Vertical spring wedge

1. A vertical spring wedge for restoring a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, the vertical spring wedge comprising:

a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes, the guiding portions defining a width dimension and a length dimension of the bracket in a width/length plane; and

a pair of wedge assemblies coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod, the guide rods being disposed in the bracket holes and displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position,

wherein the wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and wherein the bracket and wedge assemblies are structurally configured to have a first width in a thickness plane perpendicular to the width/length plane when the guide rods are in the retracted position and to have a second width in the thickness plane wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.

2. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded guide rods each comprise a spring secured between the bracket and the wedge segment.

3. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 2 , wherein with the guide rods in the retracted position, a pre-load force of the springs acts to drive the guide rods toward the extended position.

4. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 3 , wherein the pre-load force for each spring is about 6 lbs.

5. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 1 , wherein each of the guiding portions comprises a tapered section engageable with the wedge segments such that the wedge segments and the guiding portions are tangentially offset.

6. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 1 , wherein the wedge segments comprise a slope angle of about 10 degrees.

7. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 1 , wherein the first width is defined such that the vertical spring wedge is remotely installable in a clearance width as small as 0.25 inches.

8. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 1 , wherein the tight fitup is between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump, and wherein the bracket comprises a relief slot between the bracket holes for accommodating a guide ear of the restrainer bracket.

9. A vertical spring wedge according to claim 8 , wherein the guiding portions are spaced a sufficient distance to accommodate a set screw of the restrainer bracket.

10. A vertical spring wedge for restoring a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, the vertical spring wedge comprising:

a U-shaped bracket including bracket legs and a cross member that define a width dimension and a length dimension of the bracket in a width/length plane, the bracket comprising a pair of tapered guiding portions on the bracket legs and a pair of bracket holes in the cross member; and

a pair of wedge assemblies coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod, the guide rods being disposed in the bracket holes and displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position,

wherein the wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and wherein the bracket and wedge assemblies are structurally configured to have a first width in a thickness plane perpendicular to the width/length plane when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width in the thickness plane wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.