Device for inspection and/or repair of the tubes of a steam generator for nuclear reactors

{
  "publication_number": "US4673027A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Device for inspection and/or repair of the tubes of a steam generator for nuclear reactors",
  "abstract": "Device for inspection and repair of tubes of a nuclear reactor steam generator in a tube bundle being disposed in a tube sheet and opening into at least one chamber having an opening formed therein, including a manipulator being insertible in the chamber through the opening and being lockable to the tube sheet for carrying remotely controlled and monitored inspection instruments and tools, the manipulator including a support leg being adjustable in length in the axial direction, a main arm being connected to and movable relative to the support leg, and an equipment carrier being connected to the main arm and movable relative to and together with the main arm, and a mounting rod being connectible to and detachable from the manipulator.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Device for inspection of a nuclear reactor steam generator having at least one chamber wherein a tube bundle held in a tube sheet terminates, the chamber being formed with an opening to the interior thereof and having a bottom spaced from the tube sheets, comprising a manipulator insertible through the opening into the chamber, said manipulator being formed of two separate parts, one of said parts being a support leg and having means for adjusting said support leg in length in axial direction thereof and for extending said support leg between the bottom of the chamber and the tube sheet, and the other of said parts being an arm and having means for connecting said arm at an end thereof to said support leg so as to be movable relative thereto and so as to extend parallel to the tube sheet, an equipment carrier connected to and movable together with said arm, and means for rotating said equipment carrier relative to said arm via a drive element, each of said parts being separately insertible into the chamber and having respective means for coupling said parts to one another, said support leg carrying a combined lifting and rotation drive having means for vertically and rotatingly displacing said arm relative to said support leg, said support leg and said arm having respective swivel joints formed with means for detachably connecting a respective mounting rod to said support leg and said arm for manually assembling the manipulator.",
    "2. Device according to claim 1 including a track having means for guiding said arm between the opening of the chamber and said support leg during coupling of said arm and said support leg.",
    "3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said support leg has a telescopic construction.",
    "4. Device according to claim 1 including a plug-in coupler having means for detachably connecting said mounting rod to the respective swivel joint.",
    "5. Device according to claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said arm and said support leg to one another are integrated in said combined lifting and rotation drive."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a device for inspection and/or repair of the tubes of a steam generator for nuclear reactors which has at least one chamber, wherein a bundle of tubes set in a tube sheet open into the chamber, and a manipulator which carries remotely controlled and monitored inspection instruments and/or tools and can be locked to the tube sheet, and can be brought in through an opening in the steam generator. The numerous tubes which are disposed inside a steam generator for nuclear power stations, must be checked at certain time intervals. To this end, eddy current probes, for instance, are introduced into the tubes from a steam generator chamber to obtain information regarding damage. The ends of the tube bundle open into the chamber through a tube sheet. Damaged tubes can then likewise be repaired or closed off by plugs from the steam generator chamber. To support the probes or tools and for positioning them, manipulators which are disposed inside the steam generator chamber are necessary. Since in nuclear power plants, the steam generator chamber is a zone of dangerous radioactivity, the manipulator should be constructed in such a way that no personnel need climb into this danger zone to bring the manipulator into or out of the steam generator chamber.\n\nSuch a manipulator is known from German Published, Non-Prosecuted Application DE-OS No. 28 26 106. The manipulator is held by spreading mandrels which extend into the tube ends. If a motion step is to be executed, a part of the spreading mandrels is removed, an arm of the manipulator is advanced one step and the spreading mandrels are reinserted.",
  "cpc": [
    "F22B 37/005",
    "B25J 5/00",
    "Y10S 165/003"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 11/00",
    "B25J 5/00",
    "F22B 1/06",
    "F22B 37/00",
    "F22B 37/02",
    "G01N 27/82",
    "G01N 29/00",
    "G01N 29/04",
    "G21C 17/003",
    "G21D 1/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BBC REAKTOR GMBH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "VERMAAT HUIBRECHT P"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1982-06-07",
  "publication_date": "1987-06-16",
  "grant_date": "1987-06-16",
  "priority_date": "1981-06-06",
  "application_number": "US-38592282-A",
  "family_id": "6134172",
  "citations": [
    "DE2852821B1",
    "US3913752A",
    "US3964293A",
    "US4205939A",
    "US4205940A",
    "US4212583A",
    "US4216893A",
    "US4302146A",
    "US4363592A",
    "US4425296A",
    "US4438805A"
  ]
}