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:
Jul. 05, 1983
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1980
Andrew J Anthony, Tariffville, CT (US);
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
An improved nuclear fuel assembly in which the lowermost grid is located close to the lower end fitting of the assembly, and a conventional Zircaloy-clad fuel rod is fitted with a stainless steel tip having a bevelled notch thereon for engaging resilient means on the grid within about one inch (2.5 cm) from the lower tip of the fuel rod. The notch mechanically restrains the fuel rod from lifting upwards during reactor operation, yet is shallow enough to permit removal of the fuel rod in the event reconstitution is required. The stainless steel tip is mechanically secured to the Zircaloy end cap of the fuel rod, and is located in a low importance flux region of the core so that the higher neutron poison absorption cross section of stainless steel is of little consequence. Since the lowermost grid secures each fuel rod within one inch of the lower end of the rod, there is little likelihood that the coolant flowing over the lower ends of the fuel rods will induce significant vibrations.