Patent US3182003A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3182003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for supporting fuel elements in a nuclear reactor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1960-04-04
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Granted: 1965-05-04
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Expires: 1980-04-04
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Ii Arthur G Thorp
- 👤 Thomas F Widmer
- 👤 Frisch Erling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:00
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/34; G21C3/348; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
IN A REACTOR FUEL ARRANGEMENT HAVING A FRAME MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL RODS SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEMBER, MEANS FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS, SAID LATERAL SUPPORTING MEANS BEING SUPPORTED AT LEAST PARTIALLY BY SAID FRAME MEMBER AND INCLUDING A GRID FORMED FROM A LATERALY EXTENDING LAYER OF TUBULAR ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY JOINING EACH OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF ADJACENT TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO FORM A RIGID UNITARY STRUCTURE FOR SAID GRID, SAID FUEL RODS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY, AND SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS EACH HAVING ARCUATE SPRING MEANS OF GENERALLY OPPOSED CURVATURE RELATIVE TO THAT OF SAID RODS FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID FUEL RODS ALONG AT MOST A LINE CONTACT AND FOR HOLD-
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
IN A REACTOR FUEL ARRANGEMENT HAVING A FRAME MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL RODS SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEMBER, MEANS FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS, SAID LATERAL SUPPORTING MEANS BEING SUPPORTED AT LEAST PARTIALLY BY SAID FRAME MEMBER AND INCLUDING A GRID FORMED FROM A LATERALY EXTENDING LAYER OF TUBULAR ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY JOINING EACH OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF ADJACENT TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO FORM A RIGID UNITARY STRUCTURE FOR SAID GRID, SAID FUEL RODS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY, AND SAID TUBULAR ELEMENTS EACH HAVING ARCUATE SPRING MEANS OF GENERALLY OPPOSED CURVATURE RELATIVE TO THAT OF SAID RODS FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID FUEL RODS ALONG AT MOST A LINE CONTACT AND FOR HOLD-
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1968-05-03 | 1968-11-02 | 1969-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1972-05-03 | 1972-11-02 | 1973-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1976-05-03 | 1976-11-02 | 1977-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |