RESISTANCE BUTT WELDING APPARATUS Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC B23K11/04 B23K101/04 G21C21/02 

FIELD: nuclear power production, namely apparatuses for resistance butt welding of rod fuel elements of nuclear reactors.

SUBSTANCE: apparatus includes welding chamber, mechanisms for fluid-tightening it, apparatus for feeding welded parts of fuel element to welding zone, mechanisms for gripping, fixing welded part and for supplying electric current to them with respective drives, pneumatic drive for creating welding pressure. Welding chamber is in the form of built-up structure that is not open at operation of welding apparatus and it includes units for feeding envelope and plug of fuel element to welding zone. Apparatus includes additional pneumatic grip that is spaced from electrode of envelope by distance preventing excess displacing of its end caused by axial shift and lengthwise bending in said zone.

EFFECT: enhanced efficiency and improved stability of welding process, high operational reliability of apparatus in condition of high demands made to biological safety.

3 cl, 1 dwg