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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 28, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 21, 1997
Andrew A Lingenfelter, Wilmington, NC (US);
James M Gehr, Wilmington, NC (US);
Johnny R Skipper, Leland, NC (US);
Robert J Sziemkiewicz, Wilmington, NC (US);
Jeffrey P Johnson, Castle Hayne, NC (US);
Robert A Haughton, Wilmington, NC (US);
Harry L Batson, Winnabow, NC (US);
Jaime A Zuloaga, Jr, Wilmington, NC (US);
Michael T Kiernan, Wilmington, NC (US);
John L Harmon, Wilmington, NC (US);
Edward G Apple, Jr, Wilmington, NC (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A high pressure laser welding method and apparatus enables seam welding of a nuclear fuel rod at hyperbaric pressure. In an automatic process, a loaded fuel rod and an upper end plug are mated within a sealable weld box. A pressure within the weld box is controlled relative to a pressure within the fuel rod, and a laser assembly welds the seam at hyperbaric pressure. Helium flowing through a laser window nozzle during welding prevents soot contamination of the laser window glass and prevents formation of ionic plasma. The upper end plug fuel rod welding operation is thus reduced to a single step and eliminates inspection related tasks with respect to a sealed hole.