US Patent No: 5,546,437
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Spacer for nuclear fuel rods
Stats
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Aug 13, 1996
Issued date -
Jan 11, 1995
filing date -
08/371,389
serial no -
Expired
status
Importance
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Abstract
A spacer for retaining nuclear fuel rods in laterally spaced relation to one another includes first and second sets of spacer strips extending in mutually perpendicular diagonal directions relative to a generally rectilinear peripheral spacer band. The strips have linearly extending sections with adjacent sections angularly related to one another and meeting at apices. The sections of each strip alternately intersect a diagonal line across the spacer with the apices alternately located on opposite sides of the diagonal line. Alternate apices have springs projecting to one side of the strip for engaging fuel rods and apices between the alternate apices have stops projecting on opposite sides of the strip for engaging the fuel rods. Slots are provided in the strips enabling intermeshing of the strips with one another to define discrete cells peripherally encompassing and retaining fuel rods within the spacer. In another form, the spacer includes pairs of strips having alternating reversely curved sections with alternate springs and stops and assembled to form rows of cells. The strips are intermeshed in egg-crate fashion and welded at their junctures.
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First Claim
Related Publications
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International Classification(s)
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- [Patents Count]
Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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| 4,268,356 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly grid | 14 | 1978 | |
| 4,418,036 Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor | 18 | 1980 | |
| 4,474,730 Nuclear fuel spacer grid | 19 | 1982 | |
| 4,492,844 Welding plates for a fuel rod grid | 22 | 1982 | |
| 4,521,374 Fuel grid with sleeves welded in notched grid straps | 15 | 1982 | |
| 4,578,240 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly spacer grid | 15 | 1983 | |
| 4,585,616 Nuclear fuel spacer grid with improved outer straps | 23 | 1983 | |
| 4,692,302 Coolant flow mixer grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 37 | 1983 | |
| 4,655,995 Reversible BWR fuel assembly and method of using same | 27 | 1984 | |
| 4,666,657 Remotely adjustable intermediate seismic support | 9 | 1984 | |
| 4,652,426 Water tubes arranged in cross-like pattern in a fuel assembly | 27 | 1984 | |
| 4,664,882 Segmented fuel and moderator rod | 19 | 1984 | |
| 4,659,542 Grid structure for nuclear fuel assembly | 13 | 1984 | |
| 4,659,543 Cross brace for stiffening a water cross in a fuel assembly | 11 | 1984 | |
| 4,711,436 Grid assembly fixture, retention strap and method | 11 | 1985 | |
| 4,716,016 Universal fuel assembly construction for a nuclear reactor | 9 | 1985 | |
| 4,702,881 Nuclear reactor spacer grid | 22 | 1985 | |
| 4,659,541 Nuclear fuel rod support grid with improved multiple dimple arrangement | 11 | 1985 | |
| 4,649,021 BWR fuel assembly with water flow mixing chamber at fuel bundle/water cross entrance | 13 | 1985 | |
| 4,665,866 Grid-type flow distribution baffle | 14 | 1985 | |
| 4,716,011 BWR fuel assembly bottom nozzle with one-way coolant flow valve | 8 | 1985 | |
| 4,666,664 Coolant flow paths within a nuclear fuel assembly | 15 | 1985 | |
| 4,753,774 Orificing of water cross inlet in BWR fuel assembly | 7 | 1986 | |
| 4,708,845 BWR fuel assembly with improved spacer and fuel bundle design for enhanced thermal-hydraulic performance | 22 | 1986 | |
| 4,744,942 Nuclear reactor spacer grid loading | 11 | 1986 | |
| 4,729,867 Spring retainer apparatus and method for facilitating loading of fuel rods into a fuel assembly grid | 14 | 1986 | |
| 4,738,819 Boiling water nuclear reactor fuel assembly with cross-flow elimination at upper spacer locations | 8 | 1986 | |
| 4,740,350 BWR fuel assembly having fuel rod spacers axially positioned by exterior springs | 18 | 1986 | |
| 4,698,204 Intermediate flow mixing nonsupport grid for BWR fuel assembly | 19 | 1986 | |
| 4,728,490 Fuel rod spacer with perimeter scoops for diverting liquid coolant flow | 11 | 1986 | |
| 4,759,912 BWR fuel assembly having hybrid fuel design | 12 | 1986 | |
| 4,818,473 Fuel bundle | 11 | 1987 | |
| 4,738,821 Reconstitutable nuclear fuel assembly having locking tubes with dimples | 7 | 1987 | |
| 4,770,843 Controlling fuel assembly stability in a boiling water reactor | 21 | 1987 | |
| 4,818,471 BWR fuel assembly channel with localized neutron absorber strips for LPRM calibration | 7 | 1987 | |
| 4,803,043 Nuclear fuel rod grid spring and dimple structures | 23 | 1987 | |
| 4,793,963 Fuel rod cluster interchange system and method for nuclear fuel assemblies | 6 | 1987 | |
| 4,818,478 BWR fuel assembly mini-bundle having interior fuel rods of reduced diameter | 6 | 1987 | |
| 4,895,698 Nuclear fuel rod grip with modified diagonal spring structures | 15 | 1988 | |
| 4,885,127 Nuclear fuel rod support grid with attachable spring and dimple support spacers | 15 | 1988 | |
| 4,957,697 Nuclear fuel rod support grid with generally S-shaped spring structures | 13 | 1988 | |
| 4,980,121 Protective device for lower end portion of a nuclear fuel rod cladding | 17 | 1989 | |
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| 4,357,298 Nuclear fuel assembly space arrangement | 17 | 1980 | |
| 4,420,458 Nuclear fuel assembly with coolant conducting tube | 20 | 1981 | |
| 4,508,679 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer | 32 | 1982 | |
| 4,544,522 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer | 26 | 1982 | |
| 4,556,531 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and spring component therefor | 8 | 1983 | |
| 4,571,324 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer | 12 | 1983 | |
| 4,587,704 Method of mounting a continuous loop spring on a nuclear fuel spacer | 12 | 1984 | |
| 4,675,154 Nuclear fuel assembly with large coolant conducting tube | 37 | 1985 | |
| 4,869,865 Method of manufacturing nuclear fuel bundle spacers | 11 | 1988 | |
| 4,913,707 Automated assembly apparatus | 9 | 1988 | |
| 4,924,586 Automated forming apparatus | 9 | 1988 | |
| 4,931,615 Apparatus for machining intricate feature cuts in thin walled tubular parts | 12 | 1988 | |
| 4,946,587 Automated gauging apparatus | 13 | 1988 | |
| 4,913,875 Swirl vanes integral with spacer grid | 17 | 1989 | |
| 5,002,726 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and loop spring with enhanced flexibility | 16 | 1989 | |
| 4,999,153 Flow tripper in combination with spacer deflector | 18 | 1990 | |
| 5,069,864 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and spring | 16 | 1990 | |
| 5,032,351 Modified cross point spacer apparatus and construction | 18 | 1990 | |
| 5,149,495 Water rod for nuclear reactor and method for providing and using same | 10 | 1990 | |
| 5,089,221 Composite spacer with Inconel grid and Zircaloy band | 27 | 1990 | |
| 5,078,961 Self locating springs for ferrule spacer | 12 | 1990 | |
| 5,085,827 Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and loop spring with enhanced flexibility | 13 | 1991 | |
| 5,173,252 Removable springs for ferrule spacer | 11 | 1991 | |
| 5,174,949 Non circular water rod features | 11 | 1991 | |
| 5,186,891 Swirl vanes in inconel spacer | 22 | 1991 | |
| 5,130,083 Hydride resistant spacer formed from interlocking strips | 9 | 1991 | |
| 5,209,899 Composite spacer with inconel grid and zircaloy band | 15 | 1991 | |
| 5,317,613 Fuel design for high power density boiling water reactor | 8 | 1991 | |
| 5,178,825 Fuel bundle and spacer utilizing tapered fuel rods | 10 | 1991 | |
| 5,327,470 Spacer with steam separator | 9 | 1992 | |
| 5,313,506 Reduced pressure drop ferrule spacer | 7 | 1992 | |
| 5,229,068 Optimized critical power in a fuel bundle with part length rods | 26 | 1992 | |
| 5,371,768 Swirl type spacer for boiling water reactor fuel | 7 | 1992 | |
| 5,343,504 Nuclear fuel bundle spacer spring constant gauge | 6 | 1993 | |
| 5,375,756 Apparatus for assembling and welding final end plugs to nuclear fuel-containing cladding tubes and inspecting the welds, all on an automated basis | 9 | 1993 | |
| 5,375,154 Reduced pressure drop spacer for boiling water reactor fuel bundles | 8 | 1993 | |
| 5,377,236 Method and apparatus for measuring rod end squareness | 5 | 1993 | |
| 5,345,487 Spacer capture method for rectilinear sectioned water rods | 8 | 1993 | |
