The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 2026

Filed:

May. 25, 2022
Applicant:

Bwxt Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);

Inventors:

Andrew Harrison Chern, Knoxville, TN (US);

Travis B. Fritts, Knoxville, TN (US);

Daniel Walter Galicki, Knoxville, TN (US);

Ryan Scott Kitchen, Knoxville, TN (US);

Travis Adam Mcfalls, Knoxville, TN (US);

Elizabeth Ellis, Knoxville, TN (US);

Assignee:

BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 15/00 (2006.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/17 (2021.01); B23K 15/06 (2006.01); B23K 37/003 (2025.01); B23K 103/08 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); G21C 21/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 15/0086 (2013.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/17 (2021.01); B23K 15/002 (2013.01); B23K 15/06 (2013.01); B23K 37/003 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); G21C 21/00 (2013.01); B22F 2201/20 (2013.01); B22F 2301/20 (2013.01); B23K 2103/08 (2018.08);
Abstract

Methodologies and manufacturing processes to manufacture components by electron beam melting additive manufacturing, particularly components of molybdenum or a molybdenum-based alloy and particularly of complex nuclear component geometries. Input parameters are provided for controlling electron beam melting additive manufacturing equipment, such as electron beam melting machines. The input parameters relate to various process steps, including build set-up, initial thermal treatment, initial layering of powder, pre-consolidation thermal treatment, consolidation, post-consolidation thermal treatment, indexing of layers, and post-build thermal treatment. The methodologies and manufacturing processes allow manufacture of components of molybdenum having a purity of ≥99.0% and a density of ≥99.75%. Metallographic cross-sections of the manufactured molybdenum components were porosity-free and crack-free.


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