Sealing of ceramic to metallic tubes with different CTE for high temperature reactors
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsMehrad Mehr, Robert Mantz, Bahram Jadidian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly includes a first tube. The first tube includes a first end configured to receive a second tube. The second tube includes a first end configured to slidably translate into the first end of the first tube and to receive an insert. The insert is configured to be disposed within a first portion of the second tube that is near the first end of the second tube. The first tube, the second tube, and the insert form a seal. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the first tube is similar to the CTE of the insert and different from the CTE of the second tube.
Claims16
An assembly comprising:
- a first tube;
- a second tube, wherein a first end of the second tube is slidably translatable into a first end of the first tube;
- and
- an insert completely disposed within a first portion of the second tube, wherein the first portion of the second tube is near the first end of the second tube,
- wherein the first tube, the second tube, and the insert are configured to form a seal,
- wherein the insert defines a lumen from a first end of the insert to a second opposite end of the insert, the insert defining an insert length between the first end and the second opposite end being less than a first portion length defined by the first portion of the second tube,
- wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the first tube is substantially similar to a CTE of the insert and substantially different from a CTE of the second tube,
- wherein the first tube and the insert comprise a ceramic material,
- wherein the second tube comprises a metallic material, and
- wherein the CTE of the first tube is lower than the CTE of the second tube.
A method comprising:
- joining a first tube and a second tube, wherein joining the first tube and the second tube comprises:
- slidably translating a first end of a second tube into a first end of the first tube,
- slidably translating an insert into position completely within a first portion of the second tube near the first end of the second tube;
- and
- wherein slidably translating the second tube into the first tube and the insert into the second tube forms a seal, and
- wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the first tube is substantially similar to a CTE of the insert and substantially different from a CTE of the second tube,
- wherein the insert defines a lumen from a first end of the insert to a second opposite end of the insert, the insert defining an insert length between the first end and the second opposite end being less than first portion length defined by the first portion of the second tube,
- wherein the first tube and the insert comprise a ceramic material,
- wherein the second tube comprises a metallic material, and
- wherein the CTE of the first tube is lower than the CTE of the second tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.