| 摘要 |
968, 321. Fuel elements. BABCOCK & WILCOX CO. Aug. 23, 1963 [Aug. 23, 1962], No. 33576/63. Heading G6C. A spacer supporting fuel element pins in a fuel assembly includes three or more projections which contact the fuel pin around its circumference, said projections being mounted on resilient members which surround each associated fuel-pin. The spacer comprises a square section thin sheet material tube. Four slots 110 are cut in it and the side pieces 112 therebetween are bent inwards beyond the end portions 108. Projections 114 formed inwardly of the side material provide point location of a fuel element. A plurality of such spacers are placed in abutment on a fuel element pin, and a plurality of such sub-assemblies are then assembled in side by side relationship and suitably held together to form a fuel assembly; the ioining may be by brazing or spot welding the contacting surfaces 118, or by encircling the assembly with straps. In a modification, the sides 112, instead of being bent inwardly from the surface 118, are curved gradually inwards, and in a further modification, the slots 110 are dispensed with and the surface 112 formed by dishing. The spacer may be of circular or any polygonal cross-section. |
