Patent Number: 052456447
Section: summary

The invention relates to a spacer for a fuel assembly of a pressurized water reactor, having a first group of first webs standing on end, extending parallel to one another in a plane and being slit on one long side thereof, a second group of second webs standing on end, extending at right angles thereto and being slit on the other long side thereof, and a plug-in connection between each one web of the first group and one respective web of the second group, in which the webs are inserted into one another by means of the slits and form a grid. As discussed in further detail below with regard to the first drawing figure, in such a device spacer webs and especially guide lugs formed thereon cause a high pressure loss. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a spacer for a fuel assembly of a pressurized water reactor, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which keeps the pressure loss at the spacer as low as possible by means of different provisions. In particular, this is accomplished according to the invention by dispensing with insertion buttons and attaining a given fixation of the plug-in connections for welding through the use of impressions on the webs themselves. With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a spacer for a fuel assembly of a pressurized water reactor, comprising a first group of first webs standing on end and extending parallel to one another in a plane, each of the first webs having longer sides and shorter sides, one of the longer sides of each of the first webs having a slit formed therein with a narrowed point and an impressed indentation; a second group of second webs standing on end and extending at right angles to the first webs, each of the second webs having longer sides and shorter sides, another of the longer sides of each of the second webs having a slit formed therein with a narrowed point and an impressed indentation; each respective one of the first webs being connected to a respective one of the second webs to form a grid by inserting the webs into each other at the slits and locking the narrowed point of one web into place in the impressed indentation of another web with a plug-in connection. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the impressed indentation of one web has lateral beads serving as guide surfaces for the longer side having the slit of the other web, in each of the plug-in connections. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each of the webs has two lateral pinches forming the narrowed point. In accordance with an added feature of the invention, each of the webs has a pinch forming the impressed indentation, and the lateral beads are formed of material positively displaced by pinching. In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the webs are welded together. Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a spacer for a fuel assembly of a pressurized water reactor, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.