Flat plate type fuel elements

Claim 1

A METHOD WHICH COMPRISES PLACING A THIN FLEXIBLE SHEET OF FISSIONABLE MATERIAL BETWEEN THIN FLEXIBLE SHEETS OF CLAD METAL TO FORM A SANDWICH, THE SHEET OF FISSIONABLE MATERIAL BEING OF RELATIVELY SHORTER LENGTH AND WIDTH SUCH THAT THE EDGES OF THE SHEETS OF CLAD METAL ARE IN OVERLAPPING CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, ONE END OF SAID SANDWICH HAVING THE SHEETS OF CLAD METAL OVERLAPPING SUBSTANTIALLY TO FORM A PROJECTING END, PLACING A PLURALITY OF RODS BETWEEN THE SHEETS OF CLAD METAL OF THE PROJECTING END SUCH THAT THE ENDS THEREOF ARE IN PROXIMITY TO THE SHEET OF FISSIONABLE MATERIAL, EVACUATING THE INSIDE OF THE SANDWICH AT THE PROJECTING END, SEALING THE OVERLAPPING EDGES OF THE CLAD METAL EXCEPT THAT THE SEAL FOR THE PROJECTING END IS MADE BETWEEN THE SHEET OF FISSIONABLE MATERIAL AND THE ENDS OF THE RODS, AND REMOVING THE PROJECTING END OF CLAD METAL BEYOND THE SEAL, WHEREBY THE FISSIONABLE MATERIAL IS ENCASED WITHIN THE CLAD METAL AND IN INTIMATE CONTACT THEREWITH.