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US 10,706,976 B2Granted
Assembly for acting on the outer surface of a tube, and corresponding method
AssigneeAreva Np
InventorsEmmanuel Futin, Olivier Berne, Daniel Grypczynski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for acting on the outer surface of a tube, and corresponding method are provided. The assembly includes a carrier; at least one inspection or maintenance tool; the carrier includes at least one rolling body; an actuator. The carrier further includes a device for connecting the carrier to the tube, arranged so that the tube absorbs at least 50% of the weight of the carrier and the tool.
Claims17
An assembly for acting on an outer surface of a tube, the assembly comprising:
- a carrier movable along the tube;
- at least one inspection or maintenance tool, connected to the carrier;
- the carrier comprising:
- at least one rolling body, placed in contact with the outer surface of the tube;
- an actuator, arranged to rotate the rolling body relative to the tube, so as to propel the carrier along the tube by cooperation between the rolling body and the outer surface of the tube;
- and
- a connector for connecting the carrier to the tube, arranged so that the tube absorbs at least 50% of the weight of the carrier and the tool,
- wherein the carrier comprises a chassis to which the at least one rolling body is connected, the connector comprising at least one roller connected to the chassis, arranged so as to pinch the tube between the at least one roller and the at least one rolling body with a predetermined force,
- wherein the at least one rolling body has a nonslip coating, the nonslip coating, the predetermined force and a maximum motor torque that is transmittable by the actuator to the at least one rolling body being chosen so that the carrier and the tool can be kept immobile around a vertical tube segment.
6 more elements
An assembly for acting on an outer surface of a tube, the assembly comprising:
- a carrier movable along the tube;
- at least one inspection or maintenance tool, connected to the carrier;
- the carrier comprising:
- at least one rolling body, placed in contact with the outer surface of the tube;
- an actuator, arranged to rotate the rolling body relative to the tube, so as to propel the carrier along the tube by cooperation between the rolling body and the outer surface of the tube;
- and
- a connector for connecting the carrier to the tube, arranged so that the tube absorbs at least 50% of the weight of the carrier and the tool,
- wherein the carrier comprises a coder configured for determining a current position of the carrier along the tube.
5 more elements
An assembly for acting on an outer surface of a tube, the assembly comprising:
- a carrier movable along the tube;
- at least one inspection or maintenance tool, connected to the carrier;
- the carrier comprising:
- at least one rolling body, placed in contact with the outer surface of the tube;
- an actuator, arranged to rotate the rolling body relative to the tube, so as to propel the carrier along the tube by cooperation between the rolling body and the outer surface of the tube;
- and
- a connector for connecting the carrier to the tube, arranged so that the tube absorbs at least 50% of the weight of the carrier and the tool,
- wherein the at least one tool includes a machining tool including at least one machining device configured to machine the outer surface of the tube,
- wherein the machining tool includes:
- a frame;
- a plurality of guide rollers connected to the frame, arranged to cooperate with the tube such that the machining tool is supported by the tube and is configured to move along the tube;
- a carriage carrying the machining devices;
- a connection of the carriage to the frame, arranged so that the carriage is translatable longitudinally relative to the frame along the tube and circumferentially rotatable around the tube.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.