Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A cylindrical nuclear fuel compact having an upper end, a lower end and a peripheral surface comprising an integral mold of a plurality of coated fuel particles which have an overcoat layer provided thereon, wherein a chamfer is formed in a corner of both of the upper end and the lower end of said nuclear fuel compact, said chamfer having a straight or curved vertical cross-section and said chamfer is formed by cutting or compression so as to intersect the overcoat layer, but so as not to damage said coated fuel particles. 2. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chamfer has two or more stepped planes of different chamfering angles. 3. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chamfer has said straight vertical cross-section and wherein a distance t or t′ is 0.10 mm or more, said distance t is a height distance between a top point and a bottom point of an inclination of said straight vertical cross-section of said chamfer, and said distance is a horizontal distance between said top point and said bottom point of said inclination of said straight vertical cross-section of said chamfer. 4. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 3, wherein said chamfer has a chamfering angle in a range of 30° to 60°. 5. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chamfer has a straight cross-section, and said chamfer has a chamfering angle in a range of 30° to 60°. 6. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 3, wherein said chamfer has a chamfering angle other than 45°, and the distance t is not equal to the distance t′. 7. A method of manufacturing a fuel compact as set forth in claim 1 comprising integrally molding coated fuel particles by a die and forming a plane or curved taper on a corner of said die to thereby form a chamfer having a straight or curved cross-section. 8. A method of manufacturing a fuel compact as set forth in claim 7, wherein said taper is formed on said corner of said die by attaching a ring-like taper member having a taper surface on said die. 9. A fuel compact as set forth in claim 5, wherein said chamfering angle of said chamfer is other than 45°, and a distance t is not equal to a distance t′, said distance t is a height distance between a top point and a bottom point of an inclination of said straight vertical cross-section of said chamfer, and said distance t′ is a horizontal distance between said top point and said bottom point of said inclination of said straight vertical cross-section of said chamfer.