Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of fabricating a grid of a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, comprising:providing a plurality of interconnected straps, said straps forming a lattice pattern defining a plurality of cells;providing a sleeve, said sleeve having a cylindrical portion and a flared portion;inserting said sleeve into one of said cells such that at least a portion of said cylindrical portion resides in said one of said cells and said flared portion extends above a top end of said one of said cells and overhangs a perimeter of said one of said cells; andwelding said flared portion and causing said weldment flared portion to flow over and fuse to the straps defining said one of said cells. 2. A method according to claim 1, one or more of the straps defining said one of said cells having a weld tab, said welded flared portion flowing over and fusing to said weld tabs. 3. A method according to claim 1, said welding step comprising directing a heat source at said flared portion. 4. A method according to claim 3, said heat source being a laser beam. 5. A method according to claim 1, one or more of the straps defining said one of said cells being loose straps, said welding step attaching said loose straps to said sleeve.