US 12,131,830 B2
Automatically adjusting seismic restraint system for nuclear fuel storage
Krishna P. Singh, Jupiter, FL (US)
Assigned to HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL
Filed by HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, Camden, NJ (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,999.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/176,496, filed on Apr. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0336115 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 19/07 (2006.01); G21C 9/04 (2006.01); G21C 19/40 (2006.01); G21F 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 19/07 (2013.01) [G21C 9/04 (2013.01); G21C 19/40 (2013.01); G21F 5/08 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatically adjusting seismic restraint system for nuclear fuel storage comprising:
a free-standing first fuel storage component configured to contain nuclear fuel and defining a vertical centerline;
a stationary second fuel storage component configured to receive the first fuel storage component;
an inter-body gap formed between the first and second fuel storage components;
at least one seismic restraint assembly disposed in the inter-body gap and including a stationary wedge member and a movable loose wedge member;
the stationary wedge member fixedly coupled to the second fuel storage component, the stationary wedge member being disposed in the inter-body gap;
the stationary wedge member defining an inclined load bearing surface;
the movable loose wedge member disposed in the inter-body gap, the loose wedge member defining an inclined load bearing surface slideably engaged with the inclined load bearing surface of the stationary wedge member;
wherein during a seismic event or thermal expansion of the first fuel storage component, the first fuel storage component moves towards the second fuel storage component which shrinks the inter-body gap and the loose wedge member is vertically displaced relative to the stationary wedge member.