Pivoted arm for lowering under a slab
AssigneeCompagnie Generale des Matieres
InventorsDaniel Kerlau, Bruno Jullienne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument (1) is lowered into a tank with a narrow opening (4) guided by an articulated arm (11) mounted on a mobile trolley on the periphery of the opening. The rotation of the arm consecutive to this movement and the pivoting of the lower section (13) around the articulation (14) place the instrument (1) vertically above the required place, by means of a simple control if expressed in polar co-ordinates. Application to taking samples and inspections in tanks containing dangerous waste.
Claims11
An articulated arm (11) to be put through an opening (4) of a slab (5) acting as cover for a tank (2), comprising an upper section (12) and a lower section (13) linked together by an articulation (14), a bearing placed around the opening and comprising a fixed ring (19), integral with the slab, and a turning ring (21), integral with the upper section (12), means (26, 27, 28) of control of the rotation of the turning ring, a tool (1) suspended from the lower section by a cable (6) of variable length, which extends above the slab and the arm and over a suspension pulley (15) to a free end of the lower section (13), a return pulley (16) set at the articulation of the sections, the cable passes under the return pulley (16) wherein the lower section is formed of two articulated parts (41, 42) and there are means of control (29 to 32) of an angle formed by the sections, the lower section is pivotable in vertical planes either in a back direction, or in a front direction in which the suspension pulley intercepts and catches the cable, and the lower section comprising girders (17) leaving a cross-section for passage of the tool when the lower section is pivoted in the back direction.
An articulated arm (11) to be put through an opening (4) of a slab (5) acting as cover for a tank (2), comprising an upper section (12) and a lower section (13) linked together by an articulation (14), a bearing placed around the opening and comprising a fixed ring (19), integral with the slab, and a turning ring (21), integral with the upper section (12), means (26, 27, 28) of control of the rotation of the turning ring, a tool (1) suspended from the lower section by a cable (6) of variable length, which extends above the slab and the arm and over a suspension pulley (15) to a free end of the lower section (13), a return pulley (16) set at the articulation of the sections, the cable passes under the return pulley (16) wherein there are means of control (29 to 32) of an angle formed by the sections, the lower section is pivotable in vertical planes either in a back direction, either in a front direction in which the suspension pulley intercepts and catches the cable, and the lower section comprising girders (17) leaving a cross-section for passage of the tool when the lower section is pivoted in the back direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.