Apparatus and method of wireless underwater inspection robot for nuclear power plants
US10421192B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An inspection robot for inspecting a nuclear reactor that includes a hull and an on-board control mechanism that controls the operation of the inspection robot. The on-board control mechanism controls one or more sensors used to inspect one or more structures in the nuclear reactor as well as the movement by the inspection robot. A gimbal mechanism rotates the inspection robot hull by shifting the center-of-mass so that gravity and buoyancy forces generate a moment to rotate the hull in a desired direction. A camera is coupled to the gimbal mechanism for providing visual display of the one or more structures in the nuclear reactor. The camera is allowed to rotate about an axis using the gimbal mechanism. The inspection robot communicates its findings with respect to the inspection tasks using the wireless communication link.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.