Patent Number: 046876316
Section: claims

1. In a fuel assembly including a top nozzle with an adapter plate having at least one hole and at least one longitudinal structural member with a threaded upper end portion extendible through the adapter plate hole so as to project therefrom, a reusable fasterner device comprising: (a) attaching means threadable onto and from said upper end portion of said structural member between fastened and unfastened positions therewith for attaching and detaching said structural member to and from said top nozzle adapter plate; and  (b) retaining means mounted on said top nozzle adapter plate so as to extend about said adapter plate hole and project outwardly from said adapter plate, said retaining means capturing said attaching means when in both said fastened and unfastened positions thereof and maintaining said attaching means with said top nozzle upon removal from said upper end portion of said structural member;  (c) said attaching means including  (d) said retaining means including  (a) an attachment nut including  (b) a retainer housing including  (a) attaching means threadable onto and from said upper end portion of said structural member between fastened and unfastened positions therewith for attaching and detaching said structural member to and from said top nozzle adapter plate; and  (b) retaining means mounted on said top nozzle adapter plate so as to extend about said adapter plate hole and project outwardly from said adapter plate, said retaining means capturing said attaching means when in both said fastened and unfastened positions thereof and maintaining said attaching means with said top nozzle upon removal from said upper end portion of said structural member;  (c) said attaching means including  (d) said retaining means including 2. The reusable fastener device as recited in claim 1, wherein said retaining means includes a a plurality of lower tabs connected to and extending radially outwardly from said lower end of said tubular body, said tabs resting upon and rigidly connected to said top nozzle adapter plate so as to generally align said central opening of said retaining means with said hole through said adapter plate. 3. In a fuel assembly including a top nozzle with an adapter plate having at least one hole and at least one longitudinal structural member with a threaded upper end portion extendible through the adapter plate hole so as to project therefrom, a reusable fastener device comprising: 4. In a fuel assembly including a top nozzle with an adapter plate having at least one hole and at least one longitudinal structural member with a threaded upper end portion extendible through the adapter plate hole so as to project therefrom, a reusable fastener device comprising: 5. The reusable fastener device as recited in claim 4, wherein said retaining means also includes means attached to one of said tubular body and upper sectors and being movable between open and closed positions for respectively allowing and preventing passage of said lower segments of said attaching means lower flange through said openings defined by said upper sectors of said retaining means. 6. The reusable fastener device as recited in claim 5, wherein said movable means take the form of auxiliary bendable tabs connected to and extending outwardly from said upper sectors, said tabs extending adjacent to said openings between said upper sectors when disposed in said open positions and extending in overlying relation to said openings when disposed in said closed positions.