Laser-beam-alignment system

Patent · Fri Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6574889

Kasner, W. H.; Racki, D. J.; Swenson, C. E.

A plurality of pivotal reflectors direct a high-power laser beam onto a workpiece, and a rotatable reflector is movable to a position wherein it intercepts the beam and deflects a major portion thereof away from its normal path, the remainder of the beam passing to the pivotal reflectors through an aperture in the rotating reflector. A plurality of targets are movable to positions intercepting the path of light traveling to the pivotal reflectors, and a preliminary adjustment of the latter is made by use of a low-power laser beam reflected from the rotating reflector, after which the same targets are used to make a final adjustment of the pivotal reflectors with the portion of the high-power laser beam passed through the rotating reflector. The system was developed to cut the casings of spent nuclear fuel elements into segments as the initial step in recovering usable fuel. (WHK)

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A352744
• Application Number: ON: DE83002408
• OSTI ID: 6574889
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
LASER BEAM MACHINING
OPTICS
ALIGNMENT
FOCUSING
LASER MIRRORS
LASERS
REPROCESSING
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MACHINING
MIRRORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)
420200 - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
050800 - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing