Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor comprising:a top end fitting;a bottom end fitting;a plurality of elongated guide thimbles respectively extending in an axial direction between and connected at opposite ends to the top end fitting and the bottom end fitting; anda plurality of transverse grids arranged in a spaced tandem array between the top end fitting and the bottom end fitting, at least some of said grids formed from a plurality of orthogonal intersecting straps that define cells at the intersection of each four adjacent straps, the guide thimbles respectively extending through and fixedly connected to at least some of said cells, the connection between at least some of said guide thimbles and at least some of the corresponding cells through which the guide thimbles pass comprising;an elongated tubular sleeve having a length in the axial direction longer than a width in the axial direction of the grid straps of the cell through which the corresponding guide thimble passes and having a diameter that is larger than or substantially equal to an axially transverse width of the cell through which the corresponding guide thimble passes, the elongated tubular sleeve having an axial slit that extends the length of the sleeve and the sleeve extending through and above and below the cell through which the corresponding guide thimble passes and being mechanically or metallurgically affixed to at least a one wall of the cell through which the corresponding guide thimble passes, the guide thimble extending through the corresponding sleeve, the tubular sleeve having a first opening in a wall of the sleeve in a first portion of the sleeve that extends from one end of the cell; anda first weld ring fitting over and circumscribing, at least in part, a circumference of the first portion of the sleeve, and extending over more than 180° of the circumference of the first portion of the sleeve and welded to the guide thimble through the first opening. 2. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the tubular sleeve has a second opening in the wall of the sleeve in a second portion of the sleeve that extends from a second end of the cell, the fuel assembly further comprising a second weld ring fit over and circumscribing, at least in part, a circumference of the second portion of the sleeve and welded to the guide thimble through the second opening. 3. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein a window is formed in an axial central portion of the sleeve, the window having a top ledge and a bottom ledge, the spacing between the top ledge and the bottom ledge being substantially equal to the axial width of the grid straps that surround the sleeve when the sleeve is inserted into the cell. 4. The fuel assembly of claim 3 wherein the top ledge rests at least partially on the upper edge of the grid straps that surround the sleeve. 5. The fuel assembly of claim 4 wherein the bottom ledge rests at least partially against a lower edge of the grid straps that surround the sleeve. 6. The fuel assembly of claim 3 wherein the window is stamped in a wall of the sleeve. 7. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is constructed from a resilient material. 8. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is welded or brazed to the grid strap. 9. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the guide thimble and the first weld ring is constructed from Zirconium or a Zirconium alloy and the sleeve is constructed from stainless steel. 10. The fuel assembly of claim 9 wherein the grid straps are constructed from Inconel. 11. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the first weld ring has an axial slit. 12. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the first weld ring has a discrete protrusion that extends radially inwardly and seats in the first opening in the sleeve. 13. The fuel assembly of claim 12 wherein the protrusion on the first weld ring is welded to the guide thimble. 14. The fuel assembly of claim 13 wherein the protrusion on the first weld ring is stamped into the first weld ring. 15. The fuel assembly of claim 12 wherein the first opening comprises a plurality of first openings circumferentially spaced around the first portion of the sleeve and the protrusion on the first weld ring comprises a plurality of protrusions circumferentially spaced around the first weld ring to correspond with the first openings. 16. The fuel assembly of claim 1 wherein the first weld ring is tightly fit around the first portion of the sleeve.