Tool for brushing circumferential welds in restricted access areas
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorFrank Ortega
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool assembly provides for brushing circumferential welds in a restrictive access area between a cylindrical inner member and a cylindrical outer member such as the shroud and vessel in a nuclear reactor. The tool assembly includes a circumferential plate sized larger than an outside diameter of the inner member and smaller than an inside diameter of the outer member. At least one renew brush is coupled with the circumferential plate, and a motor is coupled with the renew brush that rotates the renew brush. A driving assembly mounted between the inner member and the outer member engages the circumferential plate and circumferentially drives the circumferential plate in the restrictive access area.
Claims12
A tool assembly for brushing circumferential welds in a restrictive access area between a cylindrical inner member and a cylindrical outer member, the tool assembly comprising:
- a circumferential plate sized larger than an outside diameter of the inner member and smaller than an inside diameter of the outer member;
- at least one renew brush coupled with the circumferential plate;
- a motor coupled with the renew brush and rotating the renew brush;
- and
- a driving assembly mounted between the inner member and the outer member and engaging the circumferential plate, the driving assembly circumferentially driving the circumferential plate in the restrictive access area.
A method of surface conditioning a cylindrical metal structure to mitigate susceptibility to crack initiation or growth on a weld due to tensile surface stresses, the method comprising:
- providing a circumferential plate sized to fit adjacent one of an outside diameter of the cylindrical metal structure or an inside diameter of the cylindrical metal structure;
- coupling at least one renew brush with the circumferential plate;
- and
- rotating the renew brush while circumferentially driving the circumferential plate.
A tool assembly for brushing circumferential welds in an annulus between a vessel inside diameter and a shroud outside diameter in a nuclear reactor, the tool assembly comprising:
- a circumferential plate sized larger than the shroud outside diameter smaller than the vessel inside diameter;
- at least one renew brush coupled with the circumferential plate;
- a motor coupled with the renew brush and rotating the renew brush;
- and
- a driving assembly mounted between the shroud and the vessel and engaging the circumferential plate, the driving assembly circumferentially driving the circumferential plate and thereby the at least one renew brush in the annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.