Patents by Inventor Louis Amaral

Louis Amaral has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Nuclear fuel element spacer means
    Patent number: 4089742
    Abstract: A spacer retaining element, which may be a fuel rod or water-containing rod, is provided with axially-spaced lugs, each adapted to be received in a slot in a fuel element spacer of a nuclear fuel assembly. When assembled, the lugs maintain proper axial spacing between the individual spacers and the lug-slot arrangement prevents the rod from rotating. Moreover, because the slot in the spacer can receive the lug from only one direction, the arrangement prevents the spacer from being inserted into the assembly upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Louis Amaral, Kenneth Wood Brayman, Bart Alan Smith