Patent US3378458A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3378458A
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Nuclear reactor fuel element
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1965-10-19
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Granted: 1968-04-16
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Expires: 1985-10-19
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred T Ross
- 👤 Dominic A Venier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:53
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/33; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/17; G21C3/18; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A TUBE, FIRST AND SECOND END PLUGS SEALING THE ENDS OF SAID TUBE, A BODY OF NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSED IN ONE PART OF SAID TUBE THEREBY FORMING A PLENUM CHAMBER ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID TUBE, AND A PLENUM SPRING EXTENDING IN COMPRESSION THROUGH SAID PLENUM CHAMBER BETWEEN THE END OF SAID BODY OF FUEL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE ADJACENT END PLUG, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A COATING INTEGRALLY SECURED TO THE SURFACE OF SAID PLENUM SPRING AT LEAST IN THE REGION ADJACENT SAID END PLUG, SAID COATING BEING OF A MATERIAL WHICH FORMS WITH THE MATERIAL OF SAID END PLUG A EUTECTIC MIXTURE HAVING A MELTING TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE EUTECTIC MIXTURE FORMED OF THE MATERIALS OF SAID SPRING AND SAID END PLUG.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A TUBE, FIRST AND SECOND END PLUGS SEALING THE ENDS OF SAID TUBE, A BODY OF NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSED IN ONE PART OF SAID TUBE THEREBY FORMING A PLENUM CHAMBER ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID TUBE, AND A PLENUM SPRING EXTENDING IN COMPRESSION THROUGH SAID PLENUM CHAMBER BETWEEN THE END OF SAID BODY OF FUEL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE ADJACENT END PLUG, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A COATING INTEGRALLY SECURED TO THE SURFACE OF SAID PLENUM SPRING AT LEAST IN THE REGION ADJACENT SAID END PLUG, SAID COATING BEING OF A MATERIAL WHICH FORMS WITH THE MATERIAL OF SAID END PLUG A EUTECTIC MIXTURE HAVING A MELTING TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE EUTECTIC MIXTURE FORMED OF THE MATERIALS OF SAID SPRING AND SAID END PLUG.
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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) | 1971-04-16 | 1971-10-16 | 1972-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1975-04-16 | 1975-10-16 | 1976-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1979-04-16 | 1979-10-16 | 1980-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |