US3904475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring spacer device for resiliently supporting nuclear fuel rods
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-17
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1993-01-17
Abstract
Abstract Lantern type spring spacers which are mounted in a latticed frame by cross-pieces thereof, are respectively composed of square configured cylindrical end portions supported in the cross-pieces and four leaf spring members respectively provided between corresponding sides of the square cylindrical end portions. Each of the leaf springs includes flat end portions and a central outwardly bent portion which is projected against a nuclear fuel rod to be supported in the latticed frame. The flat end portions are made such that the coefficient of elasticity thereof is smaller than that of the central outwardly bent portion. The configuration of one of the leaf springs can thus be varied independently of the other leaf springs when an external force is added thereto by a fuel rod, so as to deform the leaf spring.
Inventors
- 👤 Junichiro Tashima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:49
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/34; G21C3/356; G21C3/3566; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A SPRING SPACER DEVICE FOR RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING NUCLEAR FUEL RODS COMPRISING: A LATTICED FRAME HAVING A RECTANGULAR SIDE FRAME AND A PLURALITY OF CROSS-PIECES MOUNTED IN SAID SIDE FRAME TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF LATTICES THROUGH WHICH NUCLEAR FUEL RODS ARE ADAPTED TO RESPECTIVELY BE INSERTED, AND A PLURALITY OF LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS SUPPORTED ON CROSSING POINTS OF SAID CROSS-PIECES, EACH OF SAID LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CYLINDRICAL END PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS ON SAID CROSS-PIECES, AND FOUR LEAF SPRINGS PROVIDED BETWEEN SAID CYLINDRICAL END PORTIONS, SUCH THAT SAID LEAF SPRINGS ARE RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED IN CORRESPONDING LATTICES ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID LEAF SPRINGS HAVING FLAT END PORTIONS AND A CENTRAL OUTWARDLY BENT PORTION PROJECTED AGAINST A NUCLEAR FUEL ROD SURFACE SO AS TO BE IN CONTACT THEREWITH, SAID FLAT END PORTIONS OF SAID LEAF SPRINGS HAVING MEANS FOR IMPARTING A SMALLER COEFFIIENT OF ELASTICITY TO SAID FLAT END PORTIONS THAN THAT OF SAID CENTRAL OUTWARDLY BENT PORTION, WHEREUPON A FORCE BEING APPLIED TO SAID OUTWARDLY BENT CENTRAL PORTION SAID FLAT END PORTIONS WILL FLEX RADIALLY INWARDLY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A SPRING SPACER DEVICE FOR RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING NUCLEAR FUEL RODS COMPRISING: A LATTICED FRAME HAVING A RECTANGULAR SIDE FRAME AND A PLURALITY OF CROSS-PIECES MOUNTED IN SAID SIDE FRAME TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF LATTICES THROUGH WHICH NUCLEAR FUEL RODS ARE ADAPTED TO RESPECTIVELY BE INSERTED, AND A PLURALITY OF LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS SUPPORTED ON CROSSING POINTS OF SAID CROSS-PIECES, EACH OF SAID LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CYLINDRICAL END PORTIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE LANTERN TYPE SPRING SPACERS ON SAID CROSS-PIECES, AND FOUR LEAF SPRINGS PROVIDED BETWEEN SAID CYLINDRICAL END PORTIONS, SUCH THAT SAID LEAF SPRINGS ARE RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED IN CORRESPONDING LATTICES ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID LEAF SPRINGS HAVING FLAT END PORTIONS AND A CENTRAL OUTWARDLY BENT PORTION PROJECTED AGAINST A NUCLEAR FUEL ROD SURFACE SO AS TO BE IN CONTACT THEREWITH, SAID FLAT END PORTIONS OF SAID LEAF SPRINGS HAVING MEANS FOR IMPARTING A SMALLER COEFFIIENT OF ELASTICITY TO SAID FLAT END PORTIONS THAN THAT OF SAID CENTRAL OUTWARDLY BENT PORTION, WHEREUPON A FORCE BEING APPLIED TO SAID OUTWARDLY BENT CENTRAL PORTION SAID FLAT END PORTIONS WILL FLEX RADIALLY INWARDLY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spring spacer device according to claim 1, wherein said flat end portions of said leaf springs are formed to have a smaller cross-section than that of said central outwardly bent portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A spring spacer device according to claim 1, wherein said means of said flat end portions of said leaf springs comprises the width of said flat end portions being less than that of said central outwardly bent portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spring spacer device according to claim 1, wherein said means of said flat end portions of said leaf springs comprises at least one through opening provided therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A spring spacer device according to claim 1, wherein adjacent flat end portions of said leaf springs have slot means interposed therebetween for housing said cross-pieces of said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A spring spacer device according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical end portions are square in cross-section and said flat end portions of said leaf springs are respectively disposed within the planes of the surfaces of said cylindrical end portions when said spring spacer device is in an unstressed state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |