US4927599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermionic converter emitter support arrangement
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1989-07-06
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Granted: 1990-05-22
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Expires: 2009-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A support is provided for use in a therminonic converter to support an end of an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially as its temperature changes. The emitter end (34) is supported by a spring structure (44) that includes a pair of Belleville springs, and the spring structure is supported by a support structure (42) fixed to the housing that includes the collector. The support structure is in the form of a sandwich with a small metal spring-engaging element (74) at the front end, a larger metal main support (76) at the rear end that is attached to the housing, and with a ceramic layer (80) between them that is bonded by hot isostatic pressing to the metal element and metal main support. The spring structure can include a loose wafer (120) captured between the Belleville springs.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel T. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21D; G21D7/00; G21D7/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a thermionic fuel element which includes a housing with a hollow collector having an axis, an emitter lying primarily within and coaxial with the collector and wherein the emitter has a front end supported on the housing and a rear free end spaced from the housing and the collector thereof, a quantity of nuclear reactor fuel within the emitter, a spring structure having front and rear ends with the front end engaging the emitter free end to keep it coaxial with the collector while allowing the emitter free end to axially expand and contract as it is heated and cooled, the improvement of a support structure for supporting the rear end of the spring structure, comprising: a metal spring-engaging element having a portion which engages the rear end of the spring structure, and having a rear surface; a metal main support having a forward surface facing said spring-engaging element and a periphery attached to said housing; a ceramic layer lying between said main support and said spring-engaging element, said ceramic layer being hot-press bonded to said rear surface of said spring-engaging element and to said front surface of said main support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a thermionic fuel element which includes a housing with a hollow collector having an axis, an emitter lying primarily within and coaxial with the collector and wherein the emitter has a front end supported on the housing and a rear free end spaced from the housing and the collector thereof, a quantity of nuclear reactor fuel within the emitter, a spring structure having front and rear ends with the front end engaging the emitter free end to keep it coaxial with the collector while allowing the emitter free end to axially expand and contract as it is heated and cooled, the improvement of a support structure for supporting the rear end of the spring structure, comprising: a metal spring-engaging element having a portion which engages the rear end of the spring structure, and having a rear surface; a metal main support having a forward surface facing said spring-engaging element and a periphery attached to said housing; a ceramic layer lying between said main support and said spring-engaging element, said ceramic layer being hot-press bonded to said rear surface of said spring-engaging element and to said front surface of said main support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: said spring-engaging element has a forwardly-extending protrusion front surface, and has a front face lying around but rearward of the front end of said protrusion; said main support and said ceramic layer each have front surfaces (114, 110) that lie even with each other and with said front surface (112) of said spring-engaging element, said ceramic layer front surface lying radially between said element front surface and said main support front surface; said ceramic layer has a middle portion lying rearward of said element, and also has a substantially cone-shaped portion extending radially outwardly and forwardly to said ceramic layer front surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: said spring structure includes a pair of Belleville-type springs that have adjacent radially outer portions that are joined together, and axially-spaced inner portions that each have a central hole; said spring structure includes a wafer that is larger than said central holes and that lies between said Belleville-type springs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1993-05-21 | 1993-11-20 | 1994-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-21 | 1997-11-20 | 1998-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-21 | 2001-11-20 | 2002-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |