The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 30, 1990
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1986
Andrew J Anthony, Tariffville, CT (US);
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
An inproved grid (16) for a nuclear fuel assembly (10), having a plurality of externally projecting, integrally formed anti-bowing springs (50) spaced about the grid perimeter plate (26), for interacting with flat surfaces (52') on the opposite grids (16') of adjacent assemblies (10'). The anti-bowing springs (50) are horizontally separated along each grid (26) in periodic alternation with substantially flat portions (52) of the perimeter plate (26). Preferably, each grid has a plurality of primary anti-bowing springs (70) that project a distance at least equal to the nominal gap (g) between assemblies, and a plurality of secondary anti-bowing springs (72) that are stiffer but project less than the primary springs. Also, backup springs (74) are disclosed as integrally formed ridges adjacent to the anti-bowing springs. The interaction of each grid (16) with its neighbor (16') 'tightens' the core during power operation and provides an anti-bowing effect.