# US 11,752,622 B2 · Extension tool having a plurality of links > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,752,622 B2 - Document ID: US11752622B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/750,665 - Filed: 2020-01-23 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2023-09-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-23 - Assignees: General Electric Company; Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited - Applicants: General Electric Company; Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited - Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham; Tim Henri Ann Francois; Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock; Michael Robert Millhaem - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11752622B2 ## CPC - B25J 9/106: {with articulated links} - F01D 25/285: {Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures} - B25F 5/005: {Hydraulic driving means} - B25J 9/06: characterised by multi-articulated arms - B25J 9/1045: {comprising tensioning means} - B25J 9/14: fluid - B25J 18/02: extensible - B25J 18/06: flexible - F23R 3/00: Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel - F01D 25/002: {Cleaning of turbomachines} - F01D 25/007: {Preventing corrosion} - F05D 2230/80: Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods - F05D 2230/90: Coating; Surface treatment - F05D 2260/83: Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor - F05D 2260/95: Preventing corrosion - F23R 2900/00004: Preventing formation of deposits on surfaces of gas turbine components, e.g. coke deposits - F23R 2900/00019: Repairing or maintaining combustion chamber liners or subparts - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - F23R: GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS (fluidised bed combustion apparatus specially adapted for operation at superatmospheric pressures F23C10/16) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An extension tool includes a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extension tool comprising: a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another, wherein a first link of the plurality of sequentially arranged links includes a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall of the first link defines in part the first passage, wherein the second wall of the first link defines in part the second passage, and wherein the second wall is coupled to the first wall through one or more point contacts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, further comprising: a line assembly, wherein the line assembly is operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, wherein the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another when in the tensioned position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the second passage is substantially fluidly isolated from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the first passage is an inner passage, wherein the second passage is an outer passage, wherein the inner passage is positioned inward from the outer passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the first passage is a first fluid flow passage, wherein the second passage is a second fluid flow passage, and wherein the extension tool further comprises: a first fluid flow device fluidly coupled to the first fluid flow passage, the second fluid flow passage, or both. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The extension tool of claim 5, wherein the first fluid flow device is fluidly coupled to the first fluid flow passage, and wherein the extension tool further comprises: a second fluid flow device fluidly coupled to the second fluid flow passage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The extension tool of claim 6, wherein the first fluid flow device comprises a first pressurized fluid source for providing a first pressurized fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The extension tool of claim 7, wherein the second fluid flow device comprises a second pressurized fluid source for providing a second pressurized fluid flow through the second fluid flow passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The extension tool of claim 8, wherein the second fluid flow device comprises a fluid pump for urging a second pressurized fluid flow from the second fluid flow passage in a direction opposite of the first pressurized fluid flow. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the first wall is an inner wall, wherein the second wall is an outer wall, and wherein the outer wall completely surrounds the inner wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, further comprising: a line assembly, wherein the line assembly operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, wherein the second wall comprises a plurality of line guides, wherein the line assembly comprises a plurality of lines, and wherein each line of the plurality of lines of the line assembly extends through a respective line guide of the plurality of line guides. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The extension tool of claim 11, wherein the plurality of line guides of the second wall are positioned on an interior of the second wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The extension tool of claim 1, wherein the first wall is an inner wall, wherein the second wall is an outer wall, and wherein the inner wall is connected to the outer wall through one or more point contacts. ### Claim 14 A method for operating a selectively flexible extension tool comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first fluid flow passage and a second fluid flow passage, the method comprising: providing a first fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage; and providing a second fluid flow through the second fluid flow passage, the second fluid flow passage being separate from the first fluid flow passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are joined together, wherein providing the first fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage comprises providing a first heated fluid flow through the first fluid flow passage at a first starting temperature, wherein providing the second fluid flow through the second fluid flow passage comprises providing a second heated fluid flow through the second fluid flow passage at a second starting temperature, and wherein the first starting temperature is greater than the second starting temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second fluid flow passage is separate from the first fluid flow passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are joined together by being moved to a tensioned position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second fluid flow passage is substantially fluidly isolated from the first fluid flow passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are joined together by being moved to a tensioned position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the selectively flexible extension tool further comprises a line assembly and a plurality of sequentially arranged links, wherein the line assembly is operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, wherein the second fluid flow is a second heated flow, and wherein providing the second fluid flow through a second fluid passage comprises providing the second heated flow at the second starting temperature such that a plurality of lines of the line assembly thermally expand substantially the same amount as the plurality of sequentially arranged links. ### Claim 18 An extension tool comprising: a plurality of sequentially arranged links moveable to a first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links rigidly fixed to one another in the first position, the plurality of sequentially arranged links defining a first passage and a second passage, the second passage being separate from the first passage when the plurality of sequentially arranged links are rigidly fixed to one another; and a line assembly, wherein the line assembly is operable with the plurality of sequentially arranged links to move the plurality of sequentially arranged links between a slacked position and a tensioned position, the line assembly comprising a first line extending along a length of the plurality of sequentially arranged links to a distal end of the plurality of sequentially arranged links; a second line also extending along a length of the plurality of sequentially arranged links to the distal end of the plurality of sequentially arranged links, the first line being integral with the second line at the distal end; and an attachment feature attached to the first line, the second line, or both.