| 5,361,288 Spacer with integral zircaloy springs | 10 | 1993 | |
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| 4,190,494 Spacer with polygonal interconnetors | 20 | 1978 | |
| 4,416,852 Multi-elevated nuclear reactor spacer grid | 17 | 1981 | |
| 4,478,786 Fuel assembly | 25 | 1981 | |
| 4,526,745 Fuel assembly with a water flow separated from the fuel rods | 8 | 1981 | |
| 4,454,093 Fuel assembly with a water distribution channel | 7 | 1981 | |
| 4,499,047 Fuel assembly with a top plate arranged above the upper end surfaces of the fuel rods | 16 | 1981 | |
| 4,489,038 Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor | 12 | 1982 | |
| 4,526,746 Fuel assembly having water passageway in channel wall | 16 | 1982 | |
| 4,526,744 Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor | 17 | 1982 | |
| 4,588,550 Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor | 20 | 1983 | |
| 4,587,093 Nuclear fuel assembly | 16 | 1983 | |
| 4,585,614 Fuel assembly for nuclear reactor | 17 | 1984 | |
| 4,632,804 Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor | 13 | 1984 | |
| 4,671,926 Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor | 7 | 1984 | |
| 4,661,220 Method for local cleaning of surfaces on a nuclear reactor which are coated with oxides or other corrosion products, in connection with inspection | 7 | 1985 | |
| 4,707,328 Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor | 11 | 1985 | |
| 4,695,426 Spacer for fuel rods | 16 | 1986 | |
| 4,749,547 Nuclear fuel assembly | 15 | 1986 | |
| 4,795,608 Nuclear fuel assembly | 20 | 1987 | |
| 4,839,136 Spacer for nuclear fuel rods | 9 | 1987 | |
| 4,859,407 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 10 | 1988 | |
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| 4,512,820 In-pile parts for nuclear reactor and method of heat treatment therefor | 9 | 1981 | |
| 4,557,892 Nuclear fuel element | 9 | 1983 | |
| 4,597,937 Fuel spacer | 15 | 1983 | |
| 4,654,193 Fuel assembly for fast reactors | 10 | 1984 | |
| 4,656,000 Nuclear reactor | 6 | 1984 | |
| 4,689,091 Process for producing zirconium-based alloy | 15 | 1985 | |
| 4,686,079 Fuel assembly | 14 | 1985 | |
| 5,128,097 Reactor core, fuel assembly and fuel spacer | 11 | 1989 | |
| 5,253,278 Fuel assembly, channel box, production method of channel box, and core of nuclear reactor | 11 | 1991 | |
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| 4,994,234 Controlling coolant flow to nuclear fuel assemblies | 8 | 1989 | |
| 5,080,858 Fuel assembly for a boiling reactor | 9 | 1990 | |
| 5,089,220 Fuel assembly for a boiling reactor | 11 | 1990 | |
| 5,096,660 Fuel assembly for a boiling reactor | 11 | 1990 | |
| 5,180,550 Fuel assembly for nuclear reactor | 8 | 1991 | |
| 5,263,071 Spacer for retaining fuel rods in a nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 6 | 1992 | |
| 5,200,143 Fuel assembly for nuclear reactor | 6 | 1992 | |
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| 4,725,403 Box-type flow deflector for nuclear fuel grid | 13 | 1986 | |
| 4,844,860 Support grid with integral vanes | 15 | 1987 | |
| 5,024,810 Support grid with integral inclined waves | 9 | 1989 | |
| 5,139,736 Fuel assembly support grid | 17 | 1991 | |
| 5,243,634 DNB performing spacer grids | 8 | 1992 | |
| 5,307,393 Split vane alternating swirl mixing grid | 10 | 1992 | |
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| 4,246,783 Spring-force measuring device | 20 | 1978 | |
| 4,312,705 Spacer for nuclear reactor fuel assemblies | 17 | 1980 | |
| 4,617,170 Assembly for a core of a nuclear reactor | 9 | 1984 | |
| 4,683,115 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 11 | 1984 | |
| 4,666,663 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 12 | 1984 | |
| 4,705,663 Nuclear reactor fuel element | 10 | 1985 | |
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| 4,780,273 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 11 | 1986 | |
| 4,735,769 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 8 | 1986 | |
| 5,035,853 Nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 7 | 1989 | |
| 5,094,805 Fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor | 10 | 1990 | |
| 5,245,644 Spacer for a fuel assembly of a pressurized water reactor | 6 | 1992 | |
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| 4,775,509 Spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly | 11 | 1987 | |
| 5,091,145 Grid with holding springs for a nuclear fuel assembly | 7 | 1990 | |
| 5,183,629 Additional grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, and assembly comprising an application thereof | 18 | 1991 | |
| 5,211,908 Method of manufacturing a grid having calibrated cells for a nuclear fuel assembly | 9 | 1991 | |
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| 4,692,303 Spacer capture rod to space grid attachment device | 16 | 1984 | |
| 4,726,926 Mixing grid | 38 | 1987 | |
| 4,784,825 Method and apparatus for preventing and repairing vibrational damage to nuclear fuel rods | 9 | 1987 | |
| 4,849,161 Debris-resistant fuel assembly | 29 | 1987 | |
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| 4,879,090 Split vaned nuclear fuel assembly grid | 33 | 1987 | |
| 5,024,807 Debris catching spring detent spacer grid | 22 | 1988 | |
| 5,110,539 Spacer grid assembly fixture | 18 | 1990 | |
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| 4,224,107 Spacer grids for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly | 22 | 1978 | |
| 4,396,573 Space grate for fuel-elements of nuclear reactors | 20 | 1980 | |
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| 4,714,585 Interlocking egg-crate type grid assembly | 14 | 1985 | |
| 5,226,633 Spring design for use in the core of a nuclear reactor | 6 | 1988 | |
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| 4,645,643 Nuclear fuel assembly containing burnable poison | 11 | 1983 | |
| 4,758,403 Grid with mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly | 16 | 1985 | |
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| 4,804,516 Fuel assembly having anti-corrosion grids | 12 | 1987 | |
| 4,970,048 Mixing grid with fins for nuclear fuel assembly | 10 | 1989 | |
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| 5,147,600 Grid for nuclear fuel assembly | 7 | 1990 | |
| 5,272,743 Key member for use in insertion or removal of a fuel rod of a nuclear fuel assembly grid | 7 | 1992 | |
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| 4,239,597 Nuclear fuel spacer grid | 12 | 1978 | |
| 4,313,797 Guide tube sleeve | 22 | 1979 | |
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| 4,325,786 Spacer grid for reducing bowing in a nuclear fuel assembly | 22 | 1979 | |
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| 4,988,474 Process and holding component for repair of a nuclear fuel assembly damaged at the periphery of a spacer support | 9 | 1989 | |
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| 4,491,540 Method of preparing spent nuclear fuel rods for long-term storage | 15 | 1982 | |
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| 4,828,782 Apparatus and method for inspection of fuel assemblies | 6 | 1987 | |
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| 4,735,766 Method and apparatus for testing vertically extending fuel rods of water-cooled nuclear reactors which are combined in a fuel rod cluster | 5 | 1986 | |
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| 4,391,771 Arrangement for retaining a fuel rod in a reconstitutable fuel assembly | 22 | 1980 | |
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| 4,646,021 Computer-linked nuclear magnetic logging tool and method having slowly rising polarizing field turn-on segments for rapidly dispersing precessing components of residual polarization associated with a prior-in-time NML collection cycle | 6 | 1985 | |
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| 5,180,548 Grid having mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly | 14 | 1991 | |
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| 4,435,357 Support for used fuel rods in nuclear installations | 6 | 1981 | |
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| 4,579,711 Fuel assembly spacer | 8 | 1983 | |
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| 4,740,351 Method of and arrangement for protecting nuclear fuel assembly | 18 | 1985 | |
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| 4,756,878 Grid spacer and method of making same | 20 | 1986 | |
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| 4,540,545 Devices for securing fuel assemblies to nuclear reactor pressure vessels | 10 | 1982 | |
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| 4,522,330 Grid and sleeves welding fixture and method | 12 | 1982 | |