US3683975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of vibratory loading nuclear fuel elements
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-02-12
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1991-02-12
Abstract
Abstract Elongated multi-region LMFBR fuel elements are prepared by preplacing into a container a coarse fraction of material which includes all of the plutonium and a portion of the uranium in the appropriate regions of the fuel element and then infiltrating with vibration simultaneously a fine-sized fraction of depleted uranium-containing microspheres throughout all interstices in the coarse material in a single loading.
Inventors
- 👤 John D Sease
- 👤 Francis E Harrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:14
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/28; G21C21/00; G21C21/02; G21C21/04; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/26; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/90; Y10S376/901; Y10S376/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel element comprises a three-region stainless steel clad tubular element, said coarse material comprises UO2 and (U,Pu)O2 microspheres having a diameter of between 400-600 microns and said fine-sized material comprises depleted UO2 microspheres having a diameter no greater than 44 microns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a portion of said coarse UO2 microspheres is loaded into a lower blanket region, said coarse (U,Pu)O2 microspheres are loaded into a central core region, the remainder of said coarse UO2 microspheres are loaded into an upper blanket region and said fine-sized depleted UO2 microspheres are infiltrated simultaneously with vibration throughout said coarse microspheres.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel element comprises a three-region stainless steel tubular element, said coarse material comprises UO2 pellets adapted to fit loosely within said element and (U,Pu)O2 microspheres having a diameter of between 400-600 microns and said fine-sized material comprises depleted UO2 microspheres having a diameter no greater than 44 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 4 wherein a portion of said coarse UO2 pellets are loaded into a lower blanket region, said coarse (U, Pu)O2 microspheres are loaded into a central core region, the remainder of said coarse UO2 pellets are loaded into an upper blanket region and said fine-sized depleted UO2 microspheres are infiltrated simultaneously with vibration throughout said coarse micrOspheres and around said UO2 pellets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3261378A
Cited
US3517431A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |