公开(公告)号：US5483033A

公开(公告)日：1996-01-09

申请号：US133428

申请日：1993-10-08

申请人： William E. Pirl ,  Kurt K. Lichtenfels

发明人： William E. Pirl ,  Kurt K. Lichtenfels

IPC分类号： G21C19/02 ,  B23K9/028 ,  B23K26/28 ,  F22B37/00 ,  G21D1/00 ,  B23K26/08

CPC分类号： B23K26/28 ,  B23K9/0288 ,  F22B37/003

摘要： A frame is coupled to a remotely operable service arm (ROSA), and a rotatable carousel, in turn, is carried by the frame to position several tool modules used in a welding operation adjacent to a damaged tube in a tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator. The arm positions an alignment module directly beneath the damaged tube and the module aligns the carousel. The carousel is rotated to sequentially align and register a laser welding module, a cleaning module, and an inspection module with the damaged tube for a welding operation on a lower portion of the damaged tube in the tubesheet area. One embodiment for the alignment module has a pneumatically operated pin which is operator controlled, and which has an increasing diameter from its distal end to obtain a gross to a vernier alignment of the carousel and, thus, a proper alignment for the remaining modules. A further embodiment provides an alignment pin which is automatically computer controlled without operator intervention. Limit switches and grooves are used as a logic checking device for the proper positioning of a respective module in the frame, and a pneumatically operated radial pin holds the module in the frame.

摘要翻译： 框架耦合到可远程操作的维护臂（ROSA），并且可旋转的转盘又由框架承载，以将在与蒸汽发生器的管板中的受损管邻近的焊接操作中使用的多个工具模块 。 手臂将对准模块定位在受损管子的正下方，模块对准转盘。 旋转盘旋转以顺序对准和登记激光焊接模块，清洁模块和检查模块，其中损坏的管用于在管板区域中损坏的管的下部进行焊接操作。 对准模块的一个实施例具有操作者控制的气动操作的销，并且其从其远端具有增加的直径，以获得转盘的总体到游标对准，并且因此对其余模块进行适当的对准。 另一实施例提供一种对准销，其在没有操作者干预的情况下自动计算机控制。 限位开关和凹槽用作逻辑检查装置，用于将相应模块适当地定位在框架中，并且气动操作的径向销将模块保持在框架中。

公开(公告)号：US5491317A

公开(公告)日：1996-02-13

申请号：US126212

申请日：1993-09-13

申请人： William E. Pirl

发明人： William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： G21D1/00 ,  B23K26/00 ,  B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/20 ,  B23K26/28 ,  H01S3/101

CPC分类号： B23K26/106 ,  B23K26/282

摘要： System and method for laser welding an inner surface of a tubular member, which tubular member may be a repair sleeve disposed in a nuclear heat exchanger heat transfer tube. The system includes a laser for generating high intensity laser light sufficient to fuse the sleeve to the inside diameter of the heat exchanger tube, the tube being of the type typically found in nuclear heat exchangers. A fiber-optic cable is optically coupled to the laser for conducting the laser light therethrough. The fiber-optic cable has a predetermined configuration to homogenize the laser light so that the laser light obtains the desired spatial coherency as the light is emitted from the fiber-optic cable. A mirror is optically coupled to the fiber-optic cable so as to receive the homogenized light beam emitted from the fiber-optic cable. The mirror is also optically coupled to the inner diameter of the sleeve for reflecting the homogenized light beam onto the inner diameter of the sleeve to weld or fuse the sleeve to of the tube. In this manner, the sleeve is welded to the inside diameter of the tube to sleeve the tube.

摘要翻译： 用于激光焊接管状构件的内表面的系统和方法，该管状构件可以是设置在核热交换器传热管中的修复套筒。 该系统包括用于产生足以将套管熔合到热交换器管的内径的高强度激光的激光器，该管通常在核热交换器中找到。 光纤电缆光学地耦合到激光器以将激光导通通过其中。 光纤电缆具有预定的结构以使激光均匀化，使得当光从光纤电缆发射时，激光获得期望的空间相干性。 镜子光耦合到光纤电缆，以便接收从光纤电缆发射的均匀化的光束。 反射镜也光学地耦合到套筒的内径，用于将均匀化的光束反射到套筒的内径上，以将套管焊接或熔合到管子上。 以这种方式，将套管焊接到管的内径以套管。

公开(公告)号：US5174165A

公开(公告)日：1992-12-29

申请号：US873516

申请日：1992-04-21

申请人： William E. Pirl

发明人： William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： F22B37/00 ,  G01N27/90

CPC分类号： F22B37/003 ,  G01N27/902

摘要： A flexible, hose-like delivery system for positioning and rotatably supporting a probe which may be a pancake-type eddy current probe at a desired position along the longitudinal axis of a small-diametered conduit such as the heat exchanger tube in a nuclear steam generator is disclosed. The system comprises a flexible inner shaft formed from a plurality of short segments of Bowden shafting which is connected to a drive train located remotely from the interior of the heat exchanger tube, a flexible outer housing preferably formed from a plastic conduit concentrically disposed around the inner shaft, and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies which interconnect the short shaft segments for minimizing the frictional engagement between the inner shaft and the interior walls of the flexible outer housing. The frictional losses between the inner shaft and the flexible tubular outer housing are small enough to allow rotational motion to be smoothly and reliably conducted over relatively long lengths and around bends, thus allowing such motion to be transmitted by remotely located, standard-sized drive trains and motors. The system eliminates the need for expensive, miniaturized drive trains, motors and slip ring components which, up to now, have accompanied such eddy current probes within such tubes.

摘要翻译： 一种柔性的软管状输送系统，用于定位和可旋转地支撑探针，所述探针可以是沿着小直径导管（例如核蒸汽发生器中的热交换器管）的纵向轴线的期望位置处的煎饼型涡流探针 被披露。 该系统包括由多个Bowden轴系的短段形成的柔性内轴，该短节段连接到远离热交换器管内部的传动系，柔性外壳优选地由同心地设置在内侧的塑料导管 轴和多个球轴承组件，其将短轴段相互连接，以最小化内轴和柔性外壳的内壁之间的摩擦接合。 内轴和柔性管状外壳之间的摩擦损失足够小，以允许旋转运动在相对较长的长度和弯曲周围平稳可靠地传导，从而允许这种运动通过位于远方的标准尺寸的传动系传递 和电机。 该系统不需要昂贵的，小型化的传动系，马达和滑环组件，迄今为止，在这些管内伴随有这种涡流探头。

公开(公告)号：US4771526A

公开(公告)日：1988-09-20

申请号：US785291

申请日：1985-10-07

申请人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl

发明人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： F28F11/06 ,  B23P19/02 ,  F22B37/00 ,  F22B37/02 ,  F28F11/00 ,  G21D1/00 ,  B21D53/00 ,  B23P19/04

CPC分类号： F22B37/003 ,  B23P19/022 ,  Y10T29/49352 ,  Y10T29/53113 ,  Y10T29/5383 ,  Y10T29/53839

摘要： A tool for inserting sleeve blanks in damaged steam-generator tubes of light weight capable of being manipulated by ROSA, a remotely operated service arm. ROSA permits the tool to be attached externally of the channel head of the steam generator.The tool includes a fixed gripper and a moveable gripper. The gripping member of each gripper is a flexible sheet or bladder which conforms readily to the surface being engaged. For insertion, the sleeve blank is mounted on a mandrel. The insertion is carried out by operating the grippers repeatedly through the following cycle until the sleeve blank is inserted into the damaged tube:(a) The moveable gripper is set in the lowermost position.(b) The fixed gripper is open.(c) The moveable gripper engages the sleeving assembly.(d) The moveable gripper raises the sleeving assembly to the uppermost position.(e) The sleeving assembly is engaged by the fixed gripper.(f) The moveable gripper is disengaged from the sleeving assembly.(g) The moveable gripper is returned to the lowermost position to start a succeeding cycle.For positioning, the tool includes a closed-circuit TV unit for centering the tool with reference to a tube other than the damaged tube and another closed-circuit TV unit for monitoring the insertion of the sleeve blank.

摘要翻译： 用于将套筒坯料插入损坏的重量轻的蒸汽发生器管中的工具，能够由遥控操作臂ROSA操纵。 ROSA允许将工具连接到蒸汽发生器的通道头的外部。 该工具包括一个固定夹具和一个可移动夹具。 每个夹持器的夹持构件是柔性片或囊，容易地与被接合的表面相一致。 为了插入，套筒坯件安装在心轴上。 通过以下循环反复操作夹具来进行插入，直到套筒坯件插入损坏的管中：（a）可移动的夹持器被设置在最低位置。 （b）固定夹具打开。 （c）可移动夹具接合套管组件。 （d）可移动的夹具将套管组件提升到最高位置。 （e）套筒组件由固定夹具接合。 （f）可移动的夹持器从套管组件脱离。 （g）可移动夹具返回到最低位置以开始后续循环。 为了定位，该工具包括一个闭路电视单元，用于相对于损坏的管以外的管对准该工具，另一个闭路电视单元用于监视套筒坯的插入。

公开(公告)号：US4714289A

公开(公告)日：1987-12-22

申请号：US5388

申请日：1987-01-09

申请人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl

发明人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： B23P19/00 ,  B25B5/06 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B66C1/46

CPC分类号： B25B5/065 ,  B23P19/00 ,  B25J15/0023

摘要： A gripper assembly whose gripping member is a thin (0.050" to 0.060") pliable elastometer, typically of a Pelethane compound having high coefficient of friction with respect to the surface to be gripped. The assembly includes a hollow retainer formed of abutting retainer sections. Internally the sections form a circularly cylindrical surface. The gripping member is circularly cylindrical and is mounted on the retainer so that it extends over the internal cylindrical surface. The ends of the gripping member have rings which are sealed pressure-tight in slots in the end surfaces of the retainer. Within the gripping member there is a cage formed of rods joined by rings for centering an object to be gripped by windows and defined between the rods and rings of the cage. The retainer has a port through which a fluid (air) under pressure is injected. The retainer has a slot connected to the port so that the fluid is distributed over the region between the gripping member and the internal surface of the retainer causing the gripping member to exert pressure on the object to be gripped.

摘要翻译： 夹持器组件，其夹持构件是薄的（0.050“至0.060”）柔韧的弹性计，典型地是具有相对于被夹紧表面的高摩擦系数的聚乙烯化合物。 组件包括由邻接的保持器部分形成的空心保持器。 在内部，这些部分形成圆柱形表面。 夹持构件是圆柱形的并且安装在保持器上，使得其在内部圆柱形表面上延伸。 夹持构件的端部具有在保持器的端表面中的狭缝中被密封地密封的环。 在夹持构件内，存在由杆连接的保持架，所述杆由环连接，用于对准由窗户夹持的物体并且限定在保持架的杆和环之间。 保持器具有一个端口，通过该端口注入压力下的流体（空气）。 保持器具有连接到端口的槽，使得流体分布在夹持构件和保持器的内表面之间的区域上，使得夹持构件对待夹持的物体施加压力。

公开(公告)号：US5025215A

公开(公告)日：1991-06-18

申请号：US394702

申请日：1989-08-16

申请人： William E. Pirl

发明人： William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： G01N29/04 ,  F22B37/00 ,  G01N27/90 ,  G01N29/00 ,  G01N29/22 ,  G01N29/26 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G21C17/003

CPC分类号： G01N29/265 ,  F22B37/003 ,  G01N27/902 ,  G01N29/223 ,  G01N29/225 ,  G01N2291/0258 ,  G01N2291/044 ,  G01N2291/2636

摘要： A system for helically driving an inspection probe within a tube of a nuclear steam generator is provided, wherein the system is particularly useful in driving a combination eddy-current and ultrasonic probe. The system generally includes a head assembly insertable with the tube for inspection, a drive frame assembly to be located external of the steam generator, and a conduit system connecting the head assembly and drive frame assembly. Particularly, the head assembly includes a portion fixable to the tube by a pressure bladder and a movable portion helically movable with a probe to the fixable portion. The drive motor and electrical pick-up are slidably movable on the drive frame assembly to move linearly with the probe during inspection so as not to limit the stroke of the probe, wherein the drive motor and pick-up are connected with the head assembly by way of two flexible coaxial conduits. The two conduits further provide two fluid flow paths to supply fluid to the bladder and couplant fluid for use during ultrasonic testing.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于在核蒸汽发生器的管内螺旋地驱动检查探针的系统，其中该系统特别可用于驱动组合涡流和超声波探头。 该系统通常包括可插入管子以进行检查的头部组件，位于蒸汽发生器外部的驱动框架组件和连接头部组件和驱动框架组件的导管系统。 特别地，头部组件包括通过压力囊固定到管的部分和可用探针螺旋地移动到可固定部分的可动部分。 驱动电动机和电气拾取器可在驱动框架组件上可滑动地移动，以在检查期间与探头线性移动，以便不限制探头的行程，其中驱动电动机和拾取器通过 两种柔性同轴导管的方式。 两个管道还提供两个流体流动路径以将流体供应到膀胱和用于超声波测试期间的耦合剂流体。

公开(公告)号：US4829648A

公开(公告)日：1989-05-16

申请号：US6845

申请日：1987-01-27

申请人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl ,  Annette M. Costlow

发明人： Thomas E. Arzenti ,  William E. Pirl ,  Annette M. Costlow

IPC分类号： F22B37/02 ,  B21D39/20 ,  B23P19/02 ,  F22B37/00 ,  F28F11/02

CPC分类号： B23P19/022 ,  B21D39/203 ,  F22B37/003 ,  F28F11/02 ,  Y10T29/49352 ,  Y10T29/49387 ,  Y10T29/531 ,  Y10T29/53113 ,  Y10T29/5383

摘要： An apparatus and method for remotely inserting and positioning a sleeve-loaded mandrel within a damaged tube mounted in the tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus of the invention generally comprises a frame, a mounting mechanism for detachably and pivotally mounting the frame to the open end of one of a first tube in the tubesheet, an advancing assembly supported by the frame for remotely inserting and advancing the sleeve-loaded mandrel to a position across a damaged section of the selected tube, and a drive train for pivotally positioning the advancing assembly into alignment with the open end of the selected tube. In the preferred embodiment, the advancing means is formed from the pair of hydraulically operated grippers, one of which is reciprocably movable with respect to the other. Additionally, the mounting mechanism inlcudes a double-action hydraulic cylinder that is capable of translating the frame into engagement with the tubesheet after the advancing assembly has been pivoted into alignment with the damaged tube. In the method of the invention, the first tube is chosen so that the advancement assembly may be pivoted into position under two or more tubes that need to be sleeved.

公开(公告)号：US4736092A

公开(公告)日：1988-04-05

申请号：US720107

申请日：1985-04-04

申请人： William E. Pirl ,  John M. Driggers ,  Donald R. Stoner

发明人： William E. Pirl ,  John M. Driggers ,  Donald R. Stoner

IPC分类号： B23K3/053 ,  C21D9/08 ,  F22B37/00 ,  H05B6/38 ,  H05B3/06

CPC分类号： F22B37/003 ,  B23K3/053 ,  C21D9/08 ,  H05B6/38 ,  B23K2201/14 ,  Y02P10/253

摘要： An improved heater assembly and method for applying a brazing heat across a selected longitudinal section of a tube is disclosed herein. The heater assembly generally comprises a heater mandrel having an electrical resistance heating element coiled thereabout, and a support mandrel for supporting and centering this heating element. The heater mandrel further includes a means for directing a flow of inert gas in the space between the coiled heating element and the inner walls of the tube being brazed in order to purge this space of ambient atmospheric oxygen and prevent the heater mandrel from oxidizing. The support mandrel includes a centering means in the form of two roller assemblies, each of which has three spring-loaded rollers equidistantly spaced 120.degree. around its diameter. In the method of the invention, the heater mandrel is inserted into the tube and slid across the longitudinal section to be brazed. The heater then applies a brazing heat while a purging flow of inert gas is directed in the annular space between the coiled heating element and the inner walls of the tube. After the brazing operation has been completed, the flow of purge gas may be increased to cool down the heater assembly. The heater assembly is particularly useful for brazing reinforcing sleeves across sections of corrosion-damaged heat exchange tubes in nuclear steam generators.

摘要翻译： 本文公开了一种改进的加热器组件和用于在管的所选纵向部分上施加钎焊热的方法。 加热器组件通常包括具有在其周围盘绕的电阻加热元件的加热器心轴和用于支撑和对中该加热元件的支撑心轴。 加热器心轴还包括用于将惰性气体流引导到被卷绕的加热元件和被钎焊的管的内壁之间的空间中的装置，以便清除该环境大气氧的空间并防止加热器心轴氧化。 支撑心轴包括两个辊组件形式的定心装置，每个辊组件具有围绕其直径等距离间隔120°的三个弹簧加载辊。 在本发明的方法中，将加热器心轴插入管中并滑过要钎焊的纵向部分。 然后，加热器施加钎焊热，同时将惰性气体的吹扫流引导到卷绕的加热元件和管的内壁之间的环形空间中。 在钎焊操作完成之后，可以增加吹扫气体的流量以冷却加热器组件。 加热器组件特别适用于在核蒸汽发生器中的腐蚀损坏的热交换管的部分上钎焊加强套管。

公开(公告)号：US5100610A

公开(公告)日：1992-03-31

申请号：US616444

申请日：1990-11-20

申请人： William E. Pirl ,  Edward A. Ray ,  Annette M. Costlow ,  Charles H Roth, Jr. ,  Francis X. Gradich ,  David A. Chizmar

发明人： William E. Pirl ,  Edward A. Ray ,  Annette M. Costlow ,  Charles H Roth, Jr. ,  Francis X. Gradich ,  David A. Chizmar

IPC分类号： F16L55/00 ,  F22B37/00 ,  F28F11/02 ,  G01B7/28 ,  G01N27/90 ,  G21C13/06 ,  G21D1/00

CPC分类号： G01B7/28 ,  F22B37/003 ,  F28F11/02 ,  G01N27/902

摘要： System for inspecting the interior of tube plugs, particularly tube plugs of the type having expander elements disposed therein. The system includes a probe assembly connectable to the tube plug, the probe assembly having a rotatable and translatable probe carrier housing for housing a sensor probe capable of inspecting the tube plug. The probe assembly also includes a leaf spring extending through the probe carrier housing and attached to the sensor probe for radially outwardly biasing the sensor probe into sensing contact with the interior of the tube plug, particularly the interior of the tube plug located between the top of the tube plug and the expander element. A tangle-free flexible hose is connected at one end thereof to the probe carrier housing for transversely rotating and longitudinally translating the probe carrier housing. The flexible hose is also connected at the other end thereof to a probe driver assembly that rotates the flexible hose which in turn rotates the probe carrier housing. Rotation of the probe carrier housing rotatably translates the probe carrier housing into the tube plug for inspecting the tube plug in a helical scanning pattern.

公开(公告)号：US5066846A

公开(公告)日：1991-11-19

申请号：US543983

申请日：1990-06-26

申请人： William E. Pirl

发明人： William E. Pirl

IPC分类号： B23K26/00 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/20 ,  B23K26/28 ,  B23K101/06 ,  F22B37/00

CPC分类号： B23K26/106 ,  B23K26/28 ,  F22B37/003

摘要： Both a system and method for laser welding the inner surface of a metallic tube, which may be a sleeve inside a heat exchanger tube of a nuclear steam generator, is disclosed. The system comprises an elongated tubular housing that is insertable within a reinforcing sleeve disposed within a heat exchanger tube, a laser unit for generating a beam of light, a fiber optical conduit for conducting light from the laser unit through the interior of the tubular housing, a beam deflection assembly including a mirror canted at an angle of 45.degree. that is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the housing and optically connected to the fiber optical cable, and a remotely powered rotary drive assembly for rotating the beam deflection assembly to direct laser light around the inner surface of the tube that includes a transducer for converting linear to rotary motion. The motion transducer includes a tubular driven member concentrically disposed within said housing and connected to the beam deflection assembly, and a tubular drive member concentrically disposed within the driven member and having a spiral groove around its outer diameter that meshes with a follower ball connected to the inner diameter of the driven tube, such that the driven member rotates whenever the drive member is slidably pulled along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The linear-to-rotational motion transducer obviates the need for miniaturized electrical or pneumatic motors, which in turn allows the outer diameter of the housing of the system to be made small enough to service small-diametered heat exchanger tubes.