US4661309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Equipment transporter for nuclear steam generator
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1984-02-13
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Granted: 1987-04-28
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Expires: 2004-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A motorized transporter is placed at the periphery of the tube bundle which extends up from the tube sheet within a nuclear steam generator shell. The transporter can be separated into parts as required to move it into and out of the limited space between the tube bundle and inside wall of the generator. A control station external the generator is connected by flexible cables to the transporter and its equipment in order to move the transporter, observe the transporter path for foreign objects, and retrieve such objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence R. Hayes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:37
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J5/00; B25J5/007; F; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/002; G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/003; G21C17/013; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A transporter for use in a steam generator of a nuclear power installation wherein the generator is essentially a heat exchanger having a vertically extended shell and across the lower portion of which extends a horizontal tube sheet having an upper surface and supporting a bundle of vertically extending tubes forming a limited annular space with the inside of the shell wall and said upper surface, and an opening of limited dimensions through the shell wall to gain manual access to the limited annular space, said transporter having means for locating and removing solid debris from the upper surface of the tube sheet in said annular space and having a means for assembly and disassembly of the transporter in order that it may be manually passed through the shell opening to and from a position on the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, said transporter including: a body, at least three wheels mounted on the body for engaging the upper surface of the tube sheet, a first motor mounted on the body drivingly connected to the wheels for moving the transporter along the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, a remotely operated means on the body for locating solid debris on the upper surface of the tube sheet as the transporter is moved over the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, and means for securing and removing solid debris on the upper surface of the tube sheet located by the means for locating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A transporter for use in a steam generator of a nuclear power installation wherein the generator is essentially a heat exchanger having a vertically extended shell and across the lower portion of which extends a horizontal tube sheet having an upper surface and supporting a bundle of vertically extending tubes forming a limited annular space with the inside of the shell wall and said upper surface, and an opening of limited dimensions through the shell wall to gain manual access to the limited annular space, said transporter having means for locating and removing solid debris from the upper surface of the tube sheet in said annular space and having a means for assembly and disassembly of the transporter in order that it may be manually passed through the shell opening to and from a position on the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, said transporter including: a body, at least three wheels mounted on the body for engaging the upper surface of the tube sheet, a first motor mounted on the body drivingly connected to the wheels for moving the transporter along the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, a remotely operated means on the body for locating solid debris on the upper surface of the tube sheet as the transporter is moved over the upper surface of the tube sheet in the annular space, and means for securing and removing solid debris on the upper surface of the tube sheet located by the means for locating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transporter of claim 1, which includes a flexible cable extending through the shell opening by which power is supplied to the transporter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The transporter of claim 1 which includes a lower platform body portion on which the wheels and first motor are mounted and a camera as the means for locating, an upper platform body portion keyed to the lower platform body portion for assembly and disassembly, and mounting means on the front of the upper platform body portion for camera and retrieval apparatus to be separately moved in the locating and retrieval functions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The transporter of claim 3, which includes a second motor drivingly connected to the camera to tilt the camera in a vertical plane to perform its locating function, and, third and fourth motors drivingly connected to the retrieval apparatus to move the apparatus horizontally and vertically to secure and remove any solid debris located by the camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
A transporter for mounting working tools with which to remove solid debris from a nuclear steam generator, including, a lower platform on which to mount wheels drivingly connected to a first motor by which the transporter is moved in a limited annular space between a bundle of heat exchange tubes and the inside wall of the steam generator, an upper platform and means for mounting said upper platform in a manner permitting said upper platform to be readily removable from the lower platform, a work station mounted on the upper platform to which is mounted a T.V. camera and a tool mounted extending forward of the transporter in order to control and manipulate any solid debris viewed through the camera, a second motor drivingly connected to the T.V. camera to tilt the camera in a vertical plane, a third motor drivingly connected to the work station with which to move the work station in a horizontal plane, and means on the work station to removably mount a retrieval tool for removing solid debris from the path of the transporter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
A transporter for mounting working tools with which to remove solid debris from a nuclear steam generator, including, a lower platform on which to mount wheels drivingly connected to a first motor by which the transporter is moved in a limited annular space between a bundle of heat exchange tubes and the inside wall of the steam generator, an upper platform and means for mounting said upper platform in a manner permitting said upper platform to be readily removable from the lower platform, a work station mounted on the upper platform to which is mounted a T.V. camera and a tool mounted extending forward of the transporter in order to control and manipulate any solid debris viewed through the camera, a second motor drivingly connected to the T.V. camera to tilt the camera in a vertical plane, a third motor drivingly connected to the work station with which to move the work station in a horizontal plane, and means on the work station to removably mount a retrieval tool for removing solid debris from the path of the transporter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transporter of claim 5 which includes a fourth motor drivingly connected to move the work station in a vertical plane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |