US Patent Issued to BWXT mPower on Sept. 16 for "Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug" (Virginia Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,417,854, issued on Sept. 16, was assigned to BWXT mPower Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.).

"Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug" was invented by Earl Brian Barger (Goode, Va.), Scott L. Fitzner (Appomattox, Va.), Jeffrey T. Lee (Blacksburg, Va.) and Roger D. Ridgeway (Lynchburg, Va.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A fuel rod for a nuclear reactor, including a cladding tube having a first end with an annular end face, a second end with an annular end face, and a cylindrical body portion extending therebetween, and a first tube end plug including a front portion, an annular lip with an annular end face, and a substant...