Reactor pressure vessel top guide structure inspection apparatus and transport system
AssigneeSiemens Power Corporation
InventorsRichard G. McClelland, Lawrence R. Fox, Edward J. Ruzauskas, Douglas A. Adkisson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reactor pressure vessel top guide structure inspection and transport system comprising a remotely operable and positionable underwater vehicle for traversing the top guide structure of a reactor pressure vessel and for positioning an inspection system for detecting defects in the top guide structure.
Claims21
A remotely positionable and controllable underwater crawler vehicle for traversing the top edges of a top guide structure of a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor, the top guide structure comprised of two sets of parallel grid members which are interconnected to form a lattice of rectangular shaped openings, a plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies each removable from and supported toward a lower end by a core support plate, the upper ends of said fuel assemblies extending into said rectangular shaped openings for lateral support in the top guide structure, said fuel assemblies having an outer channel wall extending from a lower end of the fuel assembly to an upper end of the fuel assembly terminating above the top edges of the top guide structure, said vehicle comprising:
- a central frame for supporting a plurality of wheels;
- a plurality of wheels for receiving a continuous track, at least one of the plurality of wheels for rolling on the top edges of the parallel grid members of the top guide structure;
- mounting means for mounting the plurality of wheels to the central frame;
- a continuous track extending around the plurality of wheels and for engaging the top edges of the parallel grid members of the top guide structure to provide movement of said crawler system vehicle along said top edges;
- and
- a drive means secured to the central frame for rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels to cause the continuous track to move and engage the top edges of the grid members.
A remotely positionable and controllable vehicle for traversing the top edges of a top guide structure of a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor, the top guide structure formed by the intersection of two sets of parallel grid members having top edges and side walls, said grid members being interconnected to form a lattice of rectangular shaped openings, said vehicle comprising:
- a central frame for supporting a plurality of wheels;
- a plurality of wheels having projections for maintaining a continuous track therebetween, at least one of the plurality of wheels for rolling on the top edges and engaging the side walls of the parallel grid members of the top guide structure;
- mounting means for mounting the plurality of wheels to the central frame;
- a continuous track extending around the plurality of wheels within the projections and for engaging the top edges of the parallel grid members of the top guide structure to provide movement of said vehicle along said top edges;
- and
- a drive system means secured to the central frame for rotating at least one of the plurality of wheels to cause the continuous track to move and engage the top edges of the grid members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.