Flexible lance for steam generator secondary side sludge removal

A system comprising, in combination, a flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, a rigid guide extending lengthwise of said flexible member, said flexible member being movably mounted along said rigid guide, said rigid guide having an end positioned to turn said flexible member in a predetermined angle with respect to an extending direction of said flexible member as said flexible member passes from said rigid guide through said end, a drive means for driving said flexible member through said rigid guide, a transporter for said combination, in which said rigid guide comprises a body of said transporter, and at least one transporter drive means attached to said transporter, said flexible member comprising separate segments strung on at least one flexible cable which runs the length of the flexible member.

A system comprising, in combination, a flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, a rigid guide extending lengthwise of said flexible member, said flexible member being movably mounted along said rigid guide, said rigid guide having an end positioned to turn said flexible member in a predetermined angle with respect to an extending direction of said flexible member as said flexible member passes from said rigid guide through said end, a drive means for driving said flexible member through said rigid guide, a transporter for said combination, in which said rigid guide comprises a body of said transporter, and at least one transporter drive means attached to said transporter, said rigid guide being rotatable about a length of said flexible member, said system additionally including a first sensor in said transporter for measuring extension of said flexible lance into the difficult to access geometry and a second sensor for measuring rotation of said rigid guide member.

In combination, a flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member, a flexible cable extending lengthwise along and being movably within said flexible member, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry by having a plurality of rows of sprocket holes, a drive means for said flexible means for accessing, comprising a plurality of sprockets fixedly attached to a shaft, said plurality of sprockets each having a plurality of teeth positioned to engage said sprocket holes, and a means for rotating said shaft, a rigid guide extending lengthwise of said flexible means for accessing, said flexible means for accessing being movably mounted along said rigid guide, said rigid guide having a curved end positioned to turn said flexible means for accessing in a predetermined angle with respect to an extending direction of said flexible means for accessing as said flexible means for accessing is driven by said drive means through said curved end and a transporter for said combination, in which said rigid guide comprises a body of said transporter, and at least one transporter drive means attached to said body.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry including a plurality of parallel gaps between parallel, extending elements from an access lane which is perpendicular to the parallel gaps, which comprises a substantially planar flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables extending within said planar flexible member through each of said segments, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables in a single plane when said flexible member is flat, said segments being parallel to one another, said flexible member being flexible along a direction normal to the single plane, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the parallel gaps of the difficult to access geometry.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables, said segments being parallel to one another, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry by having a plurality of rows of sprocket holes defined by spaces between said separate segments.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables, said segments being parallel to one another, and an optical cable extending lengthwise along and within said flexible member, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, said flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry including a core drill and said at least one flexible cable including a flexible drive cable that is movable within said flexible member and is connected to drive said core drill.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry including a plurality of parallel gaps between parallel, extending elements from an access lane which is perpendicular to the parallel gaps, which comprises a substantially planar flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables extending within said planar flexible member through each of said segments, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables in a single plane when said flexible member is flat, said segments being parallel to one another, said flexible member being flexible along a direction normal to the single plane, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the parallel gaps of the difficult to access geometry.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables, said segments being parallel to one another, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry by having a plurality of rows of sprocket holes defined by spaces between said separate segments.

A flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry, which comprises a flexible member comprising a plurality of separate segments strung on at least a pair of flexible cables, said segments extending transversely between said pair of flexible cables, said segments being parallel to one another, said flexible member being configured to be driven into the difficult to access geometry, said flexible means for accessing an assembly having a difficult to access geometry including a core drill and said at least one flexible cable including a flexible drive cable that is movable within said flexible member and is connected to drive said core drill.