Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A nuclear reactor system, comprising:a support plate that includes a flange that extends beyond a perimeter of the support plate, wherein the flange includes an aperture with a longitudinal aperture axis; anda latch assembly that includes a latch housing with a longitudinal latch axis and is disposed above the flange, wherein the latch housing is configured and arranged for at least a first and a second rotational orientation; anda core barrel that includes a support block that extends beyond a perimeter of the core barrel, wherein the flange of the support plate is disposed vertically intermediate the support block and the latch housing, and the support block is configured to restrain a downward displacement of the support plate such that when the latch housing is in the first rotational orientation, the support plate is locked to the core barrel,wherein when the latch housing is in the first rotational orientation, the longitudinal latch axis is substantially aligned with the longitudinal aperture axis of the flange and the latch housing is receivable through the aperture of the flange such that the latch housing does not restrain an upward displacement of the support plate, andwhen the latch housing is in the second rotational orientation, the longitudinal latch axis is substantially transverse to the longitudinal aperture axis and the latch housing is not receivable through the flange such that the latch housing restrains the upward displacement of the support plate. 2. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly further includes an elongate member that extends through the flange and a main bore of the latch housing, wherein the latch housing is configured and arranged to rotate about the elongate member between the first and the second rotational orientations. 3. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1, wherein a relative angular difference between the first and the second rotational orientations of the latch housing is 90 degrees. 4. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the flange includes an indent, and when the latch housing is in the second rotational orientation, the indent receives at least a portion of the latch housing that projects from a lower surface of the latch housing, and when received by the indent, the portion of the latch housing that projects from the lower surface of the latch housing is configured to resist a rotation of the latch housing away from the second rotational orientation. 5. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 further comprising:a latch mechanism that is at least partially housed within the latch housing and includes at least a spheroidal member, a biasing member that provides a biasing force on the spheroidal member, and a setscrew to adjust a magnitude of the biasing force. 6. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 further comprising:a nut disposed above the latch housing that restrains an upward displacement of the latch housing. 7. The nuclear reactor system of claim 4, wherein the portion of the latch housing that projects from the lower surface of the latch housing comprises a spheroidal member. 8. The nuclear reactor system of claim 2, wherein a relative angular difference between the first and the second rotational orientations of the latch housing is 90 degrees. 9. The nuclear reactor system of claim 8, wherein an upper surface of the flange includes an indent, and when the latch housing is in the second rotational orientation, the indent receives at least a portion of the latch housing that projects from a lower surface of the latch housing, and when received by the indent, the portion of the latch housing that projects from the lower surface of the latch housing is configured to resist a rotation of the latch housing away from the second rotational orientation. 10. The nuclear reactor system of claim 9, further comprising a nut disposed above the latch housing that restrains an upward displacement of the latch housing. 11. A nuclear reactor system, comprising:a support plate that includes a flange that extends beyond a perimeter of the support plate, wherein the flange includes an aperture with a longitudinal aperture axis; anda latch assembly that includes a latch housing with a longitudinal latch axis and is disposed above the flange, wherein the latch housing is configured and arranged for at least a first and a second rotational orientation,wherein when the latch housing is in the first rotational orientation, the longitudinal latch axis is aligned with the longitudinal aperture axis of the flange and the latch housing is receivable through the aperture of the flange such that the latch housing does not restrain an upward displacement of the support plate, andwhen the latch housing is in the second rotational orientation, the longitudinal latch axis is transverse to the longitudinal aperture axis and the latch housing is not receivable through the flange such that the latch housing restrains the upward displacement of the support plate, andan upper surface of the flange includes an indent, and when the latch housing is in the second rotational orientation, the indent receives at least a portion of the latch housing that projects from a lower surface of the latch housing, and when received by the indent, the portion of the latch housing that projects from the bottom surface of the latch housing resists a rotation of the latch housing away from the second rotational orientation. 12. The nuclear reactor system of claim 11, further comprising a core barrel that includes a support block that extends beyond a perimeter of the core barrel, wherein the flange of the support plate is disposed vertically intermediate the support block and the latch housing, and the support block is configured to restrain a downward displacement of the support plate such that when the latch housing is in the first rotational orientation, the support plate is locked to the core barrel. 13. The nuclear reactor system of claim 11, wherein the latch assembly further includes an elongate member that extends through the flange and a main bore of the latch housing, wherein the latch housing is configured and arranged to rotate about the elongate member between the first and the second rotational orientations. 14. The nuclear reactor system of claim 11, wherein a relative angular difference between the first and the second rotational orientations of the latch housing is 90 degrees. 15. The nuclear reactor system of claim 11, further comprising:a latch mechanism that is at least partially housed within the latch housing and includes at least a spheroidal member, a biasing member that provides a biasing force on the spheroidal member, and a setscrew to adjust a magnitude of the biasing force. 16. The nuclear reactor system of claim 11, further comprising a nut disposed above the latch housing that restrains an upward displacement of the latch housing. 17. The nuclear reactor system of claim 12, wherein the latch assembly further includes an elongate member that extends through the flange and a main bore of the latch housing, wherein the latch housing is configured and arranged to rotate about the elongate member between the first and the second rotational orientations. 18. The nuclear reactor system of claim 17, wherein a relative angular difference between the first and the second rotational orientations of the latch housing is 90 degrees. 19. The nuclear reactor system of claim 18, further comprising:a latch mechanism that is at least partially housed within the latch housing and includes at least a spheroidal member, a biasing member that provides a biasing force on the spheroidal member, and a setscrew to adjust a magnitude of the biasing force. 20. The nuclear reactor system of claim 19, further comprising a nut disposed above the latch housing that restrains an upward displacement of the latch housing.