Wilfred T Ross

Title: Wilfred T. Ross and His Nuclear Fuel Element Getter Patent

Introduction

Wilfred T. Ross is an inventor associated with Wilmington, North Carolina, and General Electric Company. His patent work includes an invention designed to improve the performance of getters in nuclear fuel elements. Ross is credited with 2 patents.

Latest Patents

Ross’s listed latest patent, “Getter for Nuclear Fuel Elements,” describes a nuclear fuel element containing a getter that captures reactive gases, including hydrogen. The getter uses a substrate coated with material capable of absorbing these gases.

The substrate has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the coating. At reactor operating temperatures, this difference can cause protective films on the coating to fracture, exposing fresh getter material. Over time, fractures may develop into cracks in the coating, revealing additional surfaces that can capture reactive gases.

Career Highlights

Ross’s patent work reflects an engineering focus on materials and gas management in nuclear reactor fuel elements. The described design uses thermal expansion differences to expose fresh getter surfaces during operation.

Collaborations

Ross is identified as a coworker of Harold E. Williamson. The available information does not specify their particular projects or the nature of their collaboration.

Conclusion

Wilfred T. Ross’s documented invention addresses reactive-gas control in nuclear fuel elements through a getter coating designed to expose fresh material under reactor operating conditions.