US4348353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct-tube-to-inlet-nozzle attachment system
Assignee: ENERGY United States, Department of
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Filing: 1980-11-12
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Granted: 1982-09-07
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Expires: 2000-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A reusable system for removably attaching the lower end 21 of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct tube to an upper end 11 of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly inlet nozzle. The duct tube's lower end 21 has sides terminating in locking tabs 22 which end in inwardly-extending flanges 23. The flanges 23 engage recesses 13 in the top section 12 of the inlet nozzle's upper end 11. A retaining collar 30 slides over the inlet nozzle's upper end 11 to restrain the flanges 23 in the recesses 13. A locking nut 40 has an inside threaded portion 41 which engages an outside threaded portion 15 of the inlet nozzle's upper end 11 to secure the retaining collar 30 against protrusions 24 on the duct tube's sides.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Christiansen
- 👤 Bob G. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:33
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/334; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
A nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct-tube-to-inlet-nozzle attachment system, comprising: (a) a nuclear reactor fuel assembly inlet nozzle having an upper end (11) with a generally equilateral polygonal top section (12) and a generally cylindrical bottom section (14), said top section (12) and said bottom section (14) being coaxially interconnected, said top section (12) with each of its sides having an external recess (13) and said bottom section (14) having an outside threaded portion (15); (b) a nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct tube having a generally equilateral polygonal lower end (21), the lower end's (21) polygon shape being similar to the inlet nozzle upper end top section's (12) polygon shape, said lower end (21) with each of its sides having an outwardly-extending protrusion (24), after which each side terminates in a deflectable locking tab (22), said locking tabs (22) slidable over said top section (12) to said recesses (13), each of said locking tabs (22) ending in an inwardly-extending, recess-matching flange (23), said flanges (23) coaxially surrounding and engaging said recesses (13) for attachment of said duct tube's lower end (21) to said inlet nozzle's upper end (11); (c) a retaining collar (30) having a flange-restraining, protrusion-engaging, generally equilateral polygonal top segment (31) and a generally cylindrical bottom segment (32), said top segment (31) and said bottom segment (32) being coaxially interconnected, the top segment's (31) polygon shape being similar to the inlet nozzle upper end top section's (12) polygon shape, said top segment (31) slidable over said locking tabs (22) to said protrusions (24) when said flanges (23) engage said recesses (13) during said attachment, said bottom segment (32) slidable over said bottom section (14) to above only part of the outside threaded portion (15), said collar's top segment (31), during said attachment, engaging said protrusions (24), and surrounding and restraining said flanges (23) in said recesses (13); and (d) a locking nut (40), engageable with said retaining collar's bottom segment (32), having an inside threaded portion (41) engageable with said outside threaded portion (15) to secure said retaining collar's top segment (31) against said duct tube lower end's protrusions (24) during said attachment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
A nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct-tube-to-inlet-nozzle attachment system, comprising: (a) a nuclear reactor fuel assembly inlet nozzle having an upper end (11) with a generally equilateral polygonal top section (12) and a generally cylindrical bottom section (14), said top section (12) and said bottom section (14) being coaxially interconnected, said top section (12) with each of its sides having an external recess (13) and said bottom section (14) having an outside threaded portion (15); (b) a nuclear reactor fuel assembly duct tube having a generally equilateral polygonal lower end (21), the lower end's (21) polygon shape being similar to the inlet nozzle upper end top section's (12) polygon shape, said lower end (21) with each of its sides having an outwardly-extending protrusion (24), after which each side terminates in a deflectable locking tab (22), said locking tabs (22) slidable over said top section (12) to said recesses (13), each of said locking tabs (22) ending in an inwardly-extending, recess-matching flange (23), said flanges (23) coaxially surrounding and engaging said recesses (13) for attachment of said duct tube's lower end (21) to said inlet nozzle's upper end (11); (c) a retaining collar (30) having a flange-restraining, protrusion-engaging, generally equilateral polygonal top segment (31) and a generally cylindrical bottom segment (32), said top segment (31) and said bottom segment (32) being coaxially interconnected, the top segment's (31) polygon shape being similar to the inlet nozzle upper end top section's (12) polygon shape, said top segment (31) slidable over said locking tabs (22) to said protrusions (24) when said flanges (23) engage said recesses (13) during said attachment, said bottom segment (32) slidable over said bottom section (14) to above only part of the outside threaded portion (15), said collar's top segment (31), during said attachment, engaging said protrusions (24), and surrounding and restraining said flanges (23) in said recesses (13); and (d) a locking nut (40), engageable with said retaining collar's bottom segment (32), having an inside threaded portion (41) engageable with said outside threaded portion (15) to secure said retaining collar's top segment (31) against said duct tube lower end's protrusions (24) during said attachment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the generally equilateral polygon is a generally equilateral hexagon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said recesses (13) together have a generally orthogonally transverse, annular groove shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 3, wherein the width of each of said locking tabs (22) is generally equal to the width of one of said top section's (12) sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the width of each of said flanges (23) is equal to the width of one of said locking tabs (22).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said locking tabs (22) are generally coaxially aligned with said duct tube during said attachment, and wherein each of said flanges (23) is generally perpendicular to its said locking tab (22).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said protrusions (24) together have a generally orthogonally transverse, annular band shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said locking tabs (22) are outwardly disposed and resiliently deflectable, and wherein said flanges (23) are slidable, without locking tab deflection, over said top section (12) to and from said recesses (13) during attaching and removing of said duct tube and said inlet nozzle shield.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8, also including means for preventing the backing off of said locking nut (40) during said attachment.
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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) | 1985-09-06 | 1986-03-08 | 1986-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-09-06 | 1990-03-08 | 1990-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-09-06 | 1994-03-08 | 1994-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |