Resistance welding of an end cap for nuclear fuel rods

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9922731
SERIAL NO

13712742

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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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.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
BWXT MPOWER INC11525 N COMMUNITY HOUSE RD SUITE 600 CHARLOTTE NC 28277

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Barger, Earl B Goode, US 10 18
Fitzner, Scott L Appomattox, US 8 18
Lee, Jeffrey T Forest, US 17 406
Nilles, Michael J Lynchburg, US 3 5

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