Service pole caddy system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJames E. Burner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pole storage caddy system includes a pole storage caddy for storing a set of service poles, a pole assembly work station, a motorized monorail pole hoist and a detachable auxiliary personnel work platform, all mounted on a rail truck-mounted rigid frame. The hoist is used to convey the pole sections between the storage caddy and work station during assembly and to support the weight of the pole assembly for in-vessel work. The pole assembly work station includes a two-position slotted keyway plate, the first position providing lateral restraint during torquing operations and the second position providing vertical support during pole assembly.
Claims19
A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having an end adapted for carrying a tool, comprising:
- track support means mounted on said nuclear reactor;
- track means supported by said track support means, said track means extending over said nuclear reactor in a generally horizontal plane;
- rolling means arranged to roll along said track means between first and second positions;
- pole storage means for supporting a plurality of service poles in a generally upright position;
- pole assembly means for hanging a multipole assembly thereon;
- and
- rigid frame means for rigidly coupling said pole support means and said pole assembly means, said rigid frame means riding on said rolling means.
A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having an end adapted for carrying a tool, comprising:
- track support means mounted on said nuclear reactor;
- track means supported by said track support means, said track means extending over said nuclear reactor in a generally horizontal plane;
- rolling means arranged to roll along said track means between first and second positions;
- pole storage means for supporting a plurality of service poles in a generally upright position;
- pole assembly means for hanging a multipole assembly thereon;
- a horizontal platform for supporting work personnel thereon;
- and
- rigid frame means for rigidly coupling said pole support means, said pole assembly means and said horizontal platform to each other, said rigid frame means riding on said rolling means.
A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having a lower end adapted for carrying a tool, each of said service poles having a neck portion of first diameter and a seating portion of second diameter greater than said first diameter, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion, comprising:
- pole assembly means for holding a first service pole generally upright at an assembly position during connection of a bottom end of a second service pole to a top end of said first service pole;
- and
- rigid support means for supporting said pole assembly means in a position over said nuclear reactor,
- wherein said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat at said assembly position for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said first service pole, each of said service poles comprises first and second solid-body end connectors joined to respective first and second ends of a tube having a third diameter which is greater than said first diameter of said neck portion, said neck portion being formed in said first end connector, and said slot further comprises guide means for blocking substantial lateral displacement of a portion of said tube of said service pole when inserted within said guide means, with sufficient play therebetween to allow said first service pole to be vertically displaced without impediment, said guide means communicating with said pole seat by way of a throat having a width greater than said first diameter of said neck portion and less than said third diameter of said tube.
A service pole caddy system for servicing a nuclear reactor using a plurality of service poles which can be coupled in series to form a multi-pole assembly having a lower end adapted for carrying a tool, each of said service poles having a neck portion of first diameter and a seating portion of second diameter greater than said first diameter, said seating portion being joined to said neck portion, comprising:
- pole assembly means for holding a first service pole generally upright at an assembly position during connection of a bottom end of a second service pole to a top end of said first service pole;
- and
- rigid support means for supporting said pole assembly means in a position over said nuclear reactor,
- wherein said pole assembly means comprises a keyway plate having a slot with a pole seat at said assembly position for receiving said neck portion and supporting said seating portion of said first service pole, said pole seat comprising an arc-shaped chamfered surface having a radius greater than the radius of said neck portion of said first service pole, and said seating portion on said first service pole comprising a circular chamfered surface which abuts said arc-shaped chamfered surface in a form-fitting relationship when said first service pole is supported by said keyway plate at said assembly position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.