Apparatus for assembling and welding final end plugs to nuclear fuel-containing cladding tubes and inspecting the welds, all on an automated basis
US5375756A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/531
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an automated final weld apparatus, a transporter conveys nuclear fuel-loaded cladding tubes successively to a check station to verify the presence of a plenum spring in the open end of each cladding tube, a reader station where a unique first end plug serial number is read, an evacuation/backfill station where the cladding tube is backfilled with helium, a seam welding station where a final end plug is welded to the cladding tube open end, and a seal weld station where the tube is pressurized with helium through a pressurization hole in the final end plug, whereupon the pressurization hole is welded closed. After checking for helium leakage, the seam weld is inspected in a succession of inspection stations, and, depending on inspection results, the finished nuclear fuel rods are sorted into accepted and rejected lots.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.