Patent Number: 053612833
Section: abstract

An integral, reusable locking arrangement between the guide tube assembly and upper end fitting of a reconstitutable fuel assembly that eliminates all loose fastener components at the reactor site. A retainer sleeve is fabricated to cooperate with the upper end sleeve of the guide tube assembly. Slots adjacent to the upper end of the sleeve receive rigid tabs on the upper end sleeve to hold the retainer sleeve and upper end sleeve together. The retainer sleeve is formed from a cylindrical tube that has a plurality of flexible curved tabs spaced around the circumference of the tube substantially at the mid section of the tube. Optional lower tabs serve to center the guide tube assembly in the upper end fitting and provide a more rigid connection. The mid section tabs are received against the shoulders of slots provided along the walls of the hole in the upper end fitting and serve to retain the guide tube assembly and upper end fitting in the installed position. Removal of the upper end fitting is accomplished by rotation of the retainer sleeve to force the tabs inboard and then sliding the upper end fitting upward.