Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Handling of fission reactor component structure within... – Fuel component
Patent
1997-10-07
1999-04-27
Jordan, Charles T.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Handling of fission reactor component structure within...
Fuel component
376264, 376268, 376272, G21C 1900
Patent
active
058987452
ABSTRACT:
A fuel assembly locator for guiding and inserting nuclear fuel assemblies into a grid plate of a reactor vessel during reload. In the preferred embodiment, the fuel assembly locator includes a plurality of generally trapezoidal guides each having a multiplicity of serially increasing tiered slope regions for gradually directing the fuel assembly precisely into a grid plate opening. The increasing slope regions allow greater positional tolerance between the exterior of the fuel assembly and the interior opening of the grid plate opening initially, thus requiring less time and precision to align the fuel assembly with respect to the grid plate opening. The tolerance then gradually decreases since the slope of each successive tier is greater than the previous tier, thus precisely directing the fuel assembly into alignment with the grid plate opening for insertion therein.
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Master-Lee Engineered Products, Inc.; Article entitled Fuel Assmelby Shoehorn, Undated, Admitted Prior Art.
Barger Douglas A.
Pugh Anthony A.
Framatome Technologies, Inc.
Jordan Charles T.
Lattig M. J.
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