Patents by Inventor Ewald OSSEFORTH

Ewald OSSEFORTH 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).

  • Method and assembling system for inserting at least one nuclear fuel rod into spacer grids of a nuclear fuel assembly
    Patent number: 12080437
    Abstract: A method comprises inserting the fuel rod (4) through the spacer grids (14) aligned along an assembling axis (A) with passing the fuel rod (4) through a lubrication chamber (30) aligned with the spacer grids (14) such that the lubrication chamber (30) is passed through by the fuel rod (4) before the insertion of the fuel rod (4) through one of the spacer grids (14), and circulating a lubrication fluid containing a gas and a lubricant in gaseous phase and/or mist form in the lubrication chamber (30). The lubrication fluid is injected in the lubrication chamber (30) at a temperature strictly higher than ambient temperature, such that lubricant deposits or condensates in liquid phase with forming a lubricant film on an external surface of the fuel rod (4) that is being inserted through said one of the spacer grids (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: FRAMATOME
    Inventor: Ewald Osseforth
  • METHOD AND ASSEMBLING SYSTEM FOR INSERTING AT LEAST ONE NUCLEAR FUEL ROD INTO SPACER GRIDS OF A NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20220059245
    Abstract: A method comprises inserting the fuel rod (4) through the spacer grids (14) aligned along an assembling axis (A) with passing the fuel rod (4) through a lubrication chamber (30) aligned with the spacer grids (14) such that the lubrication chamber (30) is passed through by the fuel rod (4) before the insertion of the fuel rod (4) through one of the spacer grids (14), and circulating a lubrication fluid containing a gas and a lubricant in gaseous phase and/or mist form in the lubrication chamber (30). The lubrication fluid is injected in the lubrication chamber (30) at a temperature strictly higher than ambient temperature, such that lubricant deposits or condensates in liquid phase with forming a lubricant film on an external surface of the fuel rod (4) that is being inserted through said one of the spacer grids (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventor: Ewald OSSEFORTH