Methods and apparatus for polishing seal surfaces in a nuclear reactor
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorCharles Arthur Dalke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for polishing seal surfaces in a nuclear reactor are described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a universal joint which has a universal joint housing and a drive shaft extending therefrom. A polishing plate is secured to the universal joint housing. A working surface of the polishing plate is configured to polish the seal surfaces. The seal surfaces of incore monitor housings and valves may, for example, be polished using various embodiments of the apparatus.
Claims20
A tool for polishing a seal surface in a nuclear reactor, the seal surface being substantially ring shaped and having an opening extending therethrough, said tool comprising:
- a universal joint comprising a universal joint housing and a drive shaft having a first and a second end, said second end of said drive shaft configured to couple to a driver motor, said housing having a substantially cylindrical shape and forming a chamber and a ball joint seating surface, said universal joint further comprising a ball joint located substantially within said chamber and seated on said seating surface, said drive shaft extending through an opening in said housing and into engagement with said ball joint;
- and
- a polishing plate having a working surface, an opening formed in said plate, a center axis of the polishing plate opening substantially coaxial with a center axis of said plate, said polishing plate secured to said universal joint housing so that a portion of a side surface of said plate is in substantial surface to surface contact with a side surface of said housing and so that said housing is substantially completely positioned on the working surface side of said plate, said drive shaft extending through the polishing plate opening to said ball joint, said universal joint housing extending from said polishing plate working surface and configured to substantially align said polishing plate working surface with the seal surface.
A method for polishing a seal surface in a nuclear reactor using a polishing tool, the seal surface being substantially ring shaped and having an opening extending therethrough, said seal surface located adjacent an end of a bore, the polishing tool including a polishing plate with a working surface and a universal joint comprising a drive shaft and universal joint housing secured to the polishing plate adjacent the working surface, the housing having a substantially cylindrical shape, the polishing plate having a polishing material secured thereto, said method comprising the steps of:
- aligning the tool with the seal surface so that a center axis of the universal joint housing is substantially coaxial with a center axis of the seal surface, aligning the tool with the seal surface comprising the step of inserting substantially the entire universal joint housing through the seal surface opening so that substantially the entire outer surface of the housing cooperates with the surface of the bore to substantially align the polishing plate working surface with the seal surface;
- and
- rotating the polishing plate while the working surface of the plate is in contact with the seal surface.
Apparatus for polishing a seal surface in a nuclear reactor, the seal surface being substantially ring shaped and having an opening extending therethrough, said apparatus comprising:
- a universal joint including a drive shaft, said universal joint comprising a substantially cylindrical housing;
- and
- an alignment member having a working surface, said alignment member being coupled to said universal joint, said universal joint housing substantially completely located on the working surface side of said alignment member and extending beyond said alignment member working surface and configured to facilitate substantially aligning said alignment member working surface with the seal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.