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US 12,573,513 B2Granted
Process and tools to perform reactor pressure vessel nozzle expansion mitigating primary coolant leakage
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorKenneth A. Wandrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nozzle expansion tool includes a frame with a drive system on the frame. A rotary mandrel is drivingly connected to the drive system and is engageable with an expansion roller device. A plurality of vacuum cups are mounted to the frame and each include a vacuum fitting adapted to be connected to a vacuum source. A depth adjustment mechanism is connected to the expansion roller device and is configured to adjust a distance that the expansion roller device extends from the frame.
Claims15
A nozzle expansion tool, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive system on the frame;
- a rotary mandrel drivingly connected to the drive system;
- an expansion roller device engageable by the rotary mandrel;
- a first plurality of vacuum cups mounted to a front end of the frame and each including a vacuum fitting configured to connect to a vacuum source;
- and
- an additional vacuum cup supported by an extension system that is extendable and retractable relative to the first plurality of vacuum cups, the additional vacuum cup including a vacuum fitting configured to connect to the vacuum source.
4 more elements
A nozzle expansion tool, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive system on the frame;
- a rotary mandrel drivingly connected to the drive system;
- an expansion roller device extending from the frame and engageable by the rotary mandrel;
- and
- a depth adjustment mechanism connected to the expansion roller device and configured to adjust a distance that the expansion roller device extends from the frame, wherein the depth adjustment mechanism includes a mandrel support housing rotatably supporting the mandrel and axially movable relative to the frame, wherein the depth adjustment mechanism includes a linkage system adjustable by a threaded rod to extend and retract a position of the mandrel support housing relative to the frame.
3 more elements
A nozzle expansion tool, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive system on the frame;
- a rotary mandrel drivingly connected to the drive system;
- an expansion roller device extending from the frame and engageable by the rotary mandrel, the expansion roller device including an expansion head supporting a plurality of expansion rollers, wherein the rotary mandrel includes a tapered exterior surface that engages the plurality of expansion rollers;
- a depth adjustment mechanism connected to the expansion roller device and configured to adjust a distance that the expansion roller device extends from the frame, wherein the drive system is supported by a support structure that is movable in a fore and aft direction relative to the frame;
- and
- a plurality of vacuum cups mounted to the frame and each including a vacuum fitting configured to connect to a vacuum source and an additional vacuum cup supported by an extension system that is extendable and retractable relative to a forward end of the frame.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.