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:
Oct. 19, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 24, 2002
Dae Ho Kim, Daejeon, KR;
Kee Nam Song, Daejeon, KR;
Tae Hyun Chun, Daejeon, KR;
Kyung Ho Yoon, Daejeon, KR;
Dong Seok Oh, Daejeon, KR;
Heung Seok Kang, Daejeon, KR;
Youn Ho Jung, Daejeon, KR;
Hyung Kyu Kim, Daejeon, KR;
Wang Kee In, Daejeon, KR;
Chang-Hwan Shin, Suwon-si, KR;
Gyung Jin Park, Seoul, KR;
Other;
Abstract
A lips-type multi-purposed spacer grid for supporting fuel rods within a nuclear fuel assembly is disclosed. In the spacer grid, the fuel rods are in contact with dimples and water strider-type springs in an equiangular surface contact manner. The spacer grid distributes load, applied to the springs, to the entire structure of its inner strips, thus reducing peak stress at the contact surfaces between the fuel rods and the springs and diminishing vibration of the fuel rods, and thereby reducing possible fretting wear of the fuel rods due to hydraulic vibration of the fuel rods. The spacer grid also enlarges the allowable elastic range of the springs, and allows the springs to soundly support the fuel rods by using residual spring force. The spacer grid has mixing blades capable of minimizing pressure loss and flow interference, so that the fuel rod cooling efficiency of the nuclear fuel assembly is improved.