US 12,033,764 B2
Fuel rack for storing spent nuclear fuel
Krishna P. Singh, Jupiter, FL (US); and Stephen J. Agace, Voorhees, NJ (US)
Assigned to Holtec International
Filed by Holtec International, Camden, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/083,582.
Application 16/002,325 is a division of application No. 14/590,506, filed on Jan. 6, 2015, granted, now 10,026,514, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Application 14/590,506 is a division of application No. 13/418,930, filed on Mar. 13, 2012, granted, now 8,929,504, issued on Jan. 6, 2015.
Application 13/418,930 is a division of application No. 11/851,352, filed on Sep. 6, 2007, granted, now 8,135,107, issued on Mar. 13, 2012.
Application 17/083,582 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/002,325, filed on Jun. 7, 2018, abandoned.
Application 17/083,582 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/671,830, filed on Aug. 8, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/671,830 is a continuation of application No. 14/072,672, filed on Nov. 5, 2013, granted, now 9,728,284, issued on Aug. 8, 2017.
Application 14/072,672 is a continuation of application No. 12/260,914, filed on Oct. 29, 2008, granted, now 8,576,976, issued on Nov. 5, 2013.
Application 17/083,582 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/442,892, filed on Jun. 17, 2019, granted, now 10,939,787.
Application 16/442,892 is a continuation of application No. 15/642,826, filed on Jul. 6, 2017, granted, now 10,446,285, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Application 15/642,826 is a continuation of application No. 13/731,803, filed on Dec. 31, 2012, granted, now 9,728,286, issued on Aug. 8, 2017.
Application 13/731,803 is a continuation of application No. 12/024,071, filed on Jan. 31, 2008, granted, now 8,345,813, issued on Jan. 1, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/038,525, filed on Mar. 21, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/983,566, filed on Oct. 29, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/887,505, filed on Jan. 31, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/842,868, filed on Sep. 6, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2021/0225540 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Prior Publication US 2022/0246321 A9, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 19/07 (2006.01); G21F 5/012 (2006.01); G21F 5/00 (2006.01); G21F 5/005 (2006.01); G21F 5/008 (2006.01); G21F 5/10 (2006.01); G21F 5/12 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 19/07 (2013.01) [G21F 5/012 (2013.01); G21F 5/00 (2013.01); G21F 5/005 (2013.01); G21F 5/008 (2013.01); G21F 5/10 (2013.01); G21F 5/12 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
7. A fuel rack for supporting spent nuclear fuel assemblies comprising:
a base plate having a top surface;
a fuel rack body extending upward from the base plate and comprising a plurality of vertically-extending hexagonal tubes defining a plurality of cells, each of the cells having an open top end and being configured to receive a spent nuclear fuel assembly, and wherein for each of the cells, a portion of the top surface of the base plate forms a floor of the cell;
each hexagonal tube arranged so as to be spaced from all adjacent hexagonal tubes forming a neutron flux trap gap between each tube and its immediately adjacent hexagonal tube;
a plurality of vertically elongated spacing rods positioned in the gaps between adjacent hexagonal tubes to maintain the gaps, wherein each spacing rod is plug welded to a corner edge of three adjacent hexagonal tubes in the gap at a juncture via holes located in the corner edges of each of the three adjacent hexagonal tubes;
a plurality of adjustable height pedestals connected to a bottom surface of the base plate, each of the adjustable height pedestals comprising:
a block having a hole defined by a threaded inner surface, the block fixedly coupled to the base plate;
a peg having a threaded outer surface, the threaded outer surface of the peg threadily engaged to the threaded inner surface of the block;
an engagement element in a top surface of the peg; and
wherein upon a tool engaging the engagement element and rotating the peg, the extent the peg protrudes from a bottom surface of the block is adjusted; and
wherein for each of the adjustable height pedestals, the adjustable height pedestal is coupled to the base plate so that the engagement element is aligned with and is accessible via a hole in the floor of one of the cells.