Vibration arrestor for rod guide support structure of the inner barrel

Abstract

A vibration arrestor for use in combination with the support structure for the upper ends of rod guides disposed in parallel axial relationship in an inner barrel assembly of a pressurized water reactor vessel, the rod guides being supported between a first, lower plate and a second, upper plate with their respective top ends disposed adjacent the second plate. At least for a selected type of rod guides and associated top plates, apertures provided in the top plates receive therein corresponding extensions which depend from the second plate. Each vibration arrestor comprises a central hub having a central aperature received over the depending extension for each top plate of the selected type and includes at least a pair of spring arms integral with the central hub and extending therefrom in aligned, oppositely oriented directions and depending at corresponding angles therefrom, of a common length sufficient to engage the corresponding extremities thereof on the top plates received on the extensions of the predetermined array thereof aligned with the spring arms and positioned next adjacent the extension on which the central hub is received, the spring arms exerting a compression force on the engaged top plates, within a predetermined range, for resiliently opposing any reduction of the parallel spacing of those top plates from the second plate and for reacting lateral loads tending to displace the engaged top plates in a direction parallel to the second plate.