US3356587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel assemblies for a neutronic reactor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1963-06-21
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Granted: 1967-12-05
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Expires: 1983-06-21
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Francis M Heck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:10
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C1/00; G21C1/02; G21C1/022; G21C1/024; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/34; G21C7/00; G21C7/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
IN A FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR, THE COMBINATIN COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CASING STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL BUNDLES TANDEMLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING STRUCTURE, AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBER COEXTENDING WITH SUBSTANTIALLY A TOTAL COMBINED LENGTH OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES BEING JOINED AT THEOPPOSITE OUTWARDLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND DISPOSED SO THAT THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID BUNDLES ARE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID SUPPORTING MEMGER BEING FABRICATED FROM A MATERIAL HAVING A GREATER COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION THAN THAT OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES SO THAT SAID FUEL BUNDLES ARE SEPARATED BY ELONGATION OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER WITH INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE OF SAID FUEL ASSEMBLY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
IN A FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR, THE COMBINATIN COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CASING STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL BUNDLES TANDEMLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING STRUCTURE, AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBER COEXTENDING WITH SUBSTANTIALLY A TOTAL COMBINED LENGTH OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES BEING JOINED AT THEOPPOSITE OUTWARDLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND DISPOSED SO THAT THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID BUNDLES ARE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID SUPPORTING MEMGER BEING FABRICATED FROM A MATERIAL HAVING A GREATER COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION THAN THAT OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES SO THAT SAID FUEL BUNDLES ARE SEPARATED BY ELONGATION OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER WITH INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE OF SAID FUEL ASSEMBLY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL BUNDLES TANDEMLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES BEING JOINED AT THE OPPOSITE OUTWARDLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS THEREOF TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, MEANS WITHIN SAID FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR LONGITUDINALLY SEPARATING SAID FUEL BUNDLES UPON A TEMPERATURE INCREASE, THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID TWO
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR A NEUTRONIC REACTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FUEL BUNDLES TANDEMLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID FUEL BUNDLES BEING JOINED AT THE OPPOSITE OUTWARDLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS THEREOF TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, MEANS WITHIN SAID FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR LONGITUDINALLY SEPARATING SAID FUEL BUNDLES UPON A TEMPERATURE INCREASE, THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID TWO
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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) | 1970-12-04 | 1971-06-05 | 1971-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-12-04 | 1975-06-05 | 1975-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-12-04 | 1979-06-05 | 1979-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |