Nuclear reactor incorporating locking device for threaded bolt connections

摘要

An improved nuclear reactor wherein the bolted connections between the baffle plates and baffle former and the baffle former and the core barrel are provided with a noval locking device that prevents loosening of the bolted connections. The locking device to prevent loosening of bolted connections where a threaded bolt is used to secure two components together uses a threaded lock nut over the bolt head, cooperative with a threaded wall in a recess in a component. The lock nut and wall of the recess have threads opposite the threads of the bolt. Deformable sections are formed in the base of the lock nut to engage an unsymmetrical cavity in the head of the bolt. Turning of the bolt in a direction that would tend to loosen the connection causes tightening of the lock nut. The wall of the lock nut may be threadedly engaged with the wall of the recess or the lock nut wall may have slits formed thereon which enable deformation of wall portions to engage the threaded wall of the recess.