Patents by Inventor Charles P. Gratton

Charles P. Gratton 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 for liquid metal cooled nuclear reactors
    Patent number: 4416851
    Abstract: In a cluster of nuclear fuel rods cooled by liquid metal an obstruction to coolant flow results in overheating in the wake of the obstruction. By the provision of open ended heat transfer tubes in the flow channels, a guaranteed supply of coolant is maintained and this supply holds the temperature to below saturation. Heat transfer via the tubes is highly efficient and ensures that a sufficient temperature rise occurs at the cluster exit to provoke a response from the outlet temperature transducer sensing average temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Edward Duncombe, Charles P. Gratton, John Adamson