Patents by Inventor Roland Rink

Roland Rink 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: 9418766
    Abstract: A fuel assembly of a boiling water reactor contains a fuel assembly base closed at the top by a filter plate, a fuel assembly head, and, disposed between them, a bundle of long and medium-length fuel rods extending away from the fuel assembly base. A water channel is disposed inside the fuel rod bundle. A plurality of the medium-length fuel rods are fixed axially on a separate holding part which is connected to the upper side of the fuel assembly base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Areva GmbH
    Inventors: Erhard Friedrich, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink
  • Patent number: 8644444
    Abstract: An assembly of the type having a water channel extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper section of larger cross-section area than a lower section and at least one fuel rod receiving groove extending longitudinally on the outer surface of the lower section, fuel rods extending longitudinally and disposed around the water channel and fixing members for fixing at least one fuel rod to the water channel in the at least one groove below the upper section. According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one groove extends along the upper section such that a fuel rod received in fixing members is longitudinally extractable or insertable from the upper end side of the fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Areva NP
    Inventors: Matthias Dietrich, Michael Liebler, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink, Jens Schäfer, Thomas Schubert
  • Publication number: 20110129051
    Abstract: An assembly of the type having a water channel extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper section of larger cross-section area than a lower section and at least one fuel rod receiving groove extending longitudinally on the outer surface of the lower section, fuel rods extending longitudinally and disposed around the water channel and fixing members for fixing at least one fuel rod to the water channel in the at least one groove below the upper section. According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one groove extends along the upper section such that a fuel rod received in fixing members is longitudinally extractable or insertable from the upper end side of the fuel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Matthias Dietrich, Michael Liebler, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink, Jens Schaefer, Thomas Schubert
  • Publication number: 20080101528
    Abstract: A fuel assembly of a boiling water reactor contains a fuel assembly base closed at the top by a filter plate, a fuel assembly head, and, disposed between them, a bundle of long and medium-length fuel rods extending away from the fuel assembly base. A water channel is disposed inside the fuel rod bundle. A plurality of the medium-length fuel rods are fixed axially on a separate holding part which is connected to the upper side of the fuel assembly base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Erhard Friedrich, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink
  • Patent number: 5420902
    Abstract: A fuel assembly includes a cluster of mutually parallel fuel rods. A fuel assembly channel laterally surrounds the cluster of fuel rods and has a substantially rectangular cross section and flat channel walls. Grid-like spacers having meshes formed therein each receive a respective one of the fuel rods for guiding the fuel rods in a plurality of axial positions. At least one support spring laterally supports each respective one of the fuel rods in the mesh guiding the fuel rod. Each of the spacers have inner ribs being aligned parallel to the fuel rods and outer peripheral ribs opposite the channel walls. At least some of the inner ribs are fastened to the peripheral ribs, and the outer peripheral ribs are joined together only by the inner ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinrich Dressel, Stefan Linden, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Werner Meier, Roland Rink
  • Patent number: 5118467
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor includes an elongated fuel assembly case, mutually parallel fuel rods having longitudinal axes and being disposed in the case, and longitudinally extending inner walls having lateral surfaces facing toward the fuel rods. At least some of the lateral surfaces have grooves formed therein extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the fuel rods. A boiling water reactor includes a boiling water circuit having a pressure vessel and a steam turbine. A plurality of the fuel assemblies are disposed mutually parallel in the pressure vessel. The fuel rods are bathed by boiling water flowing around them in the longitudinal direction of the fuel rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink, Walter Uebelhack
  • Patent number: 5035853
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes at least one uprightly disposed spacer having a grid of intersecting sheet-metal struts defining meshes therebetween. Mutually parallel rods are each disposed in a respective one of the meshes. Strip-like contact springs are parallel to the rods and each have a side facing toward and a side facing away from a respective one of the struts. Each of the contact springs are disposed in a respective one of the meshes and have two strip ends both being retained on the one strut. Each of the contact springs have a contact location being resilient relative to the one strut for contacting a rod. The contact location is spaced apart from both of the strip ends. Each of the contact springs has an undulatory transverse curve disposed at the contact location on the side of the contact spring facing toward the one strut. The contact springs are continuously smooth and flat from the contact location to the strip ends resting on the one strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Lettau, Roland Rink
  • Patent number: 5002725
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes an elongated fuel channel having opposite channel sides. Fuel rods containing nuclear fuel are mutually spaced apart in the fuel channel and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fuel channel. A water tube inside the fuel channel has an outer surface and is parallel to the fuel rods. The water tube has a lower end with an inlet opening and an upper end with an outlet opening for liquid water. A longitudinal rib inside the fuel channel is secured to and interconnects two of the opposite channel sides and is spaced apart from the others of the channel sides. The longitudinal rib is longitudinally divided into two partial ribs each being secured to the outer surface of the water tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Lettau, Gunther Lill, Hans-Joachim Lippert, Roland Rink