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:
Dec. 19, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2014
Westinghouse Electric Company Llc, Cranberry Township, PA (US);
David A. Boatwright, Lexington, SC (US);
Kenneth K. Klapper, Columbia, SC (US);
Jacob X. Huang, Columbia, SC (US);
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US);
Abstract
A top end plug design for a nuclear fuel rod or control rod that maximizes the fuel rod length and internal volume for high burn-up, but limits plenum spring melting for eutectic formation margin. The press fit length of the top end plug is increased to increase the distance from the center of heat from the TIG welding process that seals the end plug to the cladding, to the back face of the end plug. A hole in the back of the end plug is enlarged to recover the volume loss from the press fit length increase.