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AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsChristopher M. Nestor, III, Tyler Imprescia, John Lojek, III, Michael A. LaPresti
Estimating the term…
A method of attaching a wick plug to an annular wick with the annular wick defining an outside diameter. The method includes positioning the wick plug at least partially within the annular wick; placing a clamp over the outside diameter of the annular wick; and heating the clamp, the annular wick, and the wick plug to a temperature sufficient to thermally expand the wick plug and the annular wick to exert a compressive force onto the wick plug and the annular wick by the clamp to compress the wick plug and the annular wick together.
(canceled)
The method of claim 4, wherein the wick plug and the annular wick comprise a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the clamp comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
The method of claim 4, wherein the annular wick comprises a first compressive yield strength and the wick plug comprises a second compressive yield strength, and wherein the compressive force exerted onto the wick plug and the annular wick is equal to or greater than the lesser of the first compressive yield strength or the second compressive yield strength.
A method of attaching a wick plug to an annular wick, the annular wick defining an outside diameter, the method comprising:
10-20. (canceled)
(canceled)
The method of claim 24, wherein the wick plug and the annular wick comprise a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and wherein the clamp comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
The method of claim 24, wherein the annular wick comprises a first compressive yield strength and the wick plug comprises a second compressive yield strength, and wherein the compressive force exerted onto the wick plug and the annular wick is equal to or greater than the lesser of the first compressive yield strength or the second compressive yield strength.
A method of attaching a wick plug to an annular wick, the annular wick defining an outside diameter, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.