Patent ID: 8848853

Claim:
A storage rack for nuclear fuel assemblies, comprising a rigid structure defining a plurality of adjacent cells extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the rack, said rack also comprising, in at least one of said cells, a sleeve defining a cavity extending parallel to said longitudinal direction, and intended to receive a nuclear fuel assembly, said sleeve having, in cross-section orthogonal to said longitudinal direction, a generally polygonal shape whereof at least some of the sides comprise plates made from a neutron-absorbing material, characterized in that said sleeve also includes: profiles each forming a corner piece, spaced apart from each other and extending parallel to said longitudinal direction and arranged on at least several angles of said generally polygonal section, said profiles serving as a mounting bracket for said neutron-absorbing plates and having an inner surface defining said cavity making it possible to guide a nuclear fuel assembly when it is loaded in said cavity, as well as an outer surface opposite said inner surface and said outer surface on which said neutron-absorbing plates bear; and a maintenance means for maintaining said profiles relative to each other, said maintenance means ensuring centering of the sleeve in the cell of the rack and comprising a plurality of maintenance structures surrounding said profiles and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein said maintenance structures are fixed bearing on the outer surface of said profiles.