INFRARED IMAGING SET TO TEST AND INSPECT RESISTANCE-WELDED JOINTS FOR DEFECTS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: nondestructive testing, atomic power industry for manufacture of fuel assemblies of nuclear reactors, specifically, nondestructive inspection of resistance-welded joints of cells of spacing grids. SUBSTANCE: invention is meant for development of reliable methods and devices which exclude errors for nondestructive test and inspection of resistance-welded joints of walls of cells of spacing grids for quality and for determination of parameters of welding core. Infrared imaging set to test and inspect resistance-welded joints for defects has source heating welding point of walls of cells of spacing grid, optical head with optical infrared sensor, mechanism for their movement, computer and recording unit. Mechanism for movement is manufactured in the form of tongs with hollow levers and drive in the form of robot for reciprocating lowering and hoisting of tongs to adjacent cells of spacing grid by coordinate grid with preset program of test of all joints in spacing gird. Pulse source heating welding point is positioned in one of levers of tongs and is connected to power supply source and optical infrared sensor of optical head is located in another hollow lever of tongs. Source heating welding point is made in the form of infrared laser. EFFECT: development of reliable methods and devices that exclude errors while conducting nondestructive tests. 1 cl, 8 dwg