US3105030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel element for a neutronic reactor
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1959-03-18
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Granted: 1963-09-24
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Expires: 1979-03-18
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert K. Mcgeary
- 👤 Fitz R. Winslow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:47
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C21/00; G21C21/02; G21C21/10; B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/60; F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/04; F16L11/11; F16L11/118; F16L37/00; F16L37/58; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/18; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/4984; Y10T29/49861; Y10T29/49885; Y10T29/49904; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49917; Y10T29/49925; Y10T29/49927; Y10T29/49929; Y10T29/49934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A FUEL ELEMENT FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR, SAID ELEMENT COMPRISING A CLADDING TUBE, A PLURALITY OF PELLETS HAVING FISSIONALBE MATERIAL THEREIN INSERTED WITHIN SAID TUBE, MEANS FOR SEALING EACH END OF SAID CLADDING TUBE, SAID PELLETS BEING SEPARATED TO PROVIDE SPACES BETWEEN ADJACENT PELLETS AND BETWEEN SAID SEALING MEANS AND THOSE PELLETS ADJACENT THERETO, SAID SPACES BEING AT LAST EQUIVALENT TO THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL EXPANSION BETWEEN SAID PELLETS AND SAID CLADDING TUBE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF OPERATION OF SAID FUEL ELEMENT, THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE GRIPPING EACH OF SAID FUEL PELLETS INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE IN ADDITION BEING NECKED-DOWN AT EACH OF THOSE SPACES SEPARATING SAID FUEL PELLETS TO MAINTAIN SAID SPACES, THE NECKEDDOWN PORTION OF THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE BEING TRANSVERSELY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FUEL ELEMENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A FUEL ELEMENT FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR, SAID ELEMENT COMPRISING A CLADDING TUBE, A PLURALITY OF PELLETS HAVING FISSIONALBE MATERIAL THEREIN INSERTED WITHIN SAID TUBE, MEANS FOR SEALING EACH END OF SAID CLADDING TUBE, SAID PELLETS BEING SEPARATED TO PROVIDE SPACES BETWEEN ADJACENT PELLETS AND BETWEEN SAID SEALING MEANS AND THOSE PELLETS ADJACENT THERETO, SAID SPACES BEING AT LAST EQUIVALENT TO THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL EXPANSION BETWEEN SAID PELLETS AND SAID CLADDING TUBE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF OPERATION OF SAID FUEL ELEMENT, THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE GRIPPING EACH OF SAID FUEL PELLETS INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE IN ADDITION BEING NECKED-DOWN AT EACH OF THOSE SPACES SEPARATING SAID FUEL PELLETS TO MAINTAIN SAID SPACES, THE NECKEDDOWN PORTION OF THE WALLS OF SAID CLADDING TUBE BEING TRANSVERSELY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FUEL ELEMENT.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1966-09-23 | 1967-03-25 | 1967-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1970-09-23 | 1971-03-25 | 1971-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1974-09-23 | 1975-03-25 | 1975-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |