Lateral restraint assembly for reactor core

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel relatively compact restraint assembly for use in restraining lateral movement of a reactor core at both low and high energy levels and which is operative to maintain the core elements in prearranged columns without creating load reactions detrimental to the graphite core elements.
A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novel arrangement of lateral restraint assemblies about the periphery of a reactor core and interposed between the core and the associated shielded reactor vessel, each restraint assembly having a face plate biased against the outer periphery of the core and including a key member operatively associated with the face plate so as to enable vertical movement of the face plate relative to the key member but cooperating therewith such that the key members having their axes disposed transverse to or subtending acute angles with the direction of a high energy force restrain lateral movement of the core.
A feature of the lateral restraint assembly in accordance with the present invention lies in the provision of a key member adapted to be fixedly secured to the reactor vessel internally of the core cavity and having an inner end cooperative with a face plate so as to enable limited vertical movement of the face plate while being cooperative therewith to prevent horizontal movement of the face plate in a direction substantially transverse or tangential to the associated key member.
In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of lateral restraint assemblies are disposed within a shielded core cavity between a reactor core and the reactor vessel.
The lateral restraint assemblies are disposed circumferentially of the core and each includes a face plate urged against the outer surface of the core, such as defined by permanent side reflector blocks, by a spring pack in the form of a plurality of compression springs which enable the face plate to be preloaded against the reflector blocks to establish a continuous ring structure