Patents by Inventor Curtis F. Metz, III

Curtis F. Metz, III 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).

  • Patent number: 4186657
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the type comprising an array of fuel pins disposed within an outer metal shell or shroud. A spent fuel assembly is first compacted in a known manner and then incrementally sheared using fixed and movable shear blades having matched laterally projecting teeth which slidably intermesh to provide the desired shearing action. Incremental advancement of the fuel assembly after each shear cycle is limited to a distance corresponding to the lateral projection of the teeth to ensure fuel assembly breakup into small uniform segments which are amenable to remote chemical processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Bradley S. Weil, Curtis F. Metz, III