US3354044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor fuel
Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd AECL
•
Filing: 1964-12-17
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Granted: 1967-11-21
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Expires: 1984-12-17
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Robertson John Archibald Law
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:08
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01G; C01G43/00; C01G43/01; C01G43/025; G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; C01P; C01P2004/00; C01P2004/80; C01P2006/00; C01P2006/32; C01P2006/80; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/90; Y10S376/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A METHOD OF IMPROVING THE PROPERTIES OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT, THE FUEL THEREFOR COMPRISING INITIALLY A SHAPED CERAMIC MASS OF A HYPERSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, THORIUM AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A DEOXYGENATING GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THORIUM, URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, TANTALUM, MLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHICH COMPRISES HEAT TREATING THE SHAPED BYPERSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE MASS AND GETTER METAL AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOVE ABOUT 1500*C. UNDER AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY OXYGEN-FREE DEOXYGENATING CONDITIONS, UNTIL AT LEAST PART OF SAID DIOXIDE MASS BECOMES HYPOSTOICHIOMETRIC THE OXYGEN TO METAL RATIO OF SAID DIOXIDE MASS BEING REDUCED TO BELOW 2.0 BUT ABOVE 1.90, THE ASSEMBLED FUEL ELEMENT INCLUDING SAID SO TREATED DIOXIDE MASS AND GETTER METAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A METHOD OF IMPROVING THE PROPERTIES OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT, THE FUEL THEREFOR COMPRISING INITIALLY A SHAPED CERAMIC MASS OF A HYPERSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, THORIUM AND MIXTURES THEREOF, AND A DEOXYGENATING GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THORIUM, URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, TANTALUM, MLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN AND MIXTURES THEREOF, WHICH COMPRISES HEAT TREATING THE SHAPED BYPERSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE MASS AND GETTER METAL AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOVE ABOUT 1500*C. UNDER AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY OXYGEN-FREE DEOXYGENATING CONDITIONS, UNTIL AT LEAST PART OF SAID DIOXIDE MASS BECOMES HYPOSTOICHIOMETRIC THE OXYGEN TO METAL RATIO OF SAID DIOXIDE MASS BEING REDUCED TO BELOW 2.0 BUT ABOVE 1.90, THE ASSEMBLED FUEL ELEMENT INCLUDING SAID SO TREATED DIOXIDE MASS AND GETTER METAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT IN WHICH THE FUEL THEREIN COMPRISES A SHAPED CERAMIC MASS OF A HYPOSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, THORIUM AND MIXTURES THEREOF, THE FUEL ELEMENT INCLUDING A GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THORIUM, URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, TANTALUM, MOLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN AND MIXTURES THEREOF ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SHAPED CERAMIC MASS.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT IN WHICH THE FUEL THEREIN COMPRISES A SHAPED CERAMIC MASS OF A HYPOSTOICHIOMETRIC DIOXIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, THORIUM AND MIXTURES THEREOF, THE FUEL ELEMENT INCLUDING A GETTER METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THORIUM, URANIUM, PLUTONIUM, TANTALUM, MOLYBDENUM, TUNGSTEN AND MIXTURES THEREOF ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SHAPED CERAMIC MASS.
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) | 1970-11-20 | 1971-05-22 | 1971-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-11-20 | 1975-05-22 | 1975-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-11-20 | 1979-05-22 | 1979-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |