Patent Number: 040428281
Section: claims

1. A rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising: a. a frame;  b. enclosures for containing respectively spent nuclear fuel elements, said enclosures being supported by said frame in an upright position; and  c. a support for each of said enclosures resting on a supporting surface and disposed below the fuel element contained by the associated enclosure for supporting the load of the fuel element while the associated enclosure retains the fuel element in an upright position.  a. a base on which rests an associated fuel element; and  b. legs connected to its associated base and disposed on a supporting surface for supporting the associated base.  a. a frame;  b. enclosures for containing respectively spent nuclear fuel elements, said enclosures being supported by said frame in an upright position; and  c. a support for each of said enclosures resting on a supporting surface and disposed below the fuel element contained by the associated enclosure for supporting the load of the fuel element while the associated enclosure retains the fuel element in an upright position, each of said supports comprising:  a. a second base resting on the supporting base; and  b. a swivel joint with a stationary part fixed to said second base and a movable part connected to said first base for movement therewith.  a. a frame;  b. enclosures for containing respectively spent nuclear fuel elements, said enclosures being supported by said frame in an upright position;  c. a support for each of said enclosures resting on a supporting surface and disposed below the fuel element contained by the associated enclosure for supporting the load of the fuel element while the associated enclosure retains the fuel element in an upright position, each of said supports including means for self-alignment to accommodate an uneven supporting surface while supporting the fuel element in the upright position; and  d. legs resting on a support surface and disposed below said frame in the vicinity of the corners thereof for supporting said frame, each of said legs for said frame including means for adjusting the height thereof.  a. a frame;  b. enclosures for containing respectively spent fuel elements, said enclosures being supported by said frame in an upright position, said enclosures being fixed to said frame;  c. a support for each of said enclosures resting on a supporting surface and disposed below the fuel element contained by the associated enclosure for supporting the load of the fuel element, while the associated enclosure retains the fuel element in an upright position; and  d. a rack-to-rack connector attached to said frame for securing an adjacent frame thereto, said connector comprising:  a. a frame;  b. enclosures for containing respectively spent fuel elements, said enclosures being supported by said frame in an upright position, said enclosures being fixed to said frame;  c. a support for each of said enclosures resting on a supporting surface and disposed below the fuel element contained by the associated disclosure for supporting the load of the fuel element, while the associated enclosure retains the fuel element in an upright position; and  d. a rack-to-rack connector attached to said frame for securing an adjacent frame thereto, said connector comprising:  f. a bolt extending through said bore and beyond said body; and  g. a clamp with a threaded opening aligned with the bore of said body, said clamp being formed with wings extending toward the free ends of said first and second connector arms, said clamp being in threaded engagement with said bolt and being adapted to be drawn toward said first and second connector arms and said body by said bolt, said frame being gripped between the space defined by said first connector arm, said first spacer member, said body and said clamp, said second connector arm, said second spacer member, said body and said clamp being arranged to grip the frame of an adjacent rack. 2. A rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosures are fixed to said frame. 3. A rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said supports comprises: 4. A rack as claimed in claim 3 wherein each base is attached to its associated enclosure. 5. A rack as claimed in claim 4 and comprising legs disposed below said frame in the vicinity of the corners thereof for supporting said frame. 6. A rack as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said enclosures includes a flared opening at the top thereof to guide the entry of the nuclear fuel element contained therein. 7. A rack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said supports includes means for self-alignment to accommodte an uneven supporting surface while supporting the fuel element in the upright position. 8. A rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising: 9. A rack as claimed in claim 8 wherein said swivel means comprises: 10. A rack as claimed in claim 7 and comprising legs resting on a supporting surface and disposed below said frame in the vicinity of the corners thereof for supporting said frame. 11. A rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising: 12. A rack as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said enclosures includes a flared opening at the top thereof to guide the entry of the nuclear fuel element contained therein. 13. A rack as claimed in claim 2 and comprising a rack-to-rack connector attached to said frame for securing an adjacent frame thereto. 14. A rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising: 15. A rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising: 16. A rack as claimed in claim 7 wherin each of said enclosures is bolted to said frame.