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US4758403A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Grid with mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly

Assignee: Fragema
•
Filing: 1985-11-05
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2005-11-05
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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

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