Method and apparatus for remote welding inside a tube, in particular in a steam generator in a nuclear power station
US4983796A · kind A · utility
15Cited by
2References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 16, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K26/28
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bush (M) is initially fixed inside a tube (T) which is fixed in a perforated plate (P) of a steam generator in a pressurized water nuclear power station, lining a damaged portion of the tube. A welding light beam is provided by a YAG laser and is conveyed by an optical fiber (F) to an optical cell (30, 37) which focuses the beam on the bush in order to weld it, the cell rotating about the fiber in order to form a circular weld fillet. The fiber is free to slide axially in order to improve focusing which is done by means of an adjustment beam provided by a helium-neon laser, the beam running along the fiber in both directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.