Shock-absorbing and heat conductive basket for use in a fuel rod transportation cask
US4800283A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21F5/012
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved shipping cask for transporting fuel rods is disclosed herein. The cask comprises a cylindrical vessel, and a basket structure disposed in the interior thereof for holding a plurality of spent fuel containers. A plurality of plate-like former members circumscribe the basket structure, and include shock-absorbing portions formed from a network of ligaments which deformably yield when mechanical shock of a selected magnitude is applied onto the side of the cylindrical vessel that contains the basket structure. Additionally, the former members are formed from a metal having a greater thermal coefficient of expansion than the wall of the cylindrical vessel, and are dimensioned so that the basket structure is freely receivable within the interior of the cylindrical vessel at ambient temperature, but becomes frictionally bound within this interior as a result of greater relative thermal expansion whenever heat-radiating fueld rods are loaded into the fuel rod containers of the basket structure. The former members further serve to dissipate heat generated by the fuel rods through the walls of the cylindrical vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.