US3913689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Core for nuclear reactors
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
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Filing: 1973-06-28
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A core for a nuclear reactor includes a moderator tank and fuel assemblies within the moderator tank. The tank has a lid. The fuel assemblies are fixed by an assembly grid shaped as a lattice, each fuel assembly including a polygonal shroud and a plurality of control rod guide tubes surrounded by the shroud. The walls of the shrouds extend upwardly above the control rod guide tubes. The grid is secured in place by the lid of the moderator tank. The grid has mechanical contact with the upper edges of the shrouds, the vertical planes along the surface of the grids crossing the planes along the surfaces of the shrouds. The mechanical contact is made by downwardly open slots in the sheet metal parts constituting the grid which engage the upwardly extending edges of the shroud.
Inventors
- 👤 Ingmar Andersson
- 👤 Olle Eriksson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:15
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/33; G21C3/324; G21C3/326; G21C3/328; G21C5/00; G21C5/02; G21C5/06; G21C5/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
In combination, a nuclear reactors core and a moderator tank, a plurality of polygonal fuel assemblies surrounded by said tank, said tank having a lid, and means fixing the fuel assemblies comprising an assembly grid shaped as a lattice, each fuel assembly comprising a polygonal shroud, a plurality of fuel rods and a plurality of control rod guide tubes surrounded by the shroud, the walls of the shroud, at least in a majority of the fuel assemblies, having such an axial extension that their upper edges extend above said control rod guide tubes, means securing said assembly grid in the lid of the moderator tank and said grid securing said assemblies against lateral movement by having a mechanical contact with said upper edges in a major part of the total number of assembly shrouds, the vertical planes along the surfaces of the assembly grid crossing the vertical planes along the surfaces of the assembly shrouds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
In combination, a nuclear reactors core and a moderator tank, a plurality of polygonal fuel assemblies surrounded by said tank, said tank having a lid, and means fixing the fuel assemblies comprising an assembly grid shaped as a lattice, each fuel assembly comprising a polygonal shroud, a plurality of fuel rods and a plurality of control rod guide tubes surrounded by the shroud, the walls of the shroud, at least in a majority of the fuel assemblies, having such an axial extension that their upper edges extend above said control rod guide tubes, means securing said assembly grid in the lid of the moderator tank and said grid securing said assemblies against lateral movement by having a mechanical contact with said upper edges in a major part of the total number of assembly shrouds, the vertical planes along the surfaces of the assembly grid crossing the vertical planes along the surfaces of the assembly shrouds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Core according to claim 1, in which the assembly grid is provided with means for laterally engaging the adjacent shroud parts said mechanical contact being made at the points of such securement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Core according to claim 2, in which the grid is formed of sheet-metal parts and said laterally engaging means comprise vertically running slots in the bottom edge of said sheet-metal parts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Core according to claim 1, in which said fuel assembly shroud comprises a detachable upper part which is arranged with its upper edge above the upper ends of the fuel rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Core according to claim 1, in which a plurality of stays are arranged between the moderator tank lid and said assembly grid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3235463A
Cited
US3801442A
Cited
US3785924A
Cited
US3821079A
Cited
US3821078A
Cited
US3823065A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |