Patent Number: 052710530
Section: abstract

A holddown leaf spring for a nuclear fuel assembly (10) with an upper end fitting (12) having spring retaining slots (30). Two spring stacks (20, 24 and 22, 26), respectively, are made up of unitary elongated metal bar springs having two substantially tapered width leg portions (20a, 20b, etc.) joined by an arcuate transition portion (28) therebetween. The wider opposite end portions (20c, 20d, etc.) are received in slots (30) of end fitting (12) and retained by welded pins (or capped screws) (not shown). The tapered width distributes localized stresses and may be horizontal or vertical. Less chance of debris exists due to retained spring ends. Flow at two opposite corners is opened up by the taper and by transition portion (28) being spaced from the nozzle openings (32 and 34). The assembly requires fewer parts and less machining.