Patent US3601638A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3601638A
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Fuel elements for use in thermionic nuclear reactors
Assignee: European Atomic Energy Community Euratom
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Filing: 1968-03-04
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1988-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are nuclear fuel heated thermionic converters. Heat pipes are provided to ensure isothermal heat transfer between the converters and the reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 Claus A Busse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J45/00; F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; G; G21; G21D; G21D7/00; G21D7/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising a plurality of nuclearheated thermionic converters in combination with a heat propagating heat pipe win which the converters are disposed one beside the other with the same transverse orientation to the heat pipe and are accessible at a sidewall of the pipe for electrical connection in parallel relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising a plurality of nuclearheated thermionic converters in combination with a heat propagating heat pipe win which the converters are disposed one beside the other with the same transverse orientation to the heat pipe and are accessible at a sidewall of the pipe for electrical connection in parallel relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A nuclear fuel element wit nuclear-heated thermionic converters in combination with a heat pipe for propagation of the reaction heat, the said converters being disposed one beside the other with the same transverse orientation to the heat pipe, each emitter electrode being supported via electrical interelectrode insulation means by the outside of the heat pipe wall, while the collector electrodes are included in the vaporization surfaces of the heat pipe wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A nuclear fuel element wit nuclear-heated thermionic converters in combination with a heat pipe for propagation of the reaction heat, the said converters being disposed one beside the other with the same transverse orientation to the heat pipe, each emitter electrode being supported via electrical interelectrode insulation means by the outside of the heat pipe wall, while the collector electrodes are included in the vaporization surfaces of the heat pipe wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A fuel element as claimed in claim 2 in which the electrodes of each converter are coaxial and the emitters in the form of rods are inserted into matching cylindrical recesses in a solid collector block disposed in the heat pipe, the emitter bases being supported via the insulation means by the heat pipe, and forming the walls of recesses in the collector electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fuel element as claimed in claim 2, having a flat electrode system the collector electrode being integrated in the wall of the heat pipe and the plate-shaped emitter electrode being retained thereabove at the required intermediate distance by the insulation means on the same wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3234412A
Cited
US3243613A
Cited
FR1421323A
Cited
US3453455A
Cited
US3302042A
Cited
US3440455A
Cited
US3437847A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |