Patent · US Expired

Workpiece positioning apparatus with plural sensors

US4576123A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 1984
Grant dateMar 18, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B11/00
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A sludge lance nozzle for removing sludge from between the tubes of a nuclear steam generator includes positioning apparatus mounted on top of the nozzle. The tubes are arranged in rows and columns with the axes of the tubes in each column lying in a common column plane. The nozzle is moved perpendicular to the column planes close to one of the rows of tubes. In one embodiment, the positioning apparatus comprises two transmitter/receivers for transmitting signals and receiving reflected signals along axes parallel to the column planes, the axes being spaced apart by odd multiples of one-half tube pitch. The received signals are subtracted to produce a position indicating signal. In another embodiment the positioning apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver spaced apart in the direction of movement of the nozzle, the transmitter transmitting a signal in a first predetermined direction, and the receiver being responsive only to reflected signals received from a second predetermined direction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.