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US 6,145,583 AGranted
Inspection device
AssigneeR. Brooks Associates, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Gay, Terry M. Radigan, Gregory J. Yadzinski, William J. Harris, Cedric G. Chang, Donald R. Lefebvre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for inspecting the interior of steam generators capable of visually inspecting interior of tubes in steam generators, including upper portions steam generator tubes, tops and bottoms of support plates, wrapper-to-support plate welds, and other internal structures.
Claims23
A device for inspecting the interior of a steam generator, comprising:
- a first boom;
- a second boom having a first end pivotally attached to the first boom and a second end;
- a head assembly attached to the second end;
- registration guides mounted to the head assembly which extend away from and retract to the head assembly, the registration guides sized and configured to press against tubes of the steam generator in an extended position;
- a drive assembly attached to the head assembly;
- and
- a movable sensing wand attached to the drive assembly at a proximal end and having a sensor probe at a distal end, the sensor probe comprising a light source and a camera.
4 more elements
A method for inspecting the interior of a steam generator comprising:
- providing an inspection device comprising a first boom, a second boom having a first end pivotally attached to the first boom and a second end, a head assembly attached to the second end, a drive assembly attached to the head assembly, and a movable sensing wand attached to a drive mechanism in the head assembly at a proximal end and having a sensor at a distal end;
- inserting the inspection device through an access port in the generator;
- positioning the first boom and the second boom in the tube lane perpendicular to the tube rows;
- uprighting the inspection device within the generator in the tube lane to a position generally parallel to the tube rows;
- locating the device at a predetermined location;
- extending registration guides away from the head assembly against adjacent tubes, each of the registration guides having a major length which is aligned in parallel with the longitudinal axes of the adjacent tubes of the steam generator;
- moving the wand to position the sensor at a desired location;
- illuminating from the distal end of the wand;
- and
- recording and displaying visual images at a display located remotely from the device.
7 more elements
A device for inspecting the interior of a steam generator, comprising:
- a first boom;
- a second boom having a first end pivotally attached to the first boom and a second end;
- a head assembly attached to the second end;
- a drive assembly attached to the head assembly;
- a plurality of pneumatically actuated registration guides attached to the head assembly, the registration guides having a major length which is aligned in parallel with longitudinal axes of the steam generator tubes, the registration guides sized and configured to press against the steam generator tubes in an extended position so as to stabilize the head assembly, the registration guides being coated so as to prevent damage to the steam generator tubes;
- and
- a movable sensing wand attached to the drive assembly at a proximal end and having a sensor probe at a distal end, the sensor probe comprising a light source and a camera.
4 more elements
A device for inspecting the interior of a steam generator, comprising
- a first boom;
- a second boom having a first end pivotally attached to the first boom and a second end;
- a head assembly attached to the second end;
- a plurality of registration guides attached to the head assembly, the registration guides having a major length oriented so as to be in alignment with the longitudinal axes of tubes of the steam generator, the registration guide being sized and configured to press against the steam generator tubes in an extended position;
- a drive assembly attached to the head assembly;
- and
- a telescopingly extendible sensing wand attached to the drive assembly at a proximal end and having a sensor probe at a distal end.
4 more elements
The device for inspecting the interior of a steam generator, comprising:
- a first boom;
- a second boom having a first end pivotally attached to the first boom and a second end;
- a head assembly attached to the second end;
- a plurality of registration guides attached to the head assembly, the registration guides having a major length oriented so as to be in alignment with the longitudinal axes of tubes of the steam generator, wherein the registration guides include two pairs of registration guides which are alternately actuated;
- a drive assembly attached to the head assembly;
- and
- a telescopingly extending sensing wand attached to the drive assembly at a proximal end and having a sensor probe at a distal end.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.