GB923258A - Improvements in and relating to nuclear fuel elements - Google Patents

Abstract

923,258. Fuel elements. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. Jan. 8, 1962 [Jan. 18, 1961], No. 2053/61. Class 39 (4). Support means for the longitudinally extending splitters 4 of a fuel element having heat exchange fins 6 comprise, in one embodiment (Fig. 1), keys 2 attached by means of legs 3 to the splitters 4 at 90 degrees intervals and slidable in grooves 5 formed in the inner wall of the tubular support sleeve 1. The ends of the splitters 4 are secured to the arms of a spider end member 7 which supports the fuel element by attachment to a beam 8 to which it is fixed by securing means 9 after the beam has been seated in its positioning groove 10. The edges of the splitters 4 may be provided with raised portions or castellations at the positions where the keys 2 are fitted so as to reduce the total coolant gas loading brought to bear on the keys 2. In another embodiment (Fig. 3), the splitters 4 are slotted, as at 11, and these slots engage keys 12 in the form of wires bent to the form shown and secured to the wall of the sleeve 1. Alternatively, the slots may be of dovetail shape and engage correspondingly shaped keys. In the first embodiment, the upper support spider has extensions (not shown) which engage the grooves 5 while in the second embodiment, extensions on the upper support member 15 engage grooves 16 on the inner wall of the sleeve 1. The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but here keys 17 are formed as castellations integral with the edges of the splitters 4.