Reactor core shroud repair with welded brackets
US5530219A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49352
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A welded bracket for use in repairing a shroud in which one or more shroud girth seam welds have experienced stress corrosion cracking. A plurality of the welded brackets are placed around the outer circumference of the shroud at a plurality of azimuthal positions at the elevation of the top guide support ring. Each bracket is constructed by welding curved plates. Welding productivity is increased by using an extremely thin weld joint design with a non-circular cylindrical, thin welding electrode having an elongated cross-sectional shape. During welding, the elongated dimension is aligned parallel with the length of the weld joint. This combination enables joining of the welded bracket parts with both the initial weld joint preparation and the completed weld having a uniquely thin width and with a high aspect ratio of depth to width. This high aspect ratio reduces the number of weld beads needed to build the weld joint. The high aspect ratio, in combination with torch travel speeds of 12 or more inches per minute, increase welding productivity, thereby reducing reactor downtime resulting from shroud repair.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.