# US 8,542,790 B2 · Jet pump inspection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,790 B2 - Document ID: US8542790B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/851,910 - Filed: 2010-08-06 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-06 - Assignees: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC - Applicants: Robert K. Dorosko; Jason Shawn Bates - Inventors: Robert K. Dorosko; Jason Shawn Bates - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542790B2 ## CPC - G21C 17/017: Inspection or maintenance of pipe-lines or tubes in nuclear installations - F04F 5/44: Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04F5/02 - F04F5/42 - F04F 5/54: Installations characterised by use of jet pumps, e.g. combinations of two or more jet pumps of different type - G21C 17/00: Monitoring; Testing (measuring in general G01); {Maintaining} - G21C 15/25: using jet pumps - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)} - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Example embodiments are directed to jet pump inspection apparatuses including an encoded probe driver coupled to a guide funnel. In an example embodiment, the encoded probe driver and the guide funnel are located on the body of the apparatus in order to decrease the time required for inspection, thereby limiting exposure to personnel of radioactive contamination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A jet pump inspection apparatus comprising: a body; a probe driver configured to provide axial movement of a probe along a length of the apparatus; and a guide funnel configured to guide the probe into the apparatus to a given depth, wherein the probe driver and the guide funnel are located on the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes a calibration tube portion, further comprising: a pole attachment connected to the probe driver on the body above the calibration tube portion, the pole attachment configured to connect to at least one handling pole; and a guide latch on the body below the calibration tube portion, the guide latch configured to secure the apparatus to a jet pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide latch and the body are detachably attached by the calibration tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probe driver includes a set of wheels configured to contact a cable including a probe head in order to control a location of the probe head within the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein a thickness of a plate of the pole attachment is up to one-half an inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body is made of aluminum. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide latch is an air-actuated clamp configured to secure the apparatus to a jet pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the guide latch further comprises: one or more engagement members including a gap therebetween; and a latching actuator configured to engage at least one of the engagement members to clamp an object or surface in the gap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the probe driver includes an encoder configured to determine a location of a probe head. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the probe driver is configured to control an elevation of the probe head based on the location established by the encoder. ### Claim 11 A jet pump inspection apparatus comprising: a body having a calibration tube portion; a probe driver on the body above the calibration tube portion, the probe driver configured to provide axial movement of a probe along a length of the apparatus; a pole attachment connected to the probe driver and configured to connect to the at least one handling pole; a guide funnel on the body above the calibration tube portion and below the probe driver, the guide funnel configured to guide the probe into the jet pump inspection apparatus to a given depth; and a guide latch on the body below the calibration tube portion, the guide latch configured to secure the apparatus to a jet pump inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the probe driver includes an encoder configured to determine a location of a probe head. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the probe driver is configured to control an elevation of the probe head based on the location established by the encoder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the guide latch and the body are detachably attached by the calibration tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the probe driver includes a set of wheels configured to contact a cable including a probe head in order to control a location of the probe head within the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein a thickness of a plate of the pole attachment is up to one-half an inch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the body is made of aluminum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the guide latch is an air-actuated clamp configured to secure the apparatus to a jet pump. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The jet pump inspection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the guide latch further comprises: one or more engagement members including a gap therebetween; and a latching actuator configured to engage at least one of the engagement members to clamp an object or surface in the gap.