Resistance welding of an end cap for nuclear fuel rods
US9922731B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2012 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.