Internal tube cutter
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsRobert L. Wilkins, Donald E. Skoczylas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal tube cutter for cutting the inside of tubes of a nuclear steam generator comprises an extendable cutter capable of being disposed within a tube of a steam generator along with a flexible transverse positioning mechanism disposed on the cutter for positioning the cutter within the tube. The cutter is attached to a drive mechanism that is capable of rotating the cutter when the cutter is in an extended position to thereby cut the inside of the tube. The cutter and flexible transverse positioning mechanism are capable of being inserted into and traversing through tubes whose inside diameter is severely reduced due to denting while being capable of being extended and severing the tube at a section of the tube having a normal diameter.
Claims9
An internal tube cutter comprising:
- a frame having locking mechanisms attached thereto for engaging a member and supporting said frame from said member;
- a flexible shaft associated with said frame and capable of being disposed within said tube;
- a plurality of cutting heads pivotally disposed within said flexible shaft for cutting said tube when extended and rotated;
- engagement means disposed within said flexible shaft for extending said cutting heads into contact with the inside of said tube and for rotating said cutting heads;
- a flexible transverse positioning mechanism mounted on said flexible shaft for positioning said cutting heads within said tube relative to the sides of said tube;
- and
- drive means mounted on said frame and attached to said cutting heads for rotating said cutting heads thereby causing said cutting heads to internally cut said tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.