US4131511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear fuel element
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1977-02-04
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Granted: 1978-12-26
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Expires: 1997-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear fuel pin is formed of an elongated metallic tube, closed at each end, containing stacked fuel pellets and material including little, or no, fissionable material, and formed into porous, or bubbled, microspheres placed in the annulus between the pellets and the internal wall of the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter J. Mordarski
- 👤 Jerome Roth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:08
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/26; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A fuel pin for a nuclear reactor, including, a casing of zirconium alloy formed into a tube which is closed at each end, a stack of axially aligned nuclear fuel pellets positioned within the casing, and material formed into microspheres which are friable with a controlled crushing strength and which are porous with a controlled density and having substantially no fissionable components positioned in the annulus between the stack of pellets and the internal wall of the casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A fuel pin for a nuclear reactor, including, a casing of zirconium alloy formed into a tube which is closed at each end, a stack of axially aligned nuclear fuel pellets positioned within the casing, and material formed into microspheres which are friable with a controlled crushing strength and which are porous with a controlled density and having substantially no fissionable components positioned in the annulus between the stack of pellets and the internal wall of the casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, wherein, the microspheres are of uranium oxide in which the uranium is depleted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, including, a tracer isotope distributed in the body formed into the microspheres.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, wherein, the microspheres are of zirconium oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, wherein, the microspheres are of cesium oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, wherein, the microspheres are mixtures of depleted uranium and cesium oxide and zirconium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, including, helium included in the annulus and microspheres.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, including, getter material for iodine and cesium distributed in the body formed into the microspheres.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fuel pin of claim 1, including, a burnable poison distributed in the body formed into the microspheres.
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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) | 1981-12-25 | 1982-06-26 | 1982-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-25 | 1986-06-26 | 1986-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-25 | 1990-06-26 | 1990-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |