Patent Number: 049869604
Section: claims

1. An upper end fitting for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising: a. a main body portion;  b. a lower plate slidably attached to said main body portion; and  c. a substantially hairpin shaped spring positioned between said main body portion and said lower plate whereby said main body portion is resiliently biased away from said lower plate.  a. a main body portion which is substantially box shaped having two open opposed sides;  b. a lower plate slidably attached to said main body portion; and  c. a substantially hairpin shaped spring positioned along each side of said main body portion between said main body portion and said lower plate whereby said main body portion is resiliently biased away from said lower plate.  a. a main body portion which is substantially box shaped having two open opposed ends;  b. a lower plate provided with a pin at each corner thereof extending perpendicular to the surface of said plate, said main body portion being slidably mounted on said pins; and  c. a substantially hairpin shaped spring positioned along each side of said main body portion between said main body portion and said lower plate whereby said main body portion is resiliently biased away from said lower plate. 2. The end fitting of claim 1, wherein one of said springs is positioned along each side of said main body portion. 3. The end fitting of claim 1, wherein said main body portion is substantially box shaped having two open opposed sides. 4. The end fitting of claim 1, wherein the end of said spring against said lower plate is offset from the end of said plate. 5. An upper end fitting for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising: 6. The end fitting of claim 5, wherein the end of said spring against said lower plate is offset from the end of said plate. 7. An upper end fitting for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising: 8. The end fitting of claim 7, wherein the end of said spring against said lower plate is offset from the end thereof. 9. The end fitting of claim 7, further comprising means for preventing said main body portion from sliding off said pins.