Latching device for releasably attaching elongate members to top nozzles of nuclear fuel assemblies.

摘要

The invention relates to a releasable latching device for releasably attaching an elongate member, such as a burnable absorber rod or the like, to the top-nozzle adapter plate of a nuclear fuel assembly.
<??>The device comprises an elongate mounting body (64) attached end-to-end to the elongate member (62) and extending axially therefrom, and a spring latch (66) supported on the mounting body and having latch fingers (80) which are resiliently deflectable into and from latching engagement with the top-nozzle adapter plate (34).
<??>Use of this releasable latching device permits burnable absorber design, for example, to be specified just before fuel-assembly loading time, thus allowing the latest reactor operating information to be factored-in. It also obviates the need for on-site manufacturing.