| 摘要 |
909,646. Fuel elements. UNITED KING- DOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. May 24, 1961 [June 22, 1960], No. 21932/60. Class 39 (4). [Also in Groups XXV and XXVIII] A device for coupling a string of nuclear reactor frit elements to a neutron shield plug comprises an outer tubular part 1 and an engaging collet part 3, the outer tubular part terminating with an internal hooked lip 2 and the collet part being made up of a series of resilient fingers 4 providing an external hooked lip 5 to engage the internal lip 2 of the outer tubular part, the outer tubular part having an internal seating surface 6 such that compressive loads can be sustained between the parts and means being provided inside the collet part limiting bowing of the fingers under the compressive loads. As shown, the seating surface 6 is part spherical and this rests on the ends 7 of the fingers 4 when the parts are in compression. The means for limiting bowing of the fingers under compressive loads comprises an internal shoulder 15 on each finger which co-operates with a distance-piece 12 connected to the string of fuel elements and screwed inside the collet part 3. A second distance piece 8 connected to the shield plug is screwed into the tubular part 1 and fixed in position by a dowel 9; it is provided with a stop 16 adjacent the surface 6 to restrict inward movement of the fingers 4 to prevent uncoupling under tensile load. The distance piece 8 has the series of tongues 10 separated by slots 11 and fits within the distance piece 12. Dowels 14 on the distance piece 12 fit in the slots 11 to prevent rotation of the two distance pieces 8 and 12 on the parts 1, 2. A piston ring 13 seals the two distance pieces together. To couple the parts 1, 3 together the distance piece 8 is inserted into the collet part 3 ; the fingers 4 then spring past the lip 2. To uncouple the parts the fingers 4 are pressed inwards by a ring-shaped lip 2 and the parts are then drawn apart. |
