Method and apparatus for fabricating fusion reactor coils
AssigneeBurt Precision Products, Inc.
InventorMichelangelo DiMartino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The inside, outside and opposite side surfaces of elongate, helical shaped, rectangular cross-section metal work pieces are individually close tolerance machined to produce finished conductor segments. These segments are connected end to end to form a helical coil which encircles a toroidal conducting shell of a fusion reactor. An apparatus is provided which may be fitted with corresponding tooling for separately machining the inside and outside surfaces of a work piece. The work piece is supported by the apparatus with the surface to be machined unobstructed. The unobstructed surface is cut in the poloidal direction as the work piece is moved in the toroidal direction. The side surfaces of the work piece are machined with a programmable, numerically controlled milling machine.
Claims11
An apparatus for machining the inside and outside surfaces of an elongate, generally helical shaped, rectangular cross-section metal work piece so that the surfaces conform in shape to the surface of a toroid which the finished work piece is to partially encircle in both the poloidal and toroidal directions, comprising:
- means for supporting the work piece so that at least one of its inside and outside surfaces is unobstructed;
- means for cutting the unobstructed surface of the work piece in the poloidal direction;
- and
- means for generating relative movement in the toroidal direction between the supporting means and the cutting means so that the unobstructed surface of the work piece will be provided with a machined surface along its entire length that conforms in shape to the surface of the toroid.
A method for machining at least one of the inside and outside surfaces of an elongate, generally helical shaped, rectangular cross-section metal work piece which is to partially encircle a toroid in both the poloidal and toroidal directions when finished, the method comprising the steps of:
- supporting the work piece with the one surface unobstructed;
- moving the work piece in the toroidal direction;
- and
- cutting the entire unobstructed surface of the work piece in the poloidal direction while the work piece is moving in the toroidal direction.
A method for machining the surfaces of an elongate, generally helical shaped, rectangular cross-section metal work piece which is to partially encircle a toroid in both the poloidal and toroidal direction when finished, the work piece having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a pair of opposite side surfaces, the method comprising the step of:
- supporting the work piece with its inside surface unobstructed;
- moving the work piece in the toroidal direction;
- cutting the entire inside surface of the work piece in the poloidal direction while the work piece is moving in the toroidal direction;
- supporting the work piece with its outside surface unobstructed;
- moving the work piece in the toroidal direction;
- and
- cutting the entire outside surface of the work piece in the poloidal direction while the work piece is moving in the toroidal direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.