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. 24, 1990
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1987
William J Wachter, Glenshaw, PA (US);
U.S. Tool & Die, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A fuel rod directing chamber for compacting an array of fuel rods from an uncompacted array corresponding to the spacing of fuel rods in a fuel rod assembly to a compacted array in which no spacing exists between the individual fuel rods. The chamber is comprised of an elongated funnel containing a plurality of cavities extending longitudinally therethrough. The cavities form a plurality of holes at an entry end of the funnel corresponding in number and array to an array of fuel rods in a fuel rod assembly. The spacing between the cavities decreases along the length of the funnel until no spacing exists between the cavities. By causing fuel rods of a spent nuclear fuel rod assembly to pass through the cavities of the directing chamber, the spacing between the individual rods decreases, thereby reducing the reactivity of the rods, and increasing the density thereof. Because the location and identity of each spent fuel rod is determinable even in the compacted array, accountability of the entire amount of spent fuel material is at all times maintained.