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US4236965A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Target assembly

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1978-11-08
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-11-08
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Abstract

Abstract A target for a proton beam which is capable of generating neutrons for absorption in a breeding blanket includes a plurality of solid pins formed of a neutron emissive target material disposed parallel to the path of the beam and which are arranged axially in a plurality of layers so that pins in each layer are offset with respect to pins in all other layers, enough layers being used so that each proton in the beam will strike at least one pin with means being provided to cool the pins. For a 300 mA, 1 GeV beam (300 MW), stainless steel pins, 12 inches long and 0.23 inches in diameter are arranged in triangular array in six layers with one sixth of the pins in each layer, the number of pins being such that the entire cross sectional area of the beam is covered by the pins with minimum overlap of pins.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard A. Lewis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 14:27
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H6/00; G; G21; G21K; G21K5/00; G21K5/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A target assembly capable of producing neutrons when bombarded with a high power, high current proton beam comprising a plurality of pins composed of a neutron emissive target material, the pins being disposed so that their axes parallel the beam path and being distributed axially in a plurality of layers containing an equal number of pins, the pins in each layer being offset from the pins in all other layers, the number and size of the pins being such that the entire cross sectional area of the proton beam is covered by the pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
A target assembly capable of producing neutrons when bombarded with a high power, high current proton beam comprising a plurality of pins composed of a neutron emissive target material, the pins being disposed so that their axes parallel the beam path and being distributed axially in a plurality of layers containing an equal number of pins, the pins in each layer being offset from the pins in all other layers, the number and size of the pins being such that the entire cross sectional area of the proton beam is covered by the pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
Target assembly according to claim 1 wherein the length of the pins is approximately one half the stopping distance for incident protons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
Target assembly according to claim 2 wherein the number of pins is such that overlap of pins is a minimum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
Target assembly according to claim 3 wherein the proton beam is a 300 mA, 1 GeV beam (300 MW) and the pins are stainless steel, 12 inches long, and 0.23 inches in diameter and the pins are distributed in six layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
Target assembly according to claim 4 wherein the pins are arranged in triangular array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 68 words
In an accelerator breeder plant for producing fissile material comprising a linear accelerator capable of producing a high power, high current proton beam, a target assembly disposed in the path of the proton beam, a blanket for breeding fertile material surrounding said target assembly and means for cooling the blanket and target assembly, the improvement wherein said target assembly is constructed as defined in any of claims 1-5.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3314858A Cited
US3755077A Cited
US3795579A Cited
US4166003A Cited
US3892625A Cited
US4111747A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-12-02 1984-06-02 1984-12-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-12-02 1988-06-02 1988-12-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-12-02 1992-06-02 1992-12-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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