Patent US2556200A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3913752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remotely movable platform
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-01
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A remotely movable carriage is described. The carriage finds particular utility in serving as a mobile platform from which remotely initiated and controlled inspection and work operations might be performed on the tubes in a nuclear steam generator. The carriage includes a stepping mechanism which interacts with a member, such as a tube sheet, relative to which the carriage moves in generally parallel relationship. The stepping mechanism may employ selectively extensible fingers for lateral engagement with openings in the member. Some of the fingers may be movable transversely of their longitudinal extent in a linear direction, relative to the remainder of the carriage, to effect a ''''stepping'''' of the carriage.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Theodore Ward
- 👤 Donald Lee Mathis
- 👤 Frank Taylor Radcliff
- 👤 Eugene Ranger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:49
CPC Classifications
F; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/002; F22B37/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A carriage for remotely controlled travel laterally of the surface of a member having a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending openings in said surface thereof, comprising: a. a base; b. a stepping mechanism for said base including at least two substantially parallel fingers connected to said base and extending outward therefrom and being reciprocably movable in a first direction between extended and retracted positions relative to said base and sized for insertion in said member openings and at least one said finger being linearly movable relative to said base a predetermined extent and in a second direction extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal extent of said finger to step said base; c. means for supporting said base proximate said surface of said member to allow insertion of said fingers in said openings in their said extended positions and to prevent said insertion in said retracted position; d. first remotely actuable means for selectively extending and retracting each said finger; e. second remotely actuable means for linearly moving said at least one finger relative to said base in a said second direction extending in said plane substantially normal to said finger; and f. means for controlling actuation of said first and said second remotely actuable means, whereby said relative motion in said second direction between said at least one finger and said base acts to advance said base laterally relative to said member when said at least one finger is extended into said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A carriage for remotely controlled travel laterally of the surface of a member having a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending openings in said surface thereof, comprising: a. a base; b. a stepping mechanism for said base including at least two substantially parallel fingers connected to said base and extending outward therefrom and being reciprocably movable in a first direction between extended and retracted positions relative to said base and sized for insertion in said member openings and at least one said finger being linearly movable relative to said base a predetermined extent and in a second direction extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal extent of said finger to step said base; c. means for supporting said base proximate said surface of said member to allow insertion of said fingers in said openings in their said extended positions and to prevent said insertion in said retracted position; d. first remotely actuable means for selectively extending and retracting each said finger; e. second remotely actuable means for linearly moving said at least one finger relative to said base in a said second direction extending in said plane substantially normal to said finger; and f. means for controlling actuation of said first and said second remotely actuable means, whereby said relative motion in said second direction between said at least one finger and said base acts to advance said base laterally relative to said member when said at least one finger is extended into said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein two of said at least two fingers are linearly movable relative to said base each in a different said second direction, said different said second directions intersecting one another at a particular angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said member has plural holes, said holes being laterally aligned in rows extending in two directions intersecting one another at a particular angle, and said particular angle between said different said second directions of movement of said two fingers is the same as made by said aligned rows of holes intersecting one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means include a slider connected with said base in reciprocable moving relationship therewith, and selectively actuable means for reciprocably moving said slider relative to said base, and said at least one finger is connected to said slider.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second means include two sliders each movably connected with said base and reciprocable relative thereto, one in said second direction and thE other in the other said second direction and selectively actuable means for independently reciprocably moving each said slider relative to said base; at least one finger is connected to each said slider; and said control means are operative to actuate said moving means associated with a slider movable in one said second direction independently of said moving means associated with a slider movable in the other said second direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fingers are at least four in number, said fingers being divided functionally into two groups comprising each at least two different fingers having a lateral spacing therebetween corresponding to that between two said member openings and being movable relative to said base in a said second direction; and said control means are operative to actuate said first means associated with the fingers of one said group independently of said first means associated with the fingers of said other group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fingers include means therewith for retainedly engaging the surface of said opening when inserted thereinto, whereby to supportingly connect said carriage with said member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said opening surface engaging means include means for frictionally engaging the surface of said openings, said means being laterally extensible into and retractable from retained engagement with said surface; third remotely actuable means for selectively laterally extending and retracting said surface engaging means are operatively connected therwith; and said control means are operative to control actuation of said third means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2136255A
Cited
US3811320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |