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:
Feb. 06, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1994
Ronald J Hopkins, Pensacola, FL (US);
John T Land, Pensacola, FL (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
Self-locking alignment pin and method for aligning a nuclear fuel assembly with respect to a core plate disposed in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The fuel assembly has a top nozzle having a first bore formed therein. The core plate has a second bore alignable with the first bore. The second bore has first threads of a first predetermined pitch and second threads of a second predetermined pitch. The alignment pin further includes a shaft that has an end portion having third threads of the first predetermined pitch for threadably engaging the first threads of the second bore. A flange, which has a plurality of recesses in the underside surface thereof, surrounds the shaft and is integrally attached thereto. A locking member surrounds the flange and has exterior fourth threads of the predetermined second pitch for threadably engaging the second threads of the second bore. The locking member also has deformable portions adapted to engage respective ones of the recesses for locking the locking member to the flange. The flange and the shaft are prevented from disengaging the bore in the core plate because the first and third threads have a pitch different than the pitch of the second and fourth threads.