Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor

Claim 1

In a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor having a plurality of fuel rods and guide tubes maintained in adjacent parallel relationship by grids positioned in spaced relationship along the length of said rods and intermediate the ends of the rods, the improvement comprising: An upper end grid for dependently supporting the fuel rods having parallel rows of T-shaped slots, a number of cylindrical guide tube fittings spaced from each other and in adjacent relationship with said T-shaped slots, said fittings being of open end construction positioned in the upper end grid, A T-shaped key provided on one end of each of the fuel rods for separable supporting engagement with said T-shaped slots, guide tubes each having an end passing through said cylindrical guide tube fittings and engagement means for securing said guide tubes in position, A projecting pin provided on the opposite end of each of the fuel rods, A lower end grid having an array of recesses and cylindrical guide tube fittings of open end construction received within said lower end grid, said guide tubes passing through said cylindrical guide tube fittings and separably secured therein for supporting engagement of said lower end grid, and said recesses adapted for separable supporting engagement of said projecting pins.