Patent Number: 046845011
Section: abstract

A fuel assembly has a plurality of elongated fuel rods, a plurality of grid structures axially spaced from one another along the fuel rods between opposite ends thereof and supporting the fuel rods in a side-by-side spaced array, and a pair of tie plates disposed at the respective opposite ends of the fuel rods. Each of the fuel rods has a pair of end plugs sealing opposite ends thereof, with at least the end plug at one of the opposite ends of each fuel rod having an extension member thereon which extends axially outward from the end plug and is of a diameter less than that of the fuel rod. At least one of the tie plates has a plurality of holes defined by endless sidewalls formed therethrough between opposite sides of the tie plate and in an array which matches that of the fuel rods. A compliant insert is disposed in each hole in the one tie plate and engaged with the tie plate and the end plug extension member so as to yieldably support the extension member within the hole in spaced relationship from the hole sidewall. The compliant insert includes a plurality of spring members. In one embodiment, the spring members are separate from one another, whereas in another embodiment, the spring members are integrally connected to one another.