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US4121972A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Nuclear reactor fuel rod

Assignee: Kraftwerk Union AG
•
Filing: 1976-09-21
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Granted: 1978-10-24
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Expires: 1996-09-21
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Abstract

Abstract A nuclear reactor fuel rod formed of a cladding tube, end caps hermetically sealing the tube at both ends thereof, the tube being divided transversely into two longitudinal zones one of which is for receiving a charge of nuclear fuel and the other of which is for receiving gas-adsorbing material free of nuclear fuel, includes means received in the second zone for simultaneously supporting the tube and for containing gas-adsorbing material therein, the means having a capsule having an open end facing toward the one zone and a gas-permeable member closing off the open end of the capsule, the capsule containing adsorber material that has been dried and degassed in high vacuum at temperatures of from 500° to 1000° C, the capsule having an interior space between the adsorber material contained therein and the gas-permeable element, and including a metallic foil destructible by a given internal pressure of the fuel rod gas-tightly closing the interior space; and method of production.

Inventors

  • 👤 Josef Steven

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 08:25
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/17; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 183 words
A nuclear reactor fuel rod formed of a cladding tube, end caps hermetically sealing the tube at both ends thereof, the tube being divided transversely so as to form two longitudinally-extending zones located one behind the other for receiving therein, respectively, a charge of nuclear fuel and a charge of gas-adsorbing material free of nuclear fuel, comprising means disposed in the zone wherein a charge of gas-adsorbing material is receivable for simultaneously supporting the tube and for receiving gas-adsorbing material therein, said means comprising a capsule having an open end facing toward the zone wherein a charge of nuclear fuel is receivable, a gas-permeable member closing off said open end of said capsule, a charge of gas-adsorbing material that has been dried and degassed in high vacuum at temperatures of from 500° to 1000° C. being received in said capsule, said capsule having an interior space between the gas-adsorbing material received therein and said gas-permeable member, and a metallic foil destructible by a given internal pressure of the fuel rod gas-tightly closing said interior space from the adsorber material received in said capsule.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 183 words
A nuclear reactor fuel rod formed of a cladding tube, end caps hermetically sealing the tube at both ends thereof, the tube being divided transversely so as to form two longitudinally-extending zones located one behind the other for receiving therein, respectively, a charge of nuclear fuel and a charge of gas-adsorbing material free of nuclear fuel, comprising means disposed in the zone wherein a charge of gas-adsorbing material is receivable for simultaneously supporting the tube and for receiving gas-adsorbing material therein, said means comprising a capsule having an open end facing toward the zone wherein a charge of nuclear fuel is receivable, a gas-permeable member closing off said open end of said capsule, a charge of gas-adsorbing material that has been dried and degassed in high vacuum at temperatures of from 500° to 1000° C. being received in said capsule, said capsule having an interior space between the gas-adsorbing material received therein and said gas-permeable member, and a metallic foil destructible by a given internal pressure of the fuel rod gas-tightly closing said interior space from the adsorber material received in said capsule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
Nuclear reactor fuel rod according to claim 1 wherein said gas-permeable member is a porous sinter-material tablet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
Nuclear reactor fuel rod according to claim 1 wherein said gas-adsorbing material is activated carbon in granulated form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
Nuclear reactor fuel rod according to claim 1 wherein said adsorber material is activated carbon in pellet form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
Nuclear reactor fuel rod according to claim 1 wherein said gas-permeable member is a wire screen.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3131129A Cited
US3180804A Cited
US3291700A Cited
US3406094A Cited
US3697377A Cited
US3519537A Cited
US3647623A Cited
US4010069A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-10-23 1982-04-24 1982-10-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-10-23 1986-04-24 1986-10-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-10-23 1990-04-24 1990-10-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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