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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3906566

EP3906566 - METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A NUCLEAR FACILITY FOR A COMMERCIAL LIGHT WATER REACTOR [Right-click to bookmark this link]
Former [2021/45]UNDERGROUND VERTICAL SHAFTS AND NUCLEAR REACTORS USING THE SAME
[2025/12]
StatusThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  11.07.2025
Database last updated on 11.04.2026
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  09.03.2025
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  22.09.2023
FormerRequest for examination was made
Status updated on  08.10.2021
FormerThe international publication has been made
Status updated on  11.07.2020
Most recent event   Tooltip10.04.2026Lapse of the patent in a contracting state
New state(s): SM		published on 13.05.2026 [2026/20]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
3901 Castle Hayne Road
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
[2021/45]
Inventor(s)01 / DAHLGREN, Christer, N.
3901 Castle Hayne Road
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
02 / MCDONALD, Douglas, B.
3901 Castle Hayne Road
Wilmington, NC 28402 / US
03 / KIRBY, Tatjana, B.
3901 Castle Hayne Road
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
04 / ANTHONY, Gary, M.
3901 Castle Hayne Road
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
05 / HUNT, Brian, S.
Spring Grove, PA / US
 [2025/33]
Former [2021/45]01 / DAHLGREN, Christer, N.
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
02 / MCDONALD, Douglas, B.
Wilmington, NC 28402 / US
03 / KIRBY, Tatjana, B.
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
04 / ANTHONY, Gary, M.
Wilmington, NC 28401 / US
05 / HUNT, Brian, S.
Spring Grove, PA / US
Representative(s)Handsome I.P. Ltd
27-28 Monmouth Street
Bath BA1 2AP / GB
[2021/45]
Application number, filing date19907048.331.12.2019
[2021/45]
WO2019US69083
Priority number, dateUS20181623763731.12.2018         Original published format: US201816237637
[2021/45]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO2020142500
Date:09.07.2020
Language:EN
[2020/28]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP3906566
Date:10.11.2021
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 09.07.2020 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2021/45]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3906566
Date:13.08.2025
Language:EN
[2025/33]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:KR09.07.2020
(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP03.08.2022
ClassificationIPC:G21D1/00, G21C21/00, E21D1/10, // G21C13/02
[2025/12]
CPC:
E21D1/10 (EP,US); G21C1/02 (US); G21C13/093 (US);
G21C15/18 (US); G21C21/00 (EP); G21D1/00 (EP);
G21C13/02 (EP); Y02E30/00 (EP); Y02E30/30 (EP) (-)
Former IPC [2022/35]G21D1/00, E21D1/00, E02D29/055, // G21C13/02
Former IPC [2021/45]G21D1/00, E21D1/00, E02D29/055
Designated contracting statesAL,   AT,   BE,   BG,   CH,   CY,   CZ,   DE,   DK,   EE,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   HR,   HU,   IE,   IS,   IT,   LI,   LT,   LU,   LV,   MC,   MK,   MT,   NL,   NO,   PL,   PT,   RO,   RS,   SE,   SI,   SK,   SM,   TR [2021/45]
Extension statesBANot yet paid
MENot yet paid
Validation statesKHNot yet paid
MANot yet paid
MDNot yet paid
TNNot yet paid
TitleGerman:VERFAHREN ZUM BAU EINER KERNTECHNISCHEN ANLAGE FÜR EINEN KOMMERZIELLEN LEICHTWASSERREAKTOR[2025/12]
English:METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A NUCLEAR FACILITY FOR A COMMERCIAL LIGHT WATER REACTOR[2025/12]
French:MÉTHODE DE CONSTRUCTION D'UNE INSTALLATION NUCLÉAIRE POUR UN RÉACTEUR COMMERCIAL À EAU LÉGÈRE[2025/12]
Former [2021/45]UNTERTÄGIGE VERTIKALE WELLEN UND DIESE VERWENDENDE KERNREAKTOREN
Former [2021/45]UNDERGROUND VERTICAL SHAFTS AND NUCLEAR REACTORS USING THE SAME
Former [2021/45]PUITS VERTICAUX SOUTERRAINS ET RÉACTEURS NUCLÉAIRES LES UTILISANT
