US 6,182,932 B2 · Flexi-rail assembly

Abstract

A flexi-rail assembly for supporting and positioning tools for inspecting a nuclear power plant steam generator. The flexi-rail assembly includes a housing; at least one lock assembly carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a support structure; and a carriage assembly movably supported by the housing for supporting and positioning inspection tools such as a robot manipulator arm and leg assembly. The housing includes a hollow rear portion for receiving at least one cylinder supporting a movable surface, wherein the cylinder is coupled to a source of pressurized fluid. The housing also supports at least one recessed surface for receiving the lock assembly. The lock assembly includes the cylinder and at least one tubular member. The tubular member includes an open center and at least two openings formed in the surface of the tubular structure. The carriage assembly includes a first surface supporting a plurality of outwardly projecting cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing; a second surface carried by the first surface, the second surface supporting a plurality of cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing; and a third surface movable relative to the second surface, the third surface supporting a locking assembly for securing the third surface to the housing.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supporting and positioning tools for inspecting a nuclear power plant steam generator, comprising:

a housing;
at least one lock assembly carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a support structure;
and
a carriage assembly supported by the housing for supporting and positioning inspection tools;
the lock assembly including
a tubular member defining an open center and at least two openings in the surface of the tubular member;
a shaft received in the open center, the shaft defining at least two recessed surfaces, each recessed surface supporting at least one ball sized to be received in the openings defined by the tubular member, wherein a portion of each ball contacts a portion of the shaft and an adjacent external surface when received in the openings;
and
a cylinder supporting a movable piston coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft relative to the tubular member so as to cause the balls to be moved off each recessed surface and to be received in the opening defined by the tubular member, the cylinder being coupled to an energy source,
whereby the lock couples the housing to the external surface when the balls are forced off the recessed surfaces and into the openings defined by the tubular member, wherein each ball is wedged between the shaft and the external surface.

7 more elements

An apparatus for supporting and positioning tools for inspecting a nuclear power plant steam generator, comprising:

a housing;
at least one lock assembly carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a support structure;
and
a carriage assembly supported by the housing for supporting and positioning inspection tools;
the carriage assembly including
a first surface supporting a plurality of outwardly projecting cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing;
a second surface carried by the first surface, the second surface supporting a plurality of cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing;
and
a third surface movable relative to the second surface, the third surface supporting a locking assembly for securing the third surface to the housing.

6 more elements

An apparatus for supporting and positioning tools for inspecting a nuclear power plant steam generator, comprising:

a housing having a slightly curved surface;
at least one tube lock assembly carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a tube sheet, the tube lock assembly including:
a tubular member defining an open center and at least two openings in the surface of the tubular member;
and
a shaft received in the open center, the shaft defining at least two recessed surfaces, each recessed surface supporting at least one ball sized to be received in the openings defined by the tubular member, wherein a portion of each ball contacts a portion of the shaft and an adjacent surface of the tube sheet when received in the openings, whereby the lock couples the housing to the tube sheet when the balls are forced off the recessed surfaces and into the openings defined by the tubular member, wherein each ball is wedged between the shaft and the adjacent surface of the tube sheet surface;
and
a carriage assembly movably supported by the housing for supporting and positioning inspection tools, including:
a first surface supporting a plurality of outwardly projecting cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing;
a second surface carried by the first surface, the second surface supporting a plurality of cylindrical members for coupling the carriage assembly to the housing;
and
a third surface movable relative to the second surface, the third surface supporting a locking assembly for securing the third surface to the housing.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexi-rail assembly

Life of this patent

Flexi-rail assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19