Patent Number: 053612884
Section: claims

1. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells, each cell for surrounding a fuel rod in a corresponding matrix of fuel rods, said spacer comprising: a plurality of spacer cells;  said cells each including stop means for centering said fuel rods with respect to said cells and spring means for biasing said fuel rods into said stop means of said cells;  each said spacer cell including upper and lower octagonal crowns, said octagonal crowns panel heights adjoining adjacent cells including means for adjoining like panels from adjacent panel cells in a single thickness along horizontal edges such that said like panels are in substantially vertical, co-planar alignment.  said crowns at opposite ends of each octagonal spacer cell having inverted edge means; wherein  respective cells surrounding a central cell are inverted with respect to said central cell whereby said crowns form a single thickness in forming upper and lower crown matrices holding adjoining cells of the spacer together.  said stop means includes cell legs extending between the crowns with upper and lower stops immediately adjacent the crowns; and,  said spring means includes cell legs extending between the crowns defining the required cell springs with spring contact points centrally of the legs with respect to the crowns.  a full panel height adjoining the defined subchannel volume between fuel rods; and,  half height walls adjoining adjacent cells.  said cell legs extending between four full height sides;  two adjacent legs define upper and lower stops; and  two adjacent legs define springs and spring contact points.  half wall heights at one crown panel are defined towards adjoining spacer cells and half wall heights at the other crown end are defined away from said spacer cell.  a plurality of spacer cells;  said cells each including stop means for centering said fuel rods with respect to said cells and spring means for biasing said fuel rods into said stop means of said cells;  each said spacer cell including upper and lower octagonal crowns, said octagonal crown panel heights adjoining adjacent cells including edge means for adjoining like panels in single thickness from adjacent panel cells including a full panel height adjoining the defined sub-channel volume between fuel rods and vertically aligned substantially co-planar half height walls adjoining adjacent cells; and  said crowns at opposite ends of each octagonal spacer cell having inverted edge means; and wherein  respective cells surrounding a central cell are inverted with respect to said central cell whereby said crowns form a single thickness in forming upper and lower crown matrices holding adjoining cells of the spacer together.  said stop means includes cell legs extending between the crowns with upper and lower stops immediately adjacent the crowns; and,  said spring means includes cell legs extending between the crowns defining the required cell springs with spring contact points centrally of the legs with respect to the crowns.  outer band means surrounding said spacer for abutting a channel at said band means; and,  a defined interior aperture of said matrix of spacer cells for receiving a water rod; and,  inner band means lining said interior aperture.  a plurality of spacer cells;  said cells each including stop means for centering said fuel rods with respect to said cells and spring means for biasing said fuel rods into said stop means of said cells;  each said spacer cell including upper and lower octagonal crowns, said octagonal crowns panel heights adjoining adjacent cells including edge means for adjoining like panels in single thickness form adjacent panel cells including a full panel height adjoining the defined sub-channel volume between fuel rods and vertically aligned substantially co-planar half height walls adjoining adjacent cells;  said crowns at opposite ends of each octagonal spacer cell having inverted edge means;  respective cells surrounding a central cell being inverted with respect to said central cell whereby said crowns form a single thickness in forming upper and lower crown matrices holding adjoining cells of the spacer together; wherein  said stop means includes cell legs extending between the crowns with upper and lower stops immediately adjacent the crowns; and further wherein  said spring means includes cell legs extending between the crowns defining the required cell springs with spring contact points centrally of the legs with respect to the crowns. 2. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 1 and further including: 3. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 1 and further including: 4. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 1 and further including: 5. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 4 and further including: 6. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 4 and further including: 7. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells, each cell for surrounding a fuel rod in a corresponding matrix of fuel rods, said spacer comprising: 8. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 7 and further including: 9. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells according to claim 7 and further including: 10. In a spacer having a matrix of individual cells, each cell for surrounding a fuel rod in a corresponding matrix of fuel rods, said spacer comprising: