Vacuum laser welding cabin and welding method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a vacuum laser welding cabin and a welding method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of welding, the vacuum laser welding cabin comprises a welding cabin, a vacuumizing mechanism and a workpiece supporting mechanism, the welding cabin comprises a box body and a box cover, the box body comprises a pressure-bearing cabin, and a laser transmission module is arranged on the box body; the laser transmission module is used for transmitting laser to enable the laser to penetrate through the laser transmission module to weld a fuel element in the pressure-bearing cabin, the vacuumizing mechanism is used for vacuumizing the pressure-bearing cabin, and the workpiece supporting mechanism is used for clamping the fuel element and can drive the fuel element to rotate to adjust the welding position. A fuel element is fixed through the workpiece supporting mechanism, the fuel element can be driven to automatically rotate to achieve girth welding, and the double requirements for planar welding of a plate-shaped fuel element and girth welding of a columnar fuel element can be met; the welding requirements of fuel elements of different shapes and sizes are met, the overall size of the vacuum laser welding cabin is reduced, and energy consumption and cost are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of welding, and in particular to a vacuum laser welding chamber and a welding method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Laser welding is an efficient and precise welding method that uses a high-energy-density laser beam as a heat source. In recent years, it has been widely used in various fields of industrial production such as automobiles, ships, rail transportation, aerospace, etc. For laser welding of fuel element end plugs in the nuclear industry, it is difficult to suppress the shielding effect of plasma in traditional atmospheric laser welding. To obtain a weld with a greater penetration depth, the power needs to be increased. With the help of a vacuum environment, the weld penetration depth can be doubled to tripled at the same power, that is, a lower-power laser can be used under the same penetration depth requirement, which is also conducive to obtaining a better-quality weld morphology.

[0003] However, existing vacuum welding chambers have certain drawbacks. Some laser welding vacuum chambers can accommodate the laser head, workbench, and three-axis linkage system, and are usually large in size, wasting space and increasing energy consumption; some laser welding vacuum chambers can only achieve welding in a two-dimensional plane, and cannot perform ring welding on the rod body, which has great limitations. Existing vacuum welding chambers usually have the problem of being large in size and difficult to apply to the ring welding of rod-shaped workpieces. The present invention proposes a new solution to the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to overcome at least one of the above disadvantages, the present invention provides a vacuum laser welding chamber and a welding method thereof. The purpose of the present invention can be achieved by adopting the following technical solutions: A first aspect of the present invention provides a vacuum laser welding chamber, comprising: A welding cabin, the welding cabin comprising a box body and a box cover, the box body comprising a pressure chamber, the box body being provided with a laser transmission module so that laser passes through the laser transmission module to perform welding processing on the fuel elements in the pressure chamber; A vacuum pumping mechanism, the vacuum pumping mechanism is connected to the pressure chamber and is used to perform a vacuum treatment on the pressure chamber; A workpiece support mechanism is arranged in the pressure chamber for clamping the fuel element, and the workpiece support mechanism can drive the fuel element to rotate and adjust the welding position.

[0005] In one embodiment, the workpiece support mechanism comprises: Support frame; A rotating clamping assembly, the rotating clamping assembly is arranged on the supporting frame, the rotating clamping assembly comprises a motor and a fixing module connected to the output end of the motor, the fixing module is used to connect and fix the fuel element, and the motor is used to drive the fuel element to rotate through the fixing module; A fixed stopper, the fixed stopper being located at one end of the fuel element and being used to abut against one end of the fuel element; A movable limiting assembly is located at the other end of the fuel element and is movable to abut against the other end of the fuel element. The fixed limiting member and the movable limiting assembly form a stop for the axial movement of the fuel element.

[0006] In one embodiment, the fixing module comprises a columnar fixing member for clamping a columnar fuel element; or, The fixing module comprises a plate-shaped fixing piece for clamping a plate-shaped fuel element.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the movable limiting assembly includes: A movable stopper, the movable stopper being located at the other end of the fuel element; A pushing component, wherein the movable limiting member is movably connected to the pushing component, and the pushing component is used to adjust the position of the movable limiting member.

[0008] In one embodiment, the pushing assembly includes: track; A slider, the slider is movably connected to the track, and the movable limiting member is arranged on the slider; A lead screw, the lead screw is threadedly connected to the slider, and the rotation of the lead screw drives the slider to move along the track, so as to adjust the position of the movable limiter; A handle is connected to the end of the lead screw and is used to drive the lead screw to rotate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the workpiece support mechanism comprises: The universal bamboo nozzle can adjust the angle and is used to deliver protective gas to the welding position of the fuel element.

[0010] In one possible implementation manner, a hole is provided on the pressure chamber for installing the laser transmission module, and the laser transmission module comprises: a first laser transmission unit, the first laser transmission unit being located at one side of the fixed stopper so that laser can pass through the first laser transmission unit to perform welding processing on the fuel element; The second laser transmission unit is in the shape of a long strip arranged along the length direction of the fuel element. The second laser transmission unit is located on one side of the movable limiting assembly so that the laser can pass through the second laser transmission unit to weld the fuel element.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first laser transmission unit and the second laser transmission unit both include: A glass layer, the glass layer comprising quartz glass and anti-reflection films arranged on both end surfaces of the quartz glass; A sealing layer, the sealing layer comprising sealing strips arranged on both sides of the glass layer, for sealing a gap between the glass layer and the pressure cabin; A pressing block is arranged on a side of the glass layer away from the pressure chamber and is used to fix the glass layer and the sealing layer.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention provides a welding method, which is applied to any vacuum laser welding chamber in the first aspect to weld a columnar fuel element, and the steps of the welding method include: Open the box cover, put the columnar fuel element that has completed the pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber, install the columnar fixing piece, fix one end of the columnar fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly and the fixed stopper, adjust the position of the movable stopper by the push assembly according to the length of the columnar fuel element to fix the other end of the columnar fuel element, and close the box cover; Start the vacuum pump to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches the preset range, align the external laser with the welding point of the columnar fuel element, start the universal bamboo nozzle to deliver protective gas to the welding point, start the motor to drive the columnar fuel element to rotate at a preset speed through the fixed module, and start the laser to pass the laser transmission module to perform ring welding on the columnar fuel element.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a welding method, which is applied to any vacuum laser welding chamber in the first aspect to weld a plate-shaped fuel element, and the steps of the welding method include: Open the box cover, put the plate-shaped fuel element that has completed the pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber, install the plate-shaped fixing part, fix one end of the plate-shaped fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly and the fixed stopper, adjust the position of the movable stopper by the push assembly according to the length of the plate-shaped fuel element to fix the other end of the plate-shaped fuel element, and close the box cover; Start the vacuum pump to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches the preset range, align the external laser with the welding position of the plate-like fuel element, start the universal bamboo nozzle to deliver protective gas to the welding position, and start the laser to pass through the laser transmission module to weld the plate-like fuel element.

[0014] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention: According to the contents disclosed herein, the vacuum laser welding chamber uses a vacuum pumping mechanism to evacuate the pressure chamber of the welding chamber, and the workpiece support mechanism fixes the fuel element. The workpiece support mechanism can also drive the fuel element to automatically rotate to achieve ring welding, which can meet the dual needs of plane welding of plate-like fuel elements and ring welding of columnar fuel elements. The laser transmission module can be used in conjunction with an external laser to meet the welding needs of fuel elements of different shapes and sizes, which greatly reduces the overall size of the vacuum laser welding chamber, reduces the occupied space, and reduces energy consumption and costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the accompanying drawings, the following are given by way of example and not limitation: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure at an angle is shown; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the overall structure from another angle is shown; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the vacuum pumping mechanism and the workpiece supporting mechanism is shown; Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the structure of a workpiece support mechanism at one angle; Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the structure of the workpiece support mechanism from another angle; Figure 6 A structural schematic diagram showing a workpiece support mechanism at another angle; Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the laser transmission module and a partially pressurized chamber is shown.

[0016] In the figure: 100. fuel element; 1. welding cabin; 2. vacuum pumping mechanism; 3. workpiece support mechanism; 11. Box cover; 12. Box body; 13. Warning light; 14. Laser transmission module; 15. Roller; 16. Observation window; 17. Control system; 21. Vacuum pump; 22. Air extraction pipeline; 31. Support frame; 32. Rotating clamping assembly; 33. Fixed limiter; 34. Moving limiter assembly; 35. Universal bamboo nozzle; 121, pressure cabin; 122, cabin base; 141, first laser transmission unit; 142, second laser transmission unit; 321, motor; 322, fixing module; 341, moving limiter; 342, pushing assembly; 1411, glass layer; 1412, sealing layer; 1413, pressure block; 3421, track; 3422, slider; 3423, lead screw; 3424, handle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following detailed disclosure, these embodiments are fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to make the technical scheme of the present invention more clear and specific to those skilled in the art, the implementation methods described below are not limited to this. The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In the present invention, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "plurality" refers to two or more, unless otherwise clearly defined. The terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "connected" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, it is necessary to understand that the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front” and “back” are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or unit referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore, cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0020] The first aspect of the present invention, as Figure 1-Figure 7 As shown, a vacuum laser welding chamber is provided, including a welding chamber 1, a vacuum pumping mechanism 2 and a workpiece supporting mechanism 3, the welding chamber 1 includes a box body 12 and a box cover 11, the box body 12 includes a pressure chamber 121, a laser transmission module 14 is provided on the box body 12, so that the laser passes through the laser transmission module 14 to weld the fuel element 100 in the pressure chamber 121; the vacuum pumping mechanism 2 is connected to the pressure chamber 121, and is used to vacuum the pressure chamber 121; the workpiece supporting mechanism 3 is arranged in the pressure chamber 121 for clamping the fuel element 100, and the workpiece supporting mechanism 3 can drive the fuel element 100 to rotate and adjust the welding position.

[0021] The vacuum laser welding chamber provided in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, it includes a box body 12 and a box cover 11. The box cover 11 is used to cover the box body 12 and seal the pressure chamber 121. The vacuum mechanism 2 includes a vacuum pump 21 and an exhaust pipe 22 connected thereto. The exhaust pipe 22 is connected to the pressure chamber 121 to perform vacuum treatment on the pressure chamber 121, and can adjust the vacuum degree in the vacuum chamber to meet the welding requirements. The laser transmission module 14 is arranged on the box body 12 and can be used in conjunction with an external laser to meet the welding needs of fuel elements 100 of different shapes and sizes, which greatly reduces the overall size of the vacuum laser welding chamber, reduces the occupied space, and reduces energy consumption and costs.

[0022] The vacuum laser welding chamber provided in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 3-Figure 6 As shown, the fuel element 100 is fixed by the workpiece support mechanism 3, and the workpiece support mechanism 3 can also drive the fuel element 100 to automatically rotate to achieve ring welding, and can realize single vacuuming of fuel elements 100 of multiple specifications, complete vacuum welding of upper and lower end plugs of columnar fuel elements, and can also realize plane weld laser welding of plate-like fuel elements, which can meet the dual needs of plane welding of plate-like fuel elements and ring welding of columnar fuel elements.

[0023] The vacuum laser welding chamber provided in this embodiment provides a reliable and stable vacuum laser welding environment. Combined with the laser transmission module 14 and the workpiece support mechanism 3, it can achieve efficient laser welding of the upper and lower end plugs of the whole rod and vacuum laser welding of the flat welds of plates of various specifications by single vacuum extraction of fuel elements 100 of various specifications. Combined with the chamber base 122, it meets the functional requirements of loading and unloading at multiple stations, as well as the mobility requirements of short-distance transportation and small space maneuvering. It is simple to operate, easy to use, highly stable and safe, and has high flexibility. The comprehensive performance meets the requirements of efficient processing of vacuum laser welding of fuel elements 100.

[0024] Among them, the welding cabin 1 includes a box body 12 and a box cover 11. The box body 12 can be made of high-quality Q235 cold-rolled galvanized steel plate and profile welding. The outer surface is electrostatically sprayed and is not easy to rust. The box cover 11 is arranged on the front of the box body 12. The inner side of the box cover 11 is made of high-quality SUS304 frosted stainless steel plate and profile welding. It is not easy to oxidize and rust. The seal between the box cover 11 and the box body 12 adopts a double-layer high and low temperature resistant soft silicone rubber sealing strip. The box cover 11 can adopt a rotary hinge to ensure that the opening angle is not less than 120°. The box cover 11 lock adopts a long-handled external pressure door lock, and closing is achieved by an eccentric mechanism.

[0025] Among them, Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the box body 12 includes a pressure cabin 121 and a cabin base 122. The vacuum pump 21 and the exhaust pipe 22 can be arranged in the cabin base 122. The cabin base 122 is composed of a frame and a roller 15 at the bottom of the frame. The frame as a whole can be made of high-quality Q235 cold-rolled galvanized rectangular tubes and profiles, and the surface is electrostatically sprayed. A door panel is installed in the middle of the frame, and the frame and the door panel are restricted between the bottom beam and the table top of the frame by buckles.

[0026] Among them, Figure 2 As shown, an observation window 16 is embedded on the box cover 11. The observation window 16 is made of quartz glass. The position of the observation window 16 corresponds to the workpiece support mechanism 3, and the welding of the two ends of the fuel element 100 can be observed in real time. The pressure chamber 121 can be a sealed container formed by continuous welding of thicker SUS304 steel plates. The pressure chamber 121 is reinforced by a reinforcing rib structure to be able to withstand the pressure of the external atmospheric pressure and keep the structure stable and not deformed. The inner wall is made of SUS304 stainless steel plate with a frosted surface to make the inner surface smooth.

[0027] Among them, Figure 3 As shown, the vacuum pumping mechanism 2 includes a vacuum pump 21 and an exhaust pipe 22. The vacuum pump 21 can be a direct-connected rotary vane vacuum pump 21, which can ensure that the ultimate vacuum degree in the cabin is ≤10Pa and the vacuum pumping speed is ≥50m 3 / h, the vacuum chamber as a whole can completely wrap the fuel element 100, ensuring the airtightness requirements of the chamber and providing the environmental requirements for vacuum laser welding.

[0028] Among them, Figure 2 As shown, a warning light 13 can be provided on the box body 12. The warning light 13 is a red, yellow and green three-color warning light 13, which can sound an alarm when the equipment is operating abnormally, thereby playing a safety warning role.

[0029] Among them, Figure 2 As shown, a control system 17 can be set on the box 12. The control system 17 is used to operate the equipment. The control system 17 can be divided into a two-layer architecture. The first layer is the field control system 17. The main controller realizes the control of the entire welding process and feeds back the status to the human-machine interaction interface. The human-machine interaction interface includes an operation panel and a touch screen. The touch screen operation panel is provided with a power switch, a mode selection knob, a start button, a stop button, an operation indicator light, etc., which facilitates the on-site personnel to monitor the operation process; the second layer is the field equipment, which is composed of various actuators (motors, solenoid valves, etc.), and can be controlled by a programmable controller. It has an industrial Ethernet interface and can expand the interface as needed. The control system 17 also includes an emergency stop switch. In an emergency, the emergency stop switch can be quickly pressed to achieve protection measures to avoid mechanical accidents or personal accidents.

[0030] In one possible implementation, Figure 4-Figure 6 As shown, the workpiece support mechanism 3 includes a support frame 31, a rotating clamping assembly 32, a fixed limiter 33 and a movable limiter assembly 34. The rotating clamping assembly 32 is arranged on the support frame 31. The rotating clamping assembly 32 includes a motor 321 and a fixed module 322 connected to the output end of the motor 321. The fixed module 322 is used to connect and fix the fuel element 100. The motor 321 is used to drive the fuel element 100 to rotate through the fixed module 322; the fixed limiter 33 is located at one end of the fuel element 100 and is used to abut against one end of the fuel element 100; the movable limiter assembly 34 is located at the other end of the fuel element 100 and can be moved to abut against the other end of the fuel element 100. The fixed limiter 33 and the movable limiter assembly 34 form a stop for the axial movement of the fuel element 100.

[0031] Among them, Figure 6 As shown, a hole is provided on the fixing module 322, and the fuel element 100 is inserted into the hole and clamped and fixed by the fixing module 322, so that the fuel element 100 is stable during the welding process and the welding effect is guaranteed. In specific implementation, the motor 321 can be started as needed to drive the fixing module 322 to rotate, so as to drive the columnar fuel element to rotate with its own axis as the rotation center to achieve ring welding.

[0032] Among them, the rotating clamping assembly 32 can be composed of a servo motor 321, a fixed module 322, etc., and a planetary reduction structure can be used to increase the transmission torque. The reduction ratio can be around 30. The working speed range of the servo motor 321 is 150r / min-3000r / min, and 5r / min-100r / min rotation output can be achieved, ensuring that the fuel element 100 can be driven to rotate at a uniform speed to meet the movement speed required for welding.

[0033] Among them, Figure 4-Figure 6 As shown, the fixed limiter 33 abuts against one end of the fuel element 100 to limit the movement of the fuel element 100 in one direction, and the movable limiter assembly 34 can move along the length direction of the fuel element 100 to adjust the position and abut against the other end of the fuel element 100, and cooperate with the fixed limiter 33 to form contact with both ends of the fuel element 100 and limit its movement, thereby ensuring that the fuel element 100 maintains a stable position during the welding process and ensuring the welding accuracy.

[0034] The fixing module 322 may be provided with holes of different cross-sectional shapes, such as circular, square, arc, etc. In specific implementation, the fixing module 322 may be replaced to meet the fixing and clamping requirements of fuel elements 100 of different shapes.

[0035] Among them, Figure 6As shown, the fixing module 322 includes a columnar fixing piece for clamping the columnar fuel element. A circular hole is opened on the fixing module 322 so that the columnar fuel element can be fixed through the circular hole, thereby ensuring the stability and accurate positioning of the columnar fuel element in the fixing module 322.

[0036] The fixing module 322 includes a plate-shaped fixing member for clamping the plate-shaped fuel element. The fixing module 322 is provided with square holes so that the plate-shaped fuel element can be fixed through the square holes, thereby ensuring the stability and accurate positioning of the plate-shaped fuel element in the fixing module 322.

[0037] In one possible implementation, Figure 5 As shown, the movable limiting assembly 34 includes a movable limiting member 341 and a pushing assembly 342 . The movable limiting member 341 is located at the other end of the fuel element 100 . The movable limiting member 341 is movably connected to the pushing assembly 342 . The pushing assembly 342 is used to adjust the position of the movable limiting member 341 .

[0038] Among them, the movable limiting member 341 and the fixed limiting member 33 are arranged at the two ends of the fuel element 100 relatively to each other, and the movable limiting member 341 is driven to move by the pushing assembly 342 so that the movable limiting member 341 can abut against the end of the fuel element 100, and the movable limiting member 341 and the fixed limiting member 33 form a stop for the axial movement of the fuel element 100, and the clamping and release of the fuel element 100 can be achieved by adjusting the pushing assembly 342.

[0039] In one possible implementation, Figure 6 As shown, the pushing assembly 342 includes a track 3421, a slider 3422, a screw 3423 and a handle 3424. The slider 3422 is movably connected to the track 3421, and the movable limit member 341 is arranged on the slider 3422; the screw 3423 is threadedly connected to the slider 3422, and the rotation of the screw 3423 drives the slider 3422 to move along the track 3421, so as to adjust the position of the movable limit member 341; the handle 3424 is connected to the end of the screw 3423, so as to drive the screw 3423 to rotate.

[0040] Among them, the pushing component 342 can also include a base, on which is provided a track 3421, the number of which can be one, two or more, and the track 3421 is arranged along the length direction of the fuel element 100, the movable limit member 341 is connected to the slider 3422, and the slider 3422 can slide along the track 3421, and the slider 3422 is provided with a screw hole for the lead screw 3423 to pass through and is threadedly connected to the lead screw 3423, and the lead screw 3423 can be driven to rotate by shaking the handle 3424 to drive the slider 3422 to slide along the track 3421, thereby achieving the effect of driving the movable limit member 341 to approach or move away from the fuel element 100, and the position of the movable limit member 341 can be adjusted by operating the handle 3424 to achieve clamping and releasing of the fuel element 100.

[0041] In one possible implementation, Figure 4-Figure 6 As shown, the workpiece support mechanism 3 includes a universal bamboo nozzle 35 , the universal bamboo nozzle 35 can adjust the angle and is used to deliver shielding gas to the welding position of the fuel element 100 .

[0042] Among them, the universal bamboo nozzle 35 can be bent and adjusted in multiple directions, can be accurately aligned with the welding point of the fuel element 100, so that the shielding gas can be accurately delivered to the welding point, and sufficient shielding gas is provided during the welding process to prevent oxidation, improve welding quality and protect the integrity of the weld. It has extremely high flexibility and adjustability, and can meet the needs of different welding positions. By adjusting the angle of the universal bamboo nozzle 35, the shielding gas can evenly cover the welding area, effectively isolate the air, reduce the occurrence of welding defects, and improve the strength and corrosion resistance of the weld joint.

[0043] In one possible implementation, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a hole is opened on the pressure chamber 121 for installing the laser transmission module 14, and the laser transmission module 14 includes a first laser transmission unit 141 and a second laser transmission unit 142. The first laser transmission unit 141 is located on one side of the fixed limit member 33, so that the laser can pass through the first laser transmission unit 141 to weld the fuel element 100; the second laser transmission unit 142 is in the shape of a long strip arranged along the length direction of the fuel element 100, and the second laser transmission unit 142 is located on one side of the movable limit member 34, so that the laser can pass through the second laser transmission unit 142 to weld the fuel element 100.

[0044] Among them, by installing the laser transmission module 14 on the pressure chamber 121, it can be used in conjunction with an external laser, which greatly reduces the overall volume of the vacuum laser welding chamber and improves flexibility and versatility.

[0045] Among them, the laser transmission module 14 is used to transmit laser, and the laser transmission module 14 can be divided into two units, a circular unit and a rectangular unit. The circular first laser transmission unit 141 is convenient for welding one end of the fuel element 100, and the rectangular second laser transmission unit 142 is narrower and longer, which can meet the welding of fuel elements 100 of different lengths and specifications, facilitate welding the other end of the fuel element 100, and can perform flat weld welding, realizing the function of one machine with multiple uses.

[0046] Among them, Figure 7 As shown, the first laser transmission unit 141 and the second laser transmission unit 142 both include a glass layer 1411, a sealing layer 1412 and a pressing block 1413. The glass layer 1411 includes quartz glass and anti-reflection films arranged on both end surfaces of the quartz glass; the sealing layer 1412 includes sealing strips arranged on both sides of the glass layer 1411, which are used to seal the gap between the glass layer 1411 and the pressure chamber 121; the pressing block 1413 is arranged on the side of the glass layer 1411 away from the pressure chamber 121, and is used to fix the glass layer 1411 and the sealing layer 1412.

[0047] It is understandable that the laser transmission unit is used to transmit laser light, and is composed of a glass layer 1411, a sealing layer 1412, and a pressing block 1413. Among them, the pressing block 1413 is made of stainless steel, which is not only strong and corrosion-resistant, but also can effectively fix the sealing strip and quartz glass; the sealing strip is used to ensure the vacuum requirement in the vacuum chamber, while preventing impurities such as oxygen from interfering with the welding process to ensure welding quality; the glass part is made of quartz glass and a double-sided anti-reflection film. Quartz glass has excellent light transmittance and high temperature resistance. In order to further improve the transmittance, the surface of the quartz glass is also coated with a double-sided anti-reflection film to ensure that the loss of laser light during transmission is reduced. The transmittance is as high as 99% or more, providing sufficient light energy for welding.

[0048] A second aspect of the present invention provides a welding method, which is applied to any vacuum laser welding chamber in the first aspect to weld a columnar fuel element, and the steps of the welding method include: Open the box cover 11, put the columnar fuel element that has completed the pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber, install the columnar fixing member, fix one end of the columnar fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly 32 and the fixed stopper 33, adjust the position of the movable stopper 341 by the pushing assembly 342 according to the length of the columnar fuel element to fix the other end of the columnar fuel element, and close the box cover 11; Start the vacuum pump 21 to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches a preset range, align the external laser with the welding position of the columnar fuel element, start the universal bamboo nozzle 35 to deliver protective gas to the welding position, start the motor 321 to drive the columnar fuel element to rotate at a preset speed through the fixing module 322, and start the laser to pass the laser transmission module 14 to perform ring welding on the columnar fuel element.

[0049] In specific implementation, the steps of the welding method for the columnar fuel element in the vacuum laser welding chamber provided in the present application include: S1. Open the box cover 11 by pressing and rotating the long-handled external pressure door lock, and place the columnar fuel element that has completed the pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber; S2: Replace the fixing module 322 in the rotating module in the vacuum chamber with the corresponding columnar fixing part, first fix one end of the columnar fuel element on the columnar fixing part and the fixed limit part 33, adjust the pushing assembly 342 at the other end according to the length of the fuel element 100, turn the handle 3424 to adjust the movable limit part 341 to position and fix the other end of the columnar fuel element, and then close the box cover 11.

[0050] S3: Turn on the vacuum pump 21 and evacuate the vacuum chamber according to the vacuum degree requirement until the vacuum degree reaches the welding requirement. While evacuating the vacuum chamber, perform dust removal operation on the outer surfaces of the two laser transmission units on the top of the box body 12.

[0051] S4: Position the external laser according to the upper end plug welding position and laser welding requirements. After positioning, open the universal bamboo nozzle 35 to blow the protective gas. At the same time, start the motor 321 to rotate the columnar fuel element at a certain speed according to the welding requirements. Start welding after the speed stabilizes.

[0052] S5: After the upper end plug is welded, the laser is turned off, the fuel element 100 is kept rotating, and the laser is moved and positioned according to the welding position of the lower end plug and the laser welding requirements, and the lower end plug is welded after positioning.

[0053] S6: After the lower end plug is welded, turn off the motor 321 and the laser, keep the universal bamboo nozzle 35 supplying air to cool the columnar fuel element, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the weld through the laser transmission module 14, and when the weld temperature drops below 80°C, turn off the universal bamboo nozzle 35, open the box cover 11, take out the welded columnar fuel element, and complete the vacuum laser welding of the columnar fuel element.

[0054] A third aspect of the present invention provides a welding method, which is applied to any vacuum laser welding chamber in the first aspect to weld a plate-shaped fuel element, and the steps of the welding method include: Open the box cover 11, put the plate-shaped fuel element that has been pre-treated before welding into the vacuum chamber, install the plate-shaped fixing part, fix one end of the plate-shaped fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly 32 and the fixed stopper 33, adjust the position of the movable stopper 341 by the pushing assembly 342 according to the length of the plate-shaped fuel element, fix the other end of the plate-shaped fuel element, and close the box cover 11; Start the vacuum pump 21 to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches a preset range, align the external laser with the welded part of the plate-like fuel element, start the universal bamboo nozzle 35 to deliver protective gas to the welding part, and start the laser to allow the laser to pass through the laser transmission module 14 to weld the plate-like fuel element.

[0055] In specific implementation, the steps of the method for welding a plate-shaped fuel element in a vacuum laser welding chamber provided in the present application include: S1. Open the box cover 11 by pressing and rotating the long-handled external pressure door lock, and place the plate-shaped fuel element that has completed the pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber; S2: Replace the fixing module 322 in the rotating module in the vacuum chamber with the corresponding plate-shaped fixing part, first fix one end of the columnar fuel element on the plate-shaped fixing part and the fixed limit part 33, adjust the pushing assembly 342 at the other end according to the length of the fuel element 100, turn the handle 3424 to adjust the movable limit part 341 to position and fix the other end of the plate-shaped fuel element, and then close the box cover 11.

[0056] S3: Turn on the vacuum pump 21 and evacuate the vacuum chamber according to the vacuum degree requirement until the vacuum degree reaches the welding requirement. While evacuating the vacuum chamber, perform dust removal operation on the outer surfaces of the two laser transmission units on the top of the box body 12.

[0057] S4: Position the external laser according to the upper end plug welding position and laser welding requirements, and after positioning, open the universal bamboo nozzle 35 to blow the protective gas and start welding.

[0058] S5: After the welding is completed, turn off the laser, keep the universal bamboo nozzle 35 to supply air to cool the plate-like fuel element, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the weld through the laser transmission module 14, and when the weld temperature drops below 80°C, turn off the universal bamboo nozzle 35, open the box cover 11, take out the welded plate-like fuel element, and complete the vacuum laser welding of the plate-like fuel element.

[0059] It can be understood that according to the shape of the fuel element 100, girth welding or plane welding can be selected to meet the different welding needs of fuel elements 100 of different shapes, can meet the dual needs of girth welding and plane welding, can ensure the uniformity and quality of welding, and can further improve automation and mechanization, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. It not only improves the adaptability and application range of welding, but also provides more choices and possibilities for the manufacture and processing of fuel elements 100.

[0060] In the description of this specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "specific embodiments", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0061] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0062] In view of the above detailed description, these and other changes can be made to these embodiments, and this written description includes the best mode embodiments to disclose the present invention. The scope of the patent obtained by the present invention is defined by the claims, which are not limited by the present disclosure, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field within the scope disclosed by the present invention, according to the technical solution and its conception of the present invention, is equivalent to or changes, and all are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum laser welding chamber, characterized in that: include: A welding cabin (1), the welding cabin (1) comprising a box body (12) and a box cover (11), the box body (12) comprising a pressure chamber (121), a laser transmission module (14) being provided on the box body (12) so that laser light passes through the laser transmission module (14) to perform welding processing on fuel elements in the pressure chamber (121); A vacuum pumping mechanism (2), the vacuum pumping mechanism (2) being connected to the pressure chamber (121) and being used to perform a vacuum pumping process on the pressure chamber (121); A workpiece support mechanism (3), the workpiece support mechanism (3) being arranged in the pressure chamber (121) and used for clamping the fuel element, the workpiece support mechanism (3) being able to drive the fuel element to rotate and adjust the welding position.

2. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 1, characterized in that: The workpiece supporting mechanism (3) comprises: Support frame (31); a rotating clamping assembly (32), the rotating clamping assembly (32) being arranged on the supporting frame (31), the rotating clamping assembly (32) comprising a motor (321) and a fixing module (322) connected to the output end of the motor (321) in power, the fixing module (322) being used to connect to and fix the fuel element, and the motor (321) being used to drive the fuel element to rotate via the fixing module (322); a fixed stopper (33), the fixed stopper (33) being located at one end of the fuel element and being used for abutting against one end of the fuel element; A movable limiting assembly (34) is located at the other end of the fuel element and is movable to abut against the other end of the fuel element, and the fixed limiting component (33) and the movable limiting assembly (34) form a stop for the axial movement of the fuel element.

3. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixing module (322) comprises a columnar fixing member for clamping a columnar fuel element; or, The fixing module (322) comprises a plate-shaped fixing piece used for clamping a plate-shaped fuel element.

4. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The movable limiting component (34) comprises: A movable limiting member (341), wherein the movable limiting member (341) is located at the other end of the fuel element; A pushing component (342), the movable limiting component (341) is movably connected to the pushing component (342), and the pushing component (342) is used to adjust the position of the movable limiting component (341).

5. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pushing assembly (342) comprises: Track(3421); A slider (3422), the slider (3422) being movably connected to the track (3421), and the movable limiting member (341) being arranged on the slider (3422); A lead screw (3423), the lead screw (3423) being threadedly connected to the slider (3422), the lead screw (3423) rotating to drive the slider (3422) to move along the track (3421), and being used to adjust the position of the movable limiter (341); A handle (3424), the handle (3424) being connected to the end of the lead screw (3423) and being used to drive the lead screw (3423) to rotate.

6. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The workpiece supporting mechanism (3) comprises: A universal bamboo nozzle (35) capable of adjusting an angle, and used for delivering protective gas to a welding point of a fuel element.

7. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pressure chamber (121) is provided with a hole for installing the laser transmission module (14), and the laser transmission module (14) comprises: a first laser transmission unit (141), the first laser transmission unit (141) being located on one side of the fixed stopper (33), so that laser light can pass through the first laser transmission unit (141) to perform welding processing on the fuel element; A second laser transmission unit (142), the second laser transmission unit (142) is in the shape of a long strip arranged along the length direction of the fuel element, and the second laser transmission unit (142) is located on one side of the movable limiting assembly (34) so ​​that the laser can pass through the second laser transmission unit (142) to perform welding processing on the fuel element.

8. The vacuum laser welding chamber according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first laser transmission unit (141) and the second laser transmission unit (142) both comprise: A glass layer (1411), the glass layer (1411) comprising quartz glass and anti-reflection films arranged on both end surfaces of the quartz glass; a sealing layer (1412), the sealing layer (1412) comprising sealing strips arranged on both sides of the glass layer (1411) and used for sealing a gap between the glass layer (1411) and the pressure chamber (121); A pressing block (1413), the pressing block (1413) being arranged on a side of the glass layer (1411) facing away from the pressure chamber (121), and being used to fix the glass layer (1411) and the sealing layer (1412).

9. A welding method, characterized in that The vacuum laser welding chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is used to weld columnar fuel elements, and the steps of the welding method include: Opening the box cover (11), placing the columnar fuel element that has undergone pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber, installing the columnar fixing member, fixing one end of the columnar fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly (32) and the fixed stopper (33), adjusting the position of the movable stopper (341) by the pushing assembly (342) according to the length of the columnar fuel element to fix the other end of the columnar fuel element, and closing the box cover (11); The vacuum pump (21) is started to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches a preset range, the external laser is aligned and positioned with the to-be-welded portion of the columnar fuel element, the universal bamboo nozzle (35) is started to deliver protective gas to the welding portion, the motor (321) is started to drive the columnar fuel element to rotate at a preset speed through the fixing module (322), and the laser is started to pass the laser transmission module (14) to perform circumferential welding on the columnar fuel element.

10. A welding method, characterized in that The vacuum laser welding chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is used to weld a plate-shaped fuel element, and the steps of the welding method include: Opening the box cover (11), placing the plate-shaped fuel element that has undergone pre-welding pretreatment into the vacuum chamber, installing the plate-shaped fixing member, fixing one end of the plate-shaped fuel element on the rotating clamping assembly (32) and the fixed stopper (33), adjusting the position of the movable stopper (341) by the pushing assembly (342) according to the length of the plate-shaped fuel element to fix the other end of the plate-shaped fuel element, and closing the box cover (11); The vacuum pump (21) is started to evacuate the vacuum chamber until the vacuum degree reaches a preset range, the external laser is aligned with the welded portion of the plate-shaped fuel element, the universal bamboo nozzle (35) is started to deliver protective gas to the welded portion, and the laser is started to pass through the laser transmission module (14) to weld the plate-shaped fuel element.

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