Westinghouse Electric Corporation

William E Kirby

John F Wilson

Robert K Gjertsen

Robert Duncan

Theodore W Nylund

David H Field

A top nozzle adapter plate for use in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor includes an upper structural component and a lower functional component supported from the upper component. The fuel assembly has elongated structural members and fuel rods disposed in a predetermined array. The upper structural component of the adapter plate includes spaced and interconnected hubs and ligaments arranged to define substantial open areas for coolant flow therethrough while providing a rigid framework capable of transmitting lifting loads imposed by the fuel assembly. The hubs are connected to the elongated structural members of the fuel assembly. The lower functional component of the adapter plate includes a grid composed of a plurality of spaced and interleaved straps which cross one another to form intersections aligned with individual fuel rods in the array thereof for restraining movement of fuel rods upward from the fuel assembly while defining open channels through the grid for allowing passage of coolant flow therethrough. The grid also contains void areas through which extend the hubs of the upper component. The lower component also includes coolant flow directing means being operable to establish a predetermined desired pressure drop across the top nozzle of the fuel assembly. In one form, the coolant flow directing means is a plurality of tabs connected to the grid straps and extending outwardly therefrom. The tabs are adjustable into various desired positional relationships with respect to the grid channels for controlling coolant flow therethrough. In a modified form, the coolant flow directing means is in the form of a thin flat plate having holes of predetermined desired sizes and shapes formed therein. The plate extends along the interleaved straps of the grid with its holes generally aligned with the open channels of the grid.

Top nozzle adapter plate with fuel rod capture grid having pressure drop

A water cross for delivering non-boiling water to the center of a BWR fuel assembly for improved moderation and fuel economy. A cruciform skeleton is assembled from grid straps and connecting straps positioned at axial locations along stiffening rods. The skeleton is inserted into a flow channel to provide support for rectangular or square water tubes which are inserted through the skeleton into the flow channel to form an internal water cross. A method for forming a water cross is also disclosed.

Cruciform skeleton and water cross for a BWR fuel assembly

An arrangement for applying a constant load on the probe of a coordinate measurement machine to eliminate errors caused by operator hand pressure when the probe is manually moved into engagement with a part being measured. In coordinate measurement machines, a carriage movable in the Y axis direction bridges the part being measured. A probe on the carriage is movable in the X axis direction thereby permitting probe movement in any quadrant in X-Y axis directions. To eliminate measurement errors in the Y axis direction, a constant load is applied to the probe by a pair of spring motors mounted on opposite ends of the machine. These spring motors are connected by spring motor cables to the carriage. When the back cable is attached to the carriage, the applied force urges it in the +Y axis direction, and the front cable when attached, urges the probe in the -Y axis direction. To apply a constant load on the probe in the X axis direction, spring motors are mounted on opposite ends of the carriage. Cables from these motors are selectively connected to the probe housing to respectively urge the probe in the +X or - X axis directions. By connecting appropriate spring motor cables to the carriage and probe housing, constant loads are applied to the probe which urges it in the X-Y axis directions in any one of four quadrants.

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Columbia, SC, United States of America

William E Kirby