EP0138607A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual inspection system for radioactive fuel assemblies using fibreoptics
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-10-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A visual inspection system is described for remotely inspecting radioactive nuclear fuel assemblies under water using fiberoptic technology. The system is provided in an underwater environment in a spent fuel pool and includes a radiation resist- antfiberscope/closed circuit television camera system coupled to a three axes manipulator system. The fiberscope includes a radiation resistant fiberoptic image guide having a core manufactured of ultrapure silicon dioxide material so as to minimize transmission losses. The system provides the capability of performing visual inspection of the interior of radioactive nuclear fuel assemblies having channels formed between adjacent fuel elements as small as 1.75 mm (0.070 inches). The fuel elements to be visually inspected are illuminated by a laser coupled to a fiberoptic light guide arranged adjacent to the fiberoptic image guide.
Inventors
- 👤 William Earl King
- 👤 Lawrence George Healy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:55
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/06; G21C17/08; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2476; G02B23/2492; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
. 1. Apparatus for the remote visual inspection of a radioactive underwater object in an underwater environment, said apparatus comprising a fiberoptic image guide for transmitting an image of preselected portions of said object to be visually inspected, a light source for emitting light, light transmitting means for transmitting said light emitted from said light source to said preselected portions of said object, and receiving means arranged in said underwater environment for receiving said image transmitted by said fiberoptic image guide and for displaying said image at a remote location without said underwater environment and remote from said fiberoptic image guide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light transmitting means comprises a fiberoptic light guide arranged adjacent said fiberoptic image guide for transmitting said light to said preselected portions of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said radioactive object comprises a nuclear fuel assembly having a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes between which said fiberoptic image guide and said fiberoptic light guide are positioned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further including positioning means arranged in said underwater environment for positioning one end of said fiberoptic image guide and said fiberoptic light guide at a plurality of said preselected portions along three mutually perpendicular axes of said radioactive object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further including locating means arranged in said underwater environment and movably supported by said positioning means for visually locating said one end of said fiberoptic image guide and said fiberoptic light guide with respect to said preselected portions of said radioactive object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said fiberoptic image guide and said fiberoptic light guide arranged adjacent to each other is a figure 8-shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including a second fiberoptic light guide arranged adjacent said fiberoptic image guide, wherein said guides in cross-section have their longitudinal axes arranged along a straight line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fiberoptic image guide and said fiberoptic light guide comprise silicon dioxide material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the purity of said silicon dioxide material is sufficient to allow said guides to withstand a radiation flux of greater than about 10 4 rads per hour such that said guides retain greater than about 50% light transmission.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the purity of said silicon dioxide material is sufficient to allow said guides to withstand an accumulated radiation dosage of greater than about 10 4 rads such that said guides retain greater than about 50% light transmission.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including focusing and enlarging means arranged between said fiberoptic image guide and said receiving means for focusing and enlarging said image within said receiving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said receiving means includes monitoring means for visually monitoring said images focused and enlarged within said receiving means, said monitoring means being positioned without said underwater environment and remote from said fiberoptic image guide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said focusing and enlarging means comprises an adapter having a lens movably mounted along the longitudinal axis thereof for focusing and enlarging within said receiving means said image transmitted by said fiberoptic image guide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adapter comprises a body having one end mounted to said receiving means and its other end attached to said fiberoptic image guide, a plurality of slotted openings circumferentially arranged about said body, an internally threaded cylinder concentrically overlying said slotted openings, and a plurality of threaded guides engaging said threaded cylinder through said slotted openings and retaining said lens therebetween, whereby the rotation of said threaded cylinder about said body causes said lens to advance along the longitudinal axis of said adapter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adapter is eccentrically mounted to said receiving means for centering said image within said receiving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said receiving means comprises a television camera.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a laser arranged in said underwater environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said laser emits light having a wavelength in the range of about from 0.3 to 0.9 micrometers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a lens and prism in combination arranged adjacent one end of said fiberoptic image guide for focusing said image of said preselected portions thereat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the face of one end of said fiberoptic image guide is arranged at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of said guide for focusing said image of said preselected portions thereat.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fiberoptic image guide comprises a plurality of individual fibers arranged in a bundle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said individual fibers are arranged in a coherent bundle whereby an x-y position of one end of each of said fibers are at the same x-y position at their other end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said individual fibers have a numerical aperture of about 0.2.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said individual fibers include a core having a diameter in the range of about 5 to 30 microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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