Test system carrier for ultrasonic testing of nozzle seams, pipe connection seams and nozzle corners in pressure vessels, particularly reactor pressure vessels of nuclear power plants

Test system carrier for ultrasonic testing of nozzle seams, pipe connection seams and nozzle corners in pressure vessels, the carrier being supported at the end of a telescopic tube for executing stroke and rotary motions in or about the axis of the nozzle, the telescopic tube being adjustably mounted on the central mast of a central-mast manipulator so as to be adjustable in elevation and rotatable about the axis of the central mast as well as about its own axis comprising, in combination, inner-periphery test-head carrier means for ultrasonically testing seams formed in the nozzle and seams between pipe connections and the nozzle as well as zones adjacent thereto;

• a tiltable test-head carrier having at least one drag lever pivotally attached to the test system carrier, said drag lever having an inner and an outer lever arm, tilting drive means coupled to said inner lever arm for tilting the same, test-head means carried by said outer lever for testing the nozzle corners, said drag lever being successively movable so as to bring said test-head means into contact with surfaces at the end of the nozzle, the corner of the nozzle and the inner periphery of the nozzle and movable in test tracks within the entire respective peripheral angle range thereof;
• said test head means being engageable with the respective test tracks to be contacted, means for telescoping said telescopic tube so as to shift the pivot axis of said drag lever axially away from the telescoping tube, said drag lever having an angular position with respect to the telescoping tube that is variable for contacting the respective test tracks, said drag lever being controllably movable into an inward folded-up rest position wherein said arms thereof are disposed on a diameter that is smaller than the daimeter of the inner periphery of the nozzle so that the test system carrier with said inner-periphery test-head carrier is axially displaceable unobstructedly through the nozzle.