The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 08, 2019
Filed:
Sep. 04, 2012
Kathryn M. Martin, Wilmington, NC (US);
Kathryn M. Martin, Wilmington, NC (US);
Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC, Wilmington, NC (US);
Abstract
Nuclear fuel spacers include a deflection-limited elastic rod contact. Spacers may additionally include a rigid contact without elastic functionality. A degree of deflection may be chosen based on plastic deformation threshold, maximum fuel rod movement, anticipated transverse loads related to fuel assembly, inspection, handling, transportation, operation, accidents, and/or any other operating characteristic. Spacers include deflection-limited elastic contacts and/or rigid contacts in several arrangements within the spacer and/or on a single fuel rod. Spacers are compatible with a simple fabrication method that forms rigid, deflection-limiting, and elastic components from a single substrate. Nuclear fuel spacers are useable with several fuel assembly types.