Patent US4124659A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4124659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gettering in nuclear fuel elements
Assignee: SAES Getters SpA
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Filing: 1976-10-12
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Granted: 1978-11-07
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Expires: 1996-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing a nuclear reactor fuel element which contains a pre-activated non-evaporable getter material such that the getter material starts to sorb gases at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the fuel element walls start to sorb gas. The invention is further directed to a getter device which can be employed in a nuclear fuel element and the nuclear fuel element per se.
Inventors
- 👤 Paolo della Porta
- 👤 Tiziano A. Giorgi
- 👤 Livio Rosai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:03
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: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel element comprising the steps of (A) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (B) heating the fuel element to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas (C) filling the fuel element with a washing gas to about atmospheric pressure (D) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (E) inserting a non-evaporable activated getter material into the nuclear fuel element (F) filling the fuel element with helium to super-atmospheric pressure (G) sealing the fuel element (H) heating the fuel element and getter material to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel element comprising the steps of (A) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (B) heating the fuel element to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas (C) filling the fuel element with a washing gas to about atmospheric pressure (D) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (E) inserting a non-evaporable activated getter material into the nuclear fuel element (F) filling the fuel element with helium to super-atmospheric pressure (G) sealing the fuel element (H) heating the fuel element and getter material to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel element comprising the step of: (A) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (B) heating the fuel element to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas (C) filling the fuel element with a washing gas to about atmospheric pressure (D) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (E) inserting a non-evaporable activated getter material enclosed in a housing having a pressure sensitive rupturing means into the nuclear fuel element (F) filling the fuel element with a rare gas to super-atmospheric pressure whereby the rupturing means is ruptured and (G) sealing the fuel element and (H) heating the fuel element and getter material to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel element comprising the step of: (A) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (B) heating the fuel element to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas (C) filling the fuel element with a washing gas to about atmospheric pressure (D) pumping the fuel element to sub-atmospheric pressure (E) inserting a non-evaporable activated getter material enclosed in a housing having a pressure sensitive rupturing means into the nuclear fuel element (F) filling the fuel element with a rare gas to super-atmospheric pressure whereby the rupturing means is ruptured and (G) sealing the fuel element and (H) heating the fuel element and getter material to a temperature below that at which the fuel element walls commence to sorb gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 in which steps A to D are performed two or more times.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1 in which the temperature of step B is between 150° and 250° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method of claim 1 in which the washing gas is nitrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1 in which the temperature is step H is between 120° and 250° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A nuclear fuel element produced by any of the methods of claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3762995A
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US3519537A
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US3683148A
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US3774010A
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US3836431A
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US3949460A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-06 | 1982-05-08 | 1982-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-06 | 1986-05-08 | 1986-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-06 | 1990-05-08 | 1990-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |