Patent US3354045A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3354045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor fuel elements
Assignee: —
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Filing: —
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Granted: 1967-11-21
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Expires: 1984-11-21
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:26
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/34; G21C3/356; G21C3/3563; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A PLURALITY OF STACKED NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS, EACH OF THE KIND HAVING A CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS DISPOSED WITHIN A SLEEVE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS AT THEIR LOWER ENDS ALSO FOR INDEPENDENTLY SUPPORTING SAID SLEEVE AT ITS LOWER END, A TUBULAR CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND A LATERAL SPACING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER AND DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID FUEL RODS FOR LATERALLY SPACING SAID FUEL RODS, SAID FUEL RODS BEING SLICABLE RELATIVE TO SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER AND SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE, AND INCLUDING A LIFTING MEMBER SECURED TO THE SUPPORT MEANS OF THE LOWERMOST FUEL ELEMENT AND DISPOSED TO EXTEND THROUGH THE TUBULAR CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS OF THE STACKED FUEL ELEMENTS, THEREBY FORMING A DEMOUNTABLE ASSEMBLY OF FUEL ELEMENTS FOR CHARGING INTO AND DISCHARGING FROM A FUEL ELEMENT CHANNEL OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR BY MANIPULATION OF SAID LIFTING MEMBER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A PLURALITY OF STACKED NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS, EACH OF THE KIND HAVING A CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS DISPOSED WITHIN A SLEEVE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS AT THEIR LOWER ENDS ALSO FOR INDEPENDENTLY SUPPORTING SAID SLEEVE AT ITS LOWER END, A TUBULAR CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND A LATERAL SPACING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER AND DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID FUEL RODS FOR LATERALLY SPACING SAID FUEL RODS, SAID FUEL RODS BEING SLICABLE RELATIVE TO SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER AND SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE, AND INCLUDING A LIFTING MEMBER SECURED TO THE SUPPORT MEANS OF THE LOWERMOST FUEL ELEMENT AND DISPOSED TO EXTEND THROUGH THE TUBULAR CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS OF THE STACKED FUEL ELEMENTS, THEREBY FORMING A DEMOUNTABLE ASSEMBLY OF FUEL ELEMENTS FOR CHARGING INTO AND DISCHARGING FROM A FUEL ELEMENT CHANNEL OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR BY MANIPULATION OF SAID LIFTING MEMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT HAVING A CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS DISPOSED WITHIN A SLEEVE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS AT THEIR LOWER ENDS AND COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE AND AN UPPER PERIPHERAL PORTION, SAID ANNULAR FLANGE SUPPORTING SAID SLEEVE AND SAID UPPER PERIPHERAL PORTION HAVING SECURED THERETO A SUPPORT GRID FOR SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS, A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND A LATERAL SPACING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER. DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID FUEL RODS AND SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE, THE SAID FUEL RODS BEING SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT HAVING A CLUSTER OF PARALLEL FUEL RODS DISPOSED WITHIN A SLEEVE OF STRUCTURAL MATERIAL, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS AT THEIR LOWER ENDS AND COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE AND AN UPPER PERIPHERAL PORTION, SAID ANNULAR FLANGE SUPPORTING SAID SLEEVE AND SAID UPPER PERIPHERAL PORTION HAVING SECURED THERETO A SUPPORT GRID FOR SUPPORTING SAID FUEL RODS, A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND A LATERAL SPACING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL MEMBER. DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID FUEL RODS AND SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE, THE SAID FUEL RODS BEING SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID LATERAL SPACING MEMBER.
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) | 1970-11-20 | 1971-05-22 | 1971-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-11-20 | 1975-05-22 | 1975-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-11-20 | 1979-05-22 | 1979-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |