Probe positioner
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsJames W. Finlayson, Renato D. Reyes, Ralph F. Eberle, Thaddeus A. Wojcik, James L. Gumbert, Robert B. McKeever, Emery E. Nagy, Howard E. Houserman, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A probe positioner capable of being supported from a tube sheet of a nuclear steam generator for positioning a probe in relationship to the tube sheet of the nuclear steam generator comprises a locking mechanism for locking the probe positioner in the tube sheet and a plurality of rotatable arms for positioning the probe. The probe positioner also comprises quick disconnect motors for rotating the arms of the probe positioner relative to each other.
Claims10
A probe positioner for positioning probes in steam generators comprising:
- a support plate having a plurality of holes therein arranged to correspond to the tubes in a steam generator upon attachment of said support plate to said tubes thereby providing access to said tubes through said holes for probing said tubes;
- removable guide pins and camlocks attached to said support plate and capable of being disposed in said tubes for completely suspending said suport plate from said tubes;
- a central member attached to said support plate;
- a first sleeve rotatably disposed around said central member;
- a first arm attached to said sleeve;
- a second arm rotatably attached to said first arm;
- a third arm attached to said second arm and capable of rotating relative to said second arm with a probe holder attached to an end thereof;
- a first drive mechanism removably attached to said first sleeve for rotating said first sleeve and said first arm in a horizontal plane;
- a second drive mechanism removably attached to said first arm and to said second arm for rotating said second arm in a horizontal plane relative to said first arm;
- and
- a third drive mechanism disposed in said third arm for rotating a portion of said third arm with respect to said first and second arms, the rotation of said first, second, and third arms being capable of positioning said probe holder and probe in colinear alignment with said tubes thereby allowing said probe to be introduced into said tube while said probe positioner is completely supported from said tubes by said support plate and camlocks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.