Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Donald L Wolfe

Robert E Meuschke

Ralph W Kalkbrenner

Donald D Modglin

Roger L Swensrud

John S Kerrey

Ronald F Antol

George J Merrick

Daniel P Soroka

Jack W Clements

James R Ziegler

A welding wire feeding apparatus with orbital mounting assembly for use in combination with an industrial manipulator of the type including a 'Z' axis assembly from which there is dependingly supported an extended welding axis post for rotational movement about the 'Z' axis. The improved welding wire feeding apparatus mounting assembly is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the 'Z' axis or wrist assembly of the robot and is in communication with the extended axis post by a rubber-lined yoke so that the rotational movement of the orbital welding wire feeding apparatus is simultaneous with that of the extended welding post. As a result of a support bearing and the attachment through a rubber-lined yoke, no mass or stiffness coupling occurs between the wire feeding apparatus and the extended axis post so that the natural frequencies of the extended axis post remain unchanged.

Welding wire feeding apparatus with orbital mounting assembly

A computer controlled apparatus is disclosed for performing a series of laser machining operations on a work piece in an environment comprised of a non-reactive gas with respect to the material of which the work piece is made. The computer controlled apparatus includes a machining chamber for receiving the work piece and means in the form of a pump for directing the non-reactive gas into the machining chamber at a controlled, selected rate. A laser beam is generated by a laser and is focused into a beam along a path to the work piece. An assembly is provided for selectively moving the machining chamber and its work piece therein through a sequence of steps, whereby the relative position between the work piece and the laser beam is changed such that a series of lasing operations and, in particular, welds may be effected on a sequence of selected sites of the work piece. A computer is programmed to control the rate at which the non-reactive gas is introduced into the machining chamber, as well as to the machining sites of the work piece, whereby the selectively moving assembly may be controlled to dispose the work piece to effect the series of welding operations.

Laser machining system

Laser machining a work piece in an environment that is non-reactive to the material of which the work piece is made. In particular, the laser machining apparatus includes a chamber for readily receiving a work piece and means for moving the work piece along its X, Y, and Z axes with respect to the laser beam, while maintaining the purity of the machining environment. To this end, the machining chamber is mounted upon means for driving the machining chamber along X and Y axes. The machining environment is maintained within the machining chamber and a sealing means taking the form of a plate having a substantially flat surface, that is disposed of a substantially uniform distance from the peripheral edge of the machining chamber, so that the machining chamber may be driven without resistance by the moving means. The work piece is moved along the Z-axis, by means comprising a mounting plate rotatively disposed within the machining chamber and adapted to be coupled with drive means, whereby the mounting plate and the work piece secured thereto may be rotatively disposed with respect to the laser beam.

Movable machining chamber with rotatable work piece fixture

A laser machining apparatus is disclosed as including a bed lying on a floor surface for supporting a source of a laser beam with respect to a work piece supported upon the bed. The bed is of a rigid construction and defines a substantially planar, reference surface for supporting at least one machining chamber for receiving and establishing about the work piece an environment that is non-reactive to the material of which the work piece is made. A work piece housing is fixedly attached to the reference surface for defining a second, substantially planar sealing surface with respect to the reference surface. An adjusting mechanism in the illustrative form of a finely threaded screw serves to accurately position the machining chamber and in particular a peripheral flange thereof to provide a uniform gap between the peripheral flange and the sealing surface in a manner to permit ready movement of the machining chamber with respect to the sealing surface. The machining chamber is mounted on a platform and once adjusted by the adjusting mechanism, is affixedly attached by suitable fasteners to the work piece housing. The laser source is mounted upon a frame fixedly attached to the reference surface of the bed. In particular, the laser source is disposed upon a laser subbase which defines a second substantially planar surface and is structurally rigid, whereby positioning means may position the subbase so that the emitted laser beam is accurately and rigidly disposed with respect to the first reference surface and therefore, the workpiece.

Rigid support for laser machining apparatus

This invention provides shielded access to the irradiated heat exchanger tube bundle of a nuclear steam generator contained within a cask after removal from the generator. This tube bundle must be reduced in size and confined for removal from the containment building through hatchways of generally limited size. Access to the enclosed bundle is at the flanged joints of adjacent sections forming the cask and which are vertically separated to permit an oxygen lance to be inserted therein for burning the tubes at that level. A rotatably supported annular seal ring covers the separation and shields against the escape of radiation or irradiated material during the burning process. The ring provides access ports through which roller supports are mounted on the cask and provide access of the cutting tool to the tubes. Rotation of the ring on the rollers permits the tool to be inserted completely around the cask. After the tubes within one section of the cask are severed, the tubes and that portion of the cask are removed and the ring raised to a next position where the procedure is repeated.

Radiation shield ring assembly and method of disassembling components of

A method and apparatus for effecting within a nuclear power plant horizontal separation of the vertically-extending cylindrical wall of the shell of a steam generator by an accurate cutting technique that generates a weld accommodating profile in preparation for subsequent rejoining. This is attained by progressive installation of horizontal hinged-section tension band assemblies around the shell, adding vertical anchor members clamped to the bands at circumferential intervals therearound, hanging and locking track support brackets onto the anchor members, assembly of a multiple-section rigidized circular track onto the support brackets and around the shell, vertically and radially adjusting and locking the track in place, roller mounting a carriage-supported milling machine assembly on the track, and taking a series of tapered milling cuts in the shell wall while the milling machine assembly is moved along the track by use of gear teeth thereon.

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Allison Park, PA, United States of America

Donald L Wolfe