Patent · US Expired

Method of putting a tool-carrying robot into position in a containment vessel

US4919194A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
4References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 1989
Grant dateApr 24, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF22B37/005
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a method of positioning a robot intended to perform inspection and maintenance operations within a nuclear plant, and especially within a vessel of a pressurized-water reactor. The robot, which comprises an articulated arm, is controlled so that it initially attaches its head at one end of the arm to a support point having known coordinates. Then, supported on this point, the robot brings and attaches a foot-plate at the other end of the arm to a working support position having known coordinates adjacent the access opening of the vessel. The head is then released and the robot operated to move and position the head through the access opening and into the operating zone in the vessel.

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