Patents by Inventor Lynne E. Weiland

Lynne E. Weiland 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 reactor spacer grid
    Patent number: 4702881
    Abstract: A spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly having grid springs and opposing dimples which contact a fuel rod passing through a cell of the spacer grid along arcuate surfaces to cradle the fuel rod and cushion any vibration impact between the fuel rods and the grid springs and dimples during reactor operation and during fuel assembly shipping. The increased bearing surface between the fuel rods and grids also serves to reduce fuel rod scratching during fuel rod insertion. The grid springs and dimples may also be provided with ramped edges to further reduce fuel rod scratching. Stiffening ribs may be on the grid springs and/or dimples. The cradling action of the grid springs and dimples reduces deviations in fuel rod position from a centered position in a spacer grid cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Lynne E. Weiland, Beryl H. Parks