Patent Number: 062018469
Section: claims

1. A method of jacketing a cylindrical body of uranium within an aluminum cylindrical jacket having a cup-shaped body having an open mouth at one end and a plug cap effecting closure at said end comprising the following steps: inserting the cup-shaped aluminum body into a tightly fitting cup-shaped steel sleeve coterminous therewith; flaring slightly the mouth of said cup-shaped body to seal the mouth of the body against the mouth of the sleeve by pressing a metal ball of larger diameter than said bodies into the concentric mouths and thereafter removing the ball; immersing said assembly in a molten bonding bath of aluminum silicon having a silicon content of 11.2 to 11.5 percent at 590-596.degree. C., allowing the aluminum body to fill with molten bonding material; dipping the uranium into the bonding bath; inserting the uranium into the open end of said assembly while under the surface of the bonding bath; inserting the plug cap in the open end of the assembly while under the surface of the bonding bath; removing the complete assembly from the bonding bath; quenching in cold water; and removing the sleeve. 2. A method of jacketing a cylindrical body of fissionable material within a cylindrical aluminum jacket having a cup-shaped body having an open mouth at one end and a plug cap effecting closure at said end comprising the following steps: inserting the cup-shaped body into a tightly fitting cup-shaped sleeve coterminous therewith; flaring slightly the mouth of said cup-shaped body to seal the mouth of the body against the mouth of the sleeve by pressing a metal ball of larger diameter than said bodies into the concentric mouths and thereafter removing the ball; completely submerging said assembly in a molten bonding bath consisting of an alloy of aluminum and silicon, allowing the inner body to fill with molten bonding material; dipping the fissionable body into the bonding bath; inserting the fissionable body into the open end of said assembly while under the surface of the bonding bath; inserting the plug cap in the open end of the assembly while under the surface of the bonding bath; removing the complete assembly from the boding bath; quenching in cold water; and removing the sleeve. 3. A method of jacketing a body of fissionable material within a nonfissionable jacket having a cup-shaped body open at one end and a cap effecting closure at said end comprising the following steps: inserting the cup-shaped body into a tightly fitting cup-shaped sleeve; completely submerging said assembly in a bonding bath of a molten metallic bonding material, allowing the inner body to fill with molten bonding material; dipping the fissionable body into the bonding bath; inserting the fissionable body into the open end of said assembly while under the surface of the bonding bath; closing the open end of the assembly with the cap while under the surface of the bonding bath; removing the complete assembly from the bonding bath; quenching in cold water; and removing the sleeve. 4. In a process of jacketing a body of uranium within, and bonding said body to, an aluminum jacket, the steps of completely submerging the body and the jacket in a bath of molten bonding material consisting of an aluminum-silicon alloy having a silicon content of 11.2 to 11.5 percent at a temperature of 590-596.degree. C., inserting the uranium body into the aluminum jacket, both of said elements being so submerged during substantially all of said insertion, withdrawing the assembly so made from the bath, and solidifying the molten bonding material. 5. In a process of jacketing a body of uranium within, and bonding said body to, an aluminum jacket, the steps of completely submerging the jacket and the body in a bath of molten bonding material consisting of an aluminum-silicon alloy, withdrawing the uranium body from the bath, substantially simultaneously withdrawing a small opening portion of the jacket from the bath to permit viewing thereof, immediately inserting a small portion of the end of the body into said opening, immediately thereafter completely submerging said body and jacket and completing the insertion of the body into the jacket, withdrawing the assembly so made from the bath, and solidifying the molten bonding material. 6. A method of jacketing a body of fissionable material within an aluminum jacket comprising the following steps: completely submerging a jacket, enclosed in a tightly fitting sleeve, the jacket having a flange sealing any clearance between the jacket and the sleeve, in a molten bath consisting of an alloy of aluminum and silicon; inserting the fissionable body into the jacket, said fissionable body and jacket being under the surface of the bath during substantially all of said insertion; removing the assembly from the bonding bath; solidifying the molten bonding material; and removing said sleeve.