Patent JPS638906A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4758403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grid with mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly
Assignee: Fragema
•
Filing: 1985-11-05
•
Granted: 1988-07-19
•
Expires: 2005-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A spacing grid is provided for a nuclear fuel assembly comprising two sets of intersecting metal plates having fins and defining fuel element receiving pockets. The plates comprise solely half-fins each associated with a single pocket of the grid, disposed in opposed pairs at the angles of the pockets, the half-fins of one pocket being placed at 90° from the half-fins of adjacent pockets.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Noailly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/322; G21C3/34; G21C3/3432; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
In a nuclear fuel assembly having fuel elements, a spacing grid with mixing fins comprising two intersecting sets each consisting of a plurality of metal plates defining pockets distributed at the nodal points of a square network, the improvement wherein said plates comprise solely half-fins each relating to a single pocket of the grid, disposed in opposed pairs at the angles of the pockets, the half-fins of one pocket being placed at 90° from the half-fins of adjacent pockets, and wherein hydraulic cells are each defined by the fuel elements occupying four adjacent pockets and each cell has only a single half-fin, orthogonal to the half-fins placed in the nearest hydraulic cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a nuclear fuel assembly having fuel elements, a spacing grid with mixing fins comprising two intersecting sets each consisting of a plurality of metal plates defining pockets distributed at the nodal points of a square network, the improvement wherein said plates comprise solely half-fins each relating to a single pocket of the grid, disposed in opposed pairs at the angles of the pockets, the half-fins of one pocket being placed at 90° from the half-fins of adjacent pockets, and wherein hydraulic cells are each defined by the fuel elements occupying four adjacent pockets and each cell has only a single half-fin, orthogonal to the half-fins placed in the nearest hydraulic cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The grid according to claim 1, wherein the half-fins are formed by bent fingers integral with the plates and disposed on a single side of the grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The grid according to claim 1, wherein some of the half-fins, placed at the edge of the grid, have a reversed arrangement with respect to that of the other half-fins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A spacing grid with mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising two intersecting sets each consisting of a plurality of metal plates defining pockets, distributed at the nodal points of a square network, according to claim 1, wherein every other one of said pockets is provided with half-fins and the pockets respectively provided with and devoid of fins are distributed in a checker board arrangement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1536258A
Cited
DE1564697A1
Cited
FR2093981A3
Cited
DE2157742A1
Cited
FR2198221A1
Cited
US3862000A
Cited
US4224107A
Cited
US4576786A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |