William P Jameson

US Patent:

44204582, Dec 13, 1983

Filed:

Apr 29, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/258639

Inventors:

Thomas G. Dunlap - San Jose CA
William G. Jameson - San Jose CA
Carl R. Mefford - Los Gatos CA
Harold L. Nelson - San Jose CA
James E. Cearley - San Jose CA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G21C 332

US Classification:

376447

Abstract:

In a nuclear fuel assembly having a coolant conducting or water tube which also retains the spacers in axial position, the fuel rods experience greater axial growth with exposure than the water tube creating a risk that the water tube might become disengaged from the supporting tie plates. An arrangement for preventing such disengagement is described including lengthened end plug shanks for the water tube, a protective boss surrounding the lower end plug shank to protect it from flow induced vibration, a conical seat for the lower end plug and an arrangement for limiting upward movement of the water tube.

US Patent:

43148840, Feb 9, 1982

Filed:

May 21, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/040997

Inventors:

Alan W. Fanning - San Jose CA
William G. Jameson - San Jose CA
Victor E. Hazel - San Jose CA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G21C 330

US Classification:

376441

Abstract:

A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor including a plurality of fuel rods held in spaced, parallel position between upper and lower tie plates and retained in lateral position by intermediate spacers and having a water tube in lieu of a fuel element in one or more of the rod positions, the water tubes having an outside diameter greater than that of the fuel rods and the spacer springs in the spacer cells of the water tubes being modified to accommodate the larger diameter of the water tubes.