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:
Sep. 06, 1983
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1980
Andrew J Anthony, Tariffville, CT (US);
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A method for testing the clad integrity of a nuclear fuel rod, comprising the first step of fabricating a sealed fuel rod with a wad of electrically conducting material mounted therein. The material is of a type that undergoes a permanent change in electrical conductivity when exposed to water. The next step is to establish an eddy current signal characteristic of the moisture-free rod. The rod is then loaded into the core as part of a fuel assembly. After the producing power, the assembly is removed for inspection, and an eddy current signal is again obtained from the rod. The eddy current signals are compared to determine whether inleakage of moisture has oxidized or otherwise altered the conductivity of the wad enough to significantly change the characteristic signal.