Miniature sludge lance apparatus

A nozzle assembly for a sludge lance that is used in a steam generator, said steam generator having a shell defining an enclosed space, at least one primary fluid inlet port, at least one primary fluid outlet port, at least one secondary fluid inlet port, at least one secondary fluid outlet port, a plurality of substantially uniformly sized tubes extending between, and in fluid communication with, said at least one primary fluid inlet port and at least one primary fluid outlet port, said tubes disposed in a substantially regular pattern having substantially uniform, narrow gaps between at least some of adjacent tubes, said shell having at least one inspection opening disposed adjacent to said plurality of tubes, wherein said tubes in said plurality of tubes are arranged in rows and have a centerline and said tube centerlines in a given row are substantially uniformly spaced having a substantially uniform tube centerline distance between adjacent tubes, said sludge lance including a mounting assembly, a rail, a drive assembly and the nozzle assembly, said mounting assembly structured to support a drive assembly and said rail, said rail having an elongated body and a drive shaft, said rail body having a first end and a second end, said rail body sized to pass between adjacent tubes, said rail body defining a water passage and a drive shaft passage, said drive shaft rotatably disposed in said drive shaft passage, said rail body structured to be movably coupled to said drive assembly, said rail body having lateral sides, at least one rail body lateral side having a plurality of sprocket holes, said rail body water passage structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with, a water supply, said drive assembly structured to move the rail through said inspection opening, said drive assembly coupled to said mounting assembly, said nozzle assembly having a body assembly, said nozzle assembly body assembly sized to pass between adjacent tubes, said nozzle assembly body assembly defining a water passage, said nozzle assembly body assembly structured to be coupled to the rail body with said nozzle assembly body assembly water passage being in fluid communication with said rail body water passage, said sludge lance further including an oscillator assembly comprising:

• a housing assembly, a motor having an elongated output shaft and a gear assembly;
• said oscillator assembly motor coupled to said oscillator assembly housing assembly;
• said oscillator assembly gear assembly having a first gear and a second gear, said first and second gears being operatively coupled;
• said first gear fixed to said oscillator assembly motor output shaft;
• said second gear having a keyed opening;
• said drive shaft having a second end extending from said rail, said drive shaft second end being keyed;
• said drive shaft keyed second end disposed in said second gear keyed opening;
• whereby said drive shaft moves axially through said second gear;
• said oscillator assembly motor structured to produce a cyclic motion;
• and
• said oscillator assembly operatively coupled to said drive shaft whereby said drive shaft moves cyclically.
• said rail body further includes a first end fluid passage between said water passage and said drive shaft passage, said first end fluid passage disposed at said rail body first end;
• said nozzle assembly body is an elongated, substantially hollow, substantially linear tube having a first end, a medial portion and a second end;
• said nozzle assembly body structured to be rotatably coupled to said rail with said nozzle assembly body second end and nozzle assembly body medial portion disposed within said rail body and said nozzle assembly body first end extending from said rail first end;
• said nozzle assembly body coupled to said drive shaft;
• whereby movement of said drive shaft causes said nozzle body to move relative to said rail at least one fluid port in said nozzle assembly body medial portion, said nozzle assembly, at least one fluid port positioned at said rail body first end fluid passage, said fluid port in fluid communication with said nozzle body water passage, whereby said at least one fluid port allows for fluid communication between said rail body water passage and said nozzle body water passage;
• and
• wherein said nozzle body is structured to rotate about a nozzle body longitudinal axis.