US4432933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the fabrication of thermonuclear fuel pellets and the product thereof
Assignee: KMS Fusion Inc
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Filing: 1976-04-09
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Granted: 1984-02-21
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Expires: 1996-04-09
Abstract
Abstract In processes utilizing a source of laser energy for achieving a thermonuclear fusion reaction, it is necessary to have fusion fuel prepared in a configuration with minute dimensions and the present invention contemplates preparing this fuel by introducing into hollow microspheres (typically comprised of glass) of predetermined size, in the range of 250 to 2,000 micrometers, a gaseous thermonuclear fuel. One way of accomplishing this is to cause diffusion of gaseous thermonuclear fuel through the walls of the microsphere under conditions of suitable temperature and pressure so that it may be achieved in a reasonable time, after which the fuel can be frozen out on the walls of the microsphere to provide a fusion fuel in a hollow spherical shape. Suitable coatings of additional materials may be applied to the fueled microsphere by appropriate coating methods to complete complex thermonuclear fuel pellet configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Teitel
- 👤 David E. Solomon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:20
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21B; G21B1/00; G21B1/11; G21B1/19; H; H05; H05H; H05H6/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A nuclear fuel pellet which comprises a hollow sphere having a homogeneously integral and continuous wall consisting essentially of at least one of the group of glass, ceramic, metal and plastic materials, said wall having a permeability rate for hydrogen isotopes which decreases with decreasing temperature and is sufficiently low at room temperature and one atmosphere pressure to retain within said sphere hydrogen isotopes at pressures of at least ten atmospheres, said wall of said hollow sphere having a diameter not greater than two millimeters, and a quantity of a fuel including at least one isotope of hydrogen contained within the interior of said hollow sphere in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least ten atmospheres at room temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A nuclear fuel pellet which comprises a hollow sphere having a homogeneously integral and continuous wall consisting essentially of at least one of the group of glass, ceramic, metal and plastic materials, said wall having a permeability rate for hydrogen isotopes which decreases with decreasing temperature and is sufficiently low at room temperature and one atmosphere pressure to retain within said sphere hydrogen isotopes at pressures of at least ten atmospheres, said wall of said hollow sphere having a diameter not greater than two millimeters, and a quantity of a fuel including at least one isotope of hydrogen contained within the interior of said hollow sphere in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least ten atmospheres at room temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel pellet set forth in claim 1 in which said fuel contained within said sphere is in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least forty atmospheres at room temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 1 in which said hollow sphere has a wall thickness of at least one micron.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 1 in which said fuel is in gaseous form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 1 in which said fuel is disposed as a solidified layer on the inner surface of said hollow sphere such that said fuel forms a solidified hollow spherical shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 1 in which any gaseous impurities in said hollow sphere are disposed as a layer of solidified impurities on the inner surface of said hollow sphere and said fuel is disposed within said layer of solidified impurities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 6 in which said fuel is disposed as a soldified hollow spherical shell of fuel within said layer of solidified impurities disposed on the inner surface of said hollow sphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 1 further comprising a continuous coating of glass or metal on the exterior of said hollow sphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fuel pellet as defined in claim 8 wherein said coating consists essentially of at least one of the group of lead glass, bismuth glass, soda-lime glass, copper and aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fuel pellet set forth in claim 5 which said fuel contained within said sphere is in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least forty atmospheres at room temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel pellet set forth in claim 6 in which said fuel contained within said sphere is in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least forty atmospheres at room temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fuel pellet set forth in claim 8 in which said fuel contained within said sphere is in an amount sufficient to possess a pressure of at least forty atmospheres at room temperature.
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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) | 1987-02-20 | 1987-08-22 | 1988-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-20 | 1991-08-22 | 1992-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-20 | 1995-08-22 | 1996-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |