Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Robert K McGeary

George D Bucher

A nuclear reactor fuel rod end plug (100) is adapted to be welded within each end of a nuclear reactor fuel rod cladding tube, especially by means of laser beam welding techniques, although TIG welding techniques may also be employed, wherein an annular groove (126) is defined about the external periphery of the end plug (100) so as to extend radially inwardly of the long land region (118) of the plug (100) within the vicinity of the juncture of the land surface (118) and the shoulder portion (120) at which location the girth weld between the end plug (100) and the cladding tubing will be defined. When employing laser beam welding techniques to accomplish the butt-type girth weld between the plug (100) and the cladding tube, the groove (126) serves to eliminate porosity defects within the weldment, and when employing TIG welding techniques to accomplish the butt-type girth weld between the plug (100) and the cladding tube, the groove (126) serves to eliminate porosity defects within the weldment without requiring the plug land (118 ) and shoulder (120) surfaces to be accurately machined in accordance with precisely critical dimensional tolerances, and similarly for the mating surfaces of the cladding tube, as had previously been mandatory in accordance with prior art TIG welding techniques.

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W. Homestead, PA, United States of America

Robert K McGeary