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US3856622A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High temperature nuclear reactor fuel

Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1972-04-18
•
Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1992-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A nuclear fuel comprising a kernel containing a dispersion of a uranium compound within a carbon or graphite matrix, said kernel containing less than 0.5 weight percent oxygen and an amebainhibiting concentration of sulfur and at least one pyrolytic carbon coating encasing said kernel, and a process for making same.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Pollock
  • 👤 J Scott
  • 👤 J Leitnaker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 19:49
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/64; G21C3/626; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 82 words
A NUCLEAR FUEL KERNEL COMPRISING A MATRIX PHASE OF CARBON OR GRAPHITE AND A DISPERSED PHASE OF A CRYSTALLINE URANIUM COMPOUND CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF URANIUM, CARBON, AN AMEBA-INHIBITING CONCENTRATION OF FROM 2 TO 10 WEIGHT PERCENT SULFUR, AND UP TO 0.5 WEIGHT PERCENT OXYGEN, SAID FUEL KERNEL FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT SHOWS INHIBITION OF URANIUM MIGRATION ACROSS A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT AT A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 1200*C. AND HAS AN X-RAY DIFFRACTION PATTERN WHICH IS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM UO2, UC, OR US.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 82 words
A NUCLEAR FUEL KERNEL COMPRISING A MATRIX PHASE OF CARBON OR GRAPHITE AND A DISPERSED PHASE OF A CRYSTALLINE URANIUM COMPOUND CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF URANIUM, CARBON, AN AMEBA-INHIBITING CONCENTRATION OF FROM 2 TO 10 WEIGHT PERCENT SULFUR, AND UP TO 0.5 WEIGHT PERCENT OXYGEN, SAID FUEL KERNEL FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT SHOWS INHIBITION OF URANIUM MIGRATION ACROSS A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT AT A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 1200*C. AND HAS AN X-RAY DIFFRACTION PATTERN WHICH IS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM UO2, UC, OR US.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The nuclear fuel kernel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oxygen content is in the range 0.02 to 0.2 weight percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The fuel kernel of claim 1 which has an X-ray diffraction pattern as shown in FIG. 1D at 2600*C. and an X-ray diffraction pattern as shown in FIG. 1E at 3000*C.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3578610A Cited
US3194745A Cited
US3264223A Cited
US3334050A Cited
US3298921A Cited
US3438749A Cited
US3403008A Cited
US3673101A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-12-23 1978-06-24 1978-12-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-12-23 1982-06-24 1982-12-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-12-23 1986-06-24 1986-12-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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