Entry into regional phase11.06.2021National basic fee paid 
11.06.2021Search fee paid 
11.06.2021Designation fee(s) paid 
11.06.2021Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure11.06.2021Examination requested  [2021/45]
23.02.2023Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
26.09.2023Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
22.01.2024Reply to a communication from the examining division
17.05.2024Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
17.09.2024Reply to a communication from the examining division
10.03.2025Communication of intention to grant the patent
03.07.2025Fee for grant paid
03.07.2025Fee for publishing/printing paid
03.07.2025Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
Fees paidRenewal fee
16.12.2021Renewal fee patent year 03
20.12.2022Renewal fee patent year 04
19.12.2023Renewal fee patent year 05
19.12.2024Renewal fee patent year 06
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Patent Court		 See the Register of the Unified Patent Court for opt-out data
Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Lapses during opposition  TooltipBG13.08.2025
ES13.08.2025
HR13.08.2025
LV13.08.2025
RO13.08.2025
SM13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
RS13.11.2025
GR14.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
[2026/20]
Former [2026/17]BG13.08.2025
ES13.08.2025
HR13.08.2025
LV13.08.2025
RO13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
RS13.11.2025
GR14.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
Former [2026/11]BG13.08.2025
ES13.08.2025
HR13.08.2025
LV13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
RS13.11.2025
GR14.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
Former [2026/10]BG13.08.2025
HR13.08.2025
LV13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
RS13.11.2025
GR14.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
Former [2026/09]HR13.08.2025
LV13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
GR14.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
Former [2026/08]HR13.08.2025
NO13.11.2025
IS13.12.2025
PT15.12.2025
Former [2026/07]IS13.12.2025
Documents cited:Search[XI] US2015131769  (LARRION JAVIER et al.)
 [A] US2213169  (TSUGIO OUCHI et al.)
 [XI]   ROGERS F C: "Underground nuclear power plants: environmental and economic aspects", NUCLEAR NEWS, AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY, LA GRANGE PARK, IL, US, 1 May 1971 (1971-05-01), pages 36 - 39, XP009107664, ISSN: 0029-5574 [I] 4
 [XI]   CHAMPLIN PATRICK: "Techno-economic evaluation of cross-cutting technologies for cost reduction in nuclear power plants", 1 June 2018 (2018-06-01), pages 1 - 104, XP055937531, Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20220701] [X] 1-3,5-7 * the whole document * [I] 4
 [I]   PETER SCHMH: "Vertical shaft machines. State of the art and vision", ACTA MONTANISTICA SLOVACA, 1 January 2007 (2007-01-01), pages 208 - 216, XP055719774, Retrieved from the Internet [I] 8-10 * section 2.3.3 *
International search[Y] US2003007589  (SEEFELD LEROY PAUL et al.) [Y] 1-20 * See paragraphs 33-54, claim 1, and figure 1. *
 [Y] US2015131769  (LARRION JAVIER et al.) [Y] 6-10,13-14,18 * See paragraph 68, and figure 2. *
 [A] JPH06337299  (SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO LTD et al.) [A] 1-20 * See the whole document. *
 [A] CN1514445  (CHINA RES AND DESIGN INST OF N et al.) [A] 1-20 * See the whole document. *
 [Y]   PETER SCHMAH: "Vertical shaft machines. State of the art and vision", ACTA MONTANISTICA SLOVACA, vol. 12, no. 1, January 2007 (2007-01-01), pages 208 - 216, XP055719774 [Y] 1-20 * See pages 208-215, and figures 1-4, 16. *
ExaminationUS2016369629
by applicantUS2015131769
 US2213169
   F. C. ROGERS, UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS, May 1971 (1971-05-01)
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.