an axially aligned pin receiving aperture formed in said upper yoke, said pin being received with a slip fit within said pin receiving aperture.
- 5. A nuclear fuel assembly as recited in claim 4, also comprising a lower base, said lower base being secured to said outer flow channel at the opposite longitudinal end of said outer flow channel by a tongue and groove connection.
- 6. A nuclear fuel assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said outer flow channel is formed with reduced outer lateral dimensions at said opposite longitudinal end thereof.
- 7. A nuclear fuel assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of threaded retaining screws, a multiplicity of metal retaining bars, a plurality of apertures formed in said multiplicity of metal retaining bars, a plurality of aperatures formed in said opposite longitudinal end of said outer flow channel and a plurality of apertures formed in said lower base, said multiplicity of metal retaining bars peripherally surrounding at least portions of said opposite longitudinal end of said outer flow channel, said opposite longitudinal end of said outer flow channel peripherally surrounding said lower base, with said lower base being secured to said outer flow channel by the receipt of said plurality of threaded retaining screws through said plurality of apertures in said multiplicity of metal retaining bars, through said plurality of apertures formed in said opposite longitudinal end of said outer flow channel and through said plurality of apertures formed in said lower base.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 368,555, filed Apr. 15, 1982.
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1150423 |
Jul 1983 |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
368555 |
Apr 1982 |
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