US4142934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacer for supporting fuel element boxes
Assignee: Gesellschaft fuer Kernforschung mbH
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Filing: 1977-12-14
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1997-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A spacer plate unit arranged externally on each side and at a predetermined level of a polygonal fuel element box for mutually supporting, with respect to one another, a plurality of the fuel element boxes forming a fuel element bundle, is formed of a first and a second spacer plate part each having the same length and the same width and being constituted of unlike first and second materials, respectively. The first and second spacer plate parts of the several spacer plate units situated at the predetermined level are arranged in an alternating continuous series when viewed in the peripheral direction of the fuel element box, so that any two spacer plate units belonging to face-to-face oriented sides of two adjoining fuel element boxes in the fuel element bundle define interfaces of unlike materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugen Wild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:21
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/324; G21C5/00; G21C5/02; G21C5/08; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a spacer plate unit arranged externally on each side and at a predetermined level of a polygonal fuel element box for mutually supporting, with respect to one another, a plurality of the fuel element boxes forming a fuel element bundle, the improvement wherein each said spacer plate unit is formed of juxtapositioned first and second spacer plate parts each having the same length and the same width and being constituted of unlike first and second materials, respectively; said first and second spacer plate parts of the several spacer plate units situated at said level being arranged alternatingly when viewed in the peripheral direction of the fuel element box, whereby any two spacer plate units belonging to face-to-face oriented sides of two adjoining fuel element boxes in the fuel element bundle define interfaces of unlike materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a spacer plate unit arranged externally on each side and at a predetermined level of a polygonal fuel element box for mutually supporting, with respect to one another, a plurality of the fuel element boxes forming a fuel element bundle, the improvement wherein each said spacer plate unit is formed of juxtapositioned first and second spacer plate parts each having the same length and the same width and being constituted of unlike first and second materials, respectively; said first and second spacer plate parts of the several spacer plate units situated at said level being arranged alternatingly when viewed in the peripheral direction of the fuel element box, whereby any two spacer plate units belonging to face-to-face oriented sides of two adjoining fuel element boxes in the fuel element bundle define interfaces of unlike materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second spacer plate parts of each spacer plate unit are in a side-by-side contacting relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second spacer plate parts of each spacer plate unit are in a side-by-side spaced relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first material is a cobalt-containing alloy and said second material is a reactor alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said cobalt-containing alloy is Stellite 6.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 5, wherein said reactor alloy is Inconel 718.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A spacer plate unit as defined in claim 5, wherein said reactor alloy is Hastelloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a spacer plate unit for supporting hexagonal fuel element boxes in a nuclear reactor, the improvement wherein each spacer plate unit is formed of juxtapositioned first and second spacer plate parts each having the same length and the same width and being constituted of unlike first and second materials, respectively; said first and second spacer plate parts being arranged alternatingly when viewed in the peripheral direction of the fuel element box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a spacer plate unit for supporting hexagonal fuel element boxes in a nuclear reactor, the improvement wherein each spacer plate unit is formed of juxtapositioned first and second spacer plate parts each having the same length and the same width and being constituted of unlike first and second materials, respectively; said first and second spacer plate parts being arranged alternatingly when viewed in the peripheral direction of the fuel element box.
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) | 1982-03-05 | 1982-09-04 | 1983-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-05 | 1986-09-04 | 1987-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-05 | 1990-09-04 | 1991-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |