Installation for Welding Frameworks of Nuclear Fuel Assemblies, Programming Method, Corresponding Methods for Framework Welding and Assembling

Abstract

The installation provided includes at least one structure for receiving and holding guide tubes and structural elements; a carriage movable parallel to the guide tubes; at least one welding tool; and displacement means for moving the welding tool, the displacement means connecting the pincer to the carriage and presenting at least six degrees of freedom.

1  to  14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . An installation for welding structural elements onto guide tubes of a nuclear fuel assembly skeleton, the installation comprising: 
 at least one structure for receiving and holding guide -tubes and structural elements;    a carriage movable parallel to the guide tubes;    at least one welding tool; and    displacement means for moving the welding tool, the displacement means connecting the welding tool to the carriage and presenting at least six degrees of freedom.    
   
   
       16 . An installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the displacement means present at least seven degrees of freedom.  
   
   
       17 . An installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the displacement means comprise an arm having at least two segments articulated one to another, and wherein the displacement means further comprise a wrist that carries the welding tool, the wrist extending the arm and being articulated to the arm via a connection presenting at least two degrees of freedom.  
   
   
       18 . An installation according to  claim 17 , wherein the wrist is articulated to the arm by a connection enabling movement in rotation about at least two distinct axes.  
   
   
       19 . An installation according to  claim 17 , wherein the arm comprises at least three segments articulated one to another.  
   
   
       20 . An installation according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least two segments of the arm are articulated one to another via respective connections allowing movement in rotation about two distinct axes.  
   
   
       21 . An installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the displacement means comprise a support box movable transversely to the guide tubes.  
   
   
       22 . An installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the carriage is mounted to move on the structure.  
   
   
       23 . An installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the welding tool is a resistance-welding pincer.  
   
   
       24 . An installation according to  claim 15 , further comprising a programmable controller controlling the displacement means for moving the welding tool, and a manual controller controlling the displacement means for moving the welding tool.  
   
   
       25 . An installation according to  claim 24 , wherein the displacement means include position sensors.  
   
   
       26 . A method of programming an installation according to  claim 24 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 manually controlling the displacement means so that the welding tool executes a welding sequence; and    recording the welding sequence in the programmable control means.    
   
   
       27 . A method of welding a nuclear fuel assembly skeleton, the skeleton comprising guide tubes and structural elements welded to the guide tubes, the method comprising the steps of welding structural elements to the guide tubes using an installation according to  claim 15 .  
   
   
       28 . A method of making a nuclear fuel assembly, the assembly comprising nuclear fuel rods and a skeleton for supporting the rods, the skeleton comprising guide tubes and structural elements welded to the guide tubes, the method using a skeleton welding method according to  claim 26 .  
   
   
       29 . An installation for welding structural elements onto guide tubes of a nuclear fuel assembly skeleton, the installation comprising: 
 at least one structure for receiving and holding guide tubes and structural elements;    a carriage movable parallel to the guide tubes;    at least one welding tool; and    a connector connecting the welding tool to the carriage and capable of moving the welding tool with at least six degrees of freedom.