US4284593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparation of shaped bodies
Assignee: Ricardo AEA Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-05-17
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Granted: 1981-08-18
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Expires: 1999-05-17
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method for the preparation of a shaped body which includes pressing a powder to give a "green" shaped body wherein the powder has been made by comminuting a material prepared by means of a gelation process, the material prior to comminuting being of a selected physical configuration. The invention finds application in relation to the handling and transportation of nuclear fuels and nuclear fuel materials. Thus, a material prepared by means of gelation process can be transported and handled in an environmentally desirable, substantially dust-free form (e.g. spherical particles) and then comminuted to produce a powder for pressing into a shaped nuclear fuel body.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. Sutcliffe
- 👤 Jim W. Isaacs
- 👤 Colin E. Lyon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:29
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/51; G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for the preparation of a shaped body which includes pressing a powder to give a "green" shaped body wherein the powder has been made by comminuting gel particles prepared by means of a gelation process, said gel particles prior to comminuting being of a size which presents no substantial dust hazard.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for the preparation of a shaped body which includes pressing a powder to give a "green" shaped body wherein the powder has been made by comminuting gel particles prepared by means of a gelation process, said gel particles prior to comminuting being of a size which presents no substantial dust hazard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes comminuting gel particles prepared by means of a gelation process to give a powder and pressing the powder to give a "green" shaped body, the gel particles prior to comminuting being of a size which presents no substantial dust hazard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the green shaped body is subsequently sintered to give a sintered shaped body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material for comminuting comprises a plurality of substantially spherical particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressing is cold pressing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the comminution is carried out by milling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the milling is rotary ball milling or vibratory ball milling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the comminution is carried out in the presence of an organic binder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is prepared by means of a gel precipitation process, a sol-gel process or an internal gelation process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the direct product of the gelation process is subjected to post-gelation treatment to prepare the material for comminution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the temperature and time of debonding of a material produced by a gelation process is controlled to produce a material which is friable so as to facilitate comminution and subsequent pressing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 for the preparation of a sintered shaped body which includes comminuting at least partially debonded gel precipitate to give a powder, pressing the powder to give a "green" shaped body and heating the "green" shaped body to effect sintering thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 for the preparation of a shaped nuclear fuel body which comprises milling particles produced by means of a gel precipitation process to give a powder and pressing the powder into the shaped nuclear fuel body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shaped nuclear fuel body is a nuclear fuel pellet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the nuclear fuel pellet is a pellet of (70% U/30% Pu) O 2 .
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) | 1984-08-17 | 1985-02-16 | 1985-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-17 | 1989-02-16 | 1989-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-17 | 1993-02-16 | 1993-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |