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Title: Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a workpiece surface. [Patents]

Abstract

Laser cutting concepts and apparatus have been developed for cutting the shroud of the core fuel subassemblies. However, much care must be taken in the accuracy of the cutting since the fuel rods within the shroud often become warped and are forced into direct contact with the shroud in random regions. Thus, in order to cut the nuclear fuel rod shroud accurately so as not to puncture the cladding of the fuel rods, and to insure optimal cutting efficiency and performance, the focal point of beam need be maintained accurately at the workpiece surface. It becomes necessary to detect deviations in the level of the workpiece surface accurately in connection with the cutting process. Therefore, a method and apparatus for tracking the surface of a workpiece being cut by a laser beam coming from a focus head assembly is disclosed which includes two collimated laser beams directed onto the work-piece surface at spaced points by beam directing optics in generally parallel planes of incidence. A shift in spacing between the two points is detected by means of a video camera system and processed by a computer to yield a workpiece surface displacement signal which is input to a motor whichmore » raises or lowers the beam focus head accordingly.

Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6719210
Application Number:
ON: DE83002351
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; CONTROL SYSTEMS; DESIGN; CUTTING TOOLS; LASERS; FUEL ASSEMBLY DISMANTLING; CUTTING; SHROUDS; COOLING SYSTEMS; ENERGY SYSTEMS; MACHINING; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS; TOOLS; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques; 220300 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Fuel Elements

Citation Formats

. Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a workpiece surface. [Patents]. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
. Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a workpiece surface. [Patents]. United States.
. Tue . "Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a workpiece surface. [Patents]". United States.
@article{osti_6719210,
title = {Method and apparatus for automatically tracking a workpiece surface. [Patents]},
author = {},
abstractNote = {Laser cutting concepts and apparatus have been developed for cutting the shroud of the core fuel subassemblies. However, much care must be taken in the accuracy of the cutting since the fuel rods within the shroud often become warped and are forced into direct contact with the shroud in random regions. Thus, in order to cut the nuclear fuel rod shroud accurately so as not to puncture the cladding of the fuel rods, and to insure optimal cutting efficiency and performance, the focal point of beam need be maintained accurately at the workpiece surface. It becomes necessary to detect deviations in the level of the workpiece surface accurately in connection with the cutting process. Therefore, a method and apparatus for tracking the surface of a workpiece being cut by a laser beam coming from a focus head assembly is disclosed which includes two collimated laser beams directed onto the work-piece surface at spaced points by beam directing optics in generally parallel planes of incidence. A shift in spacing between the two points is detected by means of a video camera system and processed by a computer to yield a workpiece surface displacement signal which is input to a motor which raises or lowers the beam focus head accordingly.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {2}
}

Patent:
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