In bundle foreign object search and retrieval apparatus
US5286154A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1991 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28G15/04
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for the location and removal of foreign objects from a difficult to access geometry utilizes a flexible lance (12) formed of individual hose bar segments (14) strung on cables (16) to give a structure that is flexible along its length and fairly rigid in a direction transverse to its length. Extending from working channels (18) of nozzle block (20) of the lance (12) are a pair of multi-prong retrievers (22). A miniaturized Videoprobe camera (24) is provided in the nozzle block (20) between the two retrievers (22). The retrievers are each connected to an actuating cable (26), which extends through the flexible lance (12) to a manual control (28). The camera (24) is connected by a cable (30) to suitable video processing circuits for generation of images on a video display (32). The cable (30) also houses a fiber optic bundle which conveys light to the area being serviced by the lance (12). The flexible lance (12 ) extends through a transporter (34), which positions the nozzle block end of the lance (12) opposite a portion of a steam generator or other difficult to access geometry. The transporter (34) moves along a transport rail (36) to move the nozzle block end of…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.