Apparatus for assembling and welding final end plugs to nuclear fuel-containing cladding tubes and inspecting the welds, all on an automated basis
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United States of America Patent
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Dec 27, 1994
Issued Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Mar 31, 1993
filing date -
Mar 31, 1993
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
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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.
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