EP0074147A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An apparatus and a method for uniformly moving an electric cable and a measuring unit connected thereto in the interior of a tubing circuit section
Assignee: Nucon Engineering & Contracting Bv
•
Filing: 1982-09-03
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-09-03
Abstract
Abstract There Is disclosed a method and apparatus for uniformly transferring an electric cable together with a measuring device connected thereto, through a tubing circuit included for instance in a steam generator. The apparatus comprises a plurality of support units each adapted for coaxially supporting the cable in the tubing circuit. Each unit includes two coaxially disposed deformable sealing ridges which act axially spaced relative to each other. When unilateral pressure is applied to the support units, they are moved through the tubing circuit together with the cable and measuring device. Due to the applied pressure, the front ridge of each one of said support units is deformed in such a manner that its circumferential portion is brought in spaced relation relative to the inner wall of the tubing circuit, thereby assuring an unimpeded progress of the respective support unit and cable attached thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Versluis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/28; F16L55/30; F16L55/38; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/30; F16L2101/40; G; G01; G01N; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A movable supporting element serving for advancing a cable and/or holder attached thereto in the interior of a tube or tubing circuit section, characterized by a set of coaxially and axially spaced apart sealing ridges made of resiliently deformable material, which are dimensioned in such a way that even in deformed conditiontheymovably fit in the respective tube in liquid-tight sealing relationship, while a thrust acting both in the one axial direction and in the opposite axial direction can be taken up and converted into a movement of the cable and/or holder connected thereto in a direction defined by the direction of the respective thrust; and control means which, in response to a control pressure exerted thereon, effect that the outer circumference of that of the sealing ridges which is the leading one with the required direction of advance, is reduced in such a way that an unimpeded progress of the movable supporting element is ensured.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A movable supporting element serving for advancing a cable and/or holder attached thereto in the interior of a tube or tubing circuit section, characterized by a set of coaxially and axially spaced apart sealing ridges made of resiliently deformable material, which are dimensioned in such a way that even in deformed conditiontheymovably fit in the respective tube in liquid-tight sealing relationship, while a thrust acting both in the one axial direction and in the opposite axial direction can be taken up and converted into a movement of the cable and/or holder connected thereto in a direction defined by the direction of the respective thrust; and control means which, in response to a control pressure exerted thereon, effect that the outer circumference of that of the sealing ridges which is the leading one with the required direction of advance, is reduced in such a way that an unimpeded progress of the movable supporting element is ensured.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A movable supporting element according to claim 1, characterized by a substantially cylindrical slide which is slidable with respect to the sealing ridges in both axial directions, as well as being responsive both to a pressure acting in the one and in the other axial direction, both as thrust, and as control pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A movable supporting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing ridges extend about a housing provided with a first axially extensible pressure chamber, which is in communication with a first control pressure pipe,and a second pressure chamber shifted axially relative to the first pressure chamber and insulated therefrom, which is extensible in an axial direction opposite to the first mentioned axial direction, as well as being in communication with a second control pressure pipe insulated from the first pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A movable supporting section composed of two movable supporting elements according to any one of claims 1-3, said movable supporting elements being interconnected by a coaxial hollow tube of flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A movable supporting section according to claim 4, characterized in that the hollow tube is provided with one or more substantially spherical thickenings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric cable attached to various specimens of a movable supporting section as described in any one of claims 4 or 5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electric cable according to claim 6,characterized in that the length of a movable supporting section each time is about 20-50 times smaller than the length of the cable present between successive movable supporting sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of advancing a cable as defined in any one of claim 6 or 7 in a tubing circuit section, characterized in that between the successive moving supporting elements liquid columns are built up and from one end of the tubing circuit section.a thrust is exerted on the assembly contained therein of movable supporting elements, liquid columns and cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A method of advancing a cable as defined in any one of claim 6 or 7, in a tubing circuit section of a tube assembly comprising an accessible. collecting head being in communication with various tubing circuits connected thereto in parallel relationship, while the following steps are carried out: a) the said cable is applied in its entirety in a pressure chamber being in communication with a tubing circuit section to be inspected; b) the said pressure chamber, the collecting head,-as well as the tubing assembly are-entirely filled with a liquid; c) a thrust is exerted on the liquid present in the pressure chamber, while the liquid forced out of said-pressure chamber is conducted via a separate circuit to the tubing circuit section to be inspected; and simultaneously with step c) d) the interior of the collecting head, in so far it is external relative to the said separate circuit, is brought in communication with a liquid discharge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method of removing a cable as defined in any one of claims 6 or 7, which, through application of the method according to claim 8, has been introduced in a tubing circuit section to be inspected from such a tubing circuit section, while the following steps are carried out: a) the thrust exerted on the liquid present in said pressure chamber is removed; b) said pressure chamber is brought in communication with a liquid discharge;and c) thrust is exerted on the liquid present in the collecting head in so far this is present outside the said separate circuit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for applying the method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized by a first pressure vessel having a cable drum mounted therein for rotation, a guide tube being in communication with the interior of the pressure vessel, the free end of said tube being provided with a hydraulic clutch through which said guide tube can be connected to the tubing circuit section to be inspected and terminating in the collecting head; and a second pressure vessel being in communication with the interior of the collecting head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.