General Electric Company

Paul B Tuck

Michael Kent Cueman

George Charles Sogoian

John J Kaehler

Steven Robert Hayashi

Bahram Keramati

Donna C Hurley

James Wilson Clark

Gregory C Gilmore

A method and an apparatus for measuring a tapered cylindrical object, such as a mandrel. The apparatus employs a linear positioning table assembly with a slide mounting for a laser micrometer, an axial position stepper motor for moving the laser micrometer stepwise along the axial length of the mandrel, and an angular position stepper motor for stepwise rotation of the object. The laser micrometer measures a cross-sectional diameter of the mandrel at a plurality of angular positions of the mandrel for each one of a plurality of axial positions along the length of the mandrel. The measurements taken at a plurality of angular positions constitute a circumference profile at that axial position. The circumference profiles at a plurality of axial positions constitute the contour profile of the mandrel. The acquired data are compared to desired mandrel contour profile data.

Pilger mill mandrel measuring device

A system and method for monitoring a pilger mill having a crankshaft driving rolls with a reciprocating motion to reduce a tube over a mandrel. A linear sensor coupled to the mandrel supplies a mandrel position signal. A rotary sensor coupled to the crankshaft supplies a crankshaft angle signal. A processor for combining the mandrel position signal and the crankshaft angle signal provides a mandrel motion signal characteristic of the tube reduction.

System for monitoring a pilger wall

An apparatus and method for aiming an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. A tubular member having an axial bore with the transducer extending therein has an upper section, and a lower section with a threaded outer surface and an inner receiving surface. A ferrule assembly includes a compression nut mating with the threaded surface, and a ferrule biased by the compression nut against the receiving surface to form a waterproof seal with the transducer. A collar having a first annular section is detachably mounted coaxially on the tubular member. The first annular section extending to a second annular section having cut-outs suitable for providing access to manipulate the compression nut. The second annular section extending to a third annular section having a positioning members facing a section of the transducer extending from the tubular member.

Apparatus for aiming transducer in ultrasonic gauge

An ultrasonic gauging apparatus is disclosed suitable for dynamic ultrasonic gauging in the harsh environment of a tube forming operation. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned in a tubular member by a ferrule mount. The tubular member is attached to a platform having spring biasing that permits limited motion of the transducer while maintaining a preselect orientation of the transducer relative to the tube.

Dynamic ultrasonic gauge apparatus with a ferrule mounting to position a

To minimize the incurrence of defects in the inner surface of a nuclear fuel cladding tube produced in a pilger mill from a Zircaloy tube, a loading sleeve is inserted onto the pilgering mandrel assembly in close fitting relation, and the Zircaloy tube is then inserted onto the sleeve in close fitting relation. The sleeve, formed of ABS plastic, is then withdrawn, leaving the Zircaloy tube loaded on the mandrel assembly preparatory to reducing the Zircaloy tube down to cladding tube dimensions in the pilger mill.

Tube loading sleeve for pilger mill

Apparatus for measuring flaws in an object, such as a tube, having both an erratic motion, e.g. a back and forth oscillation, and a net axial motion has an idler wheel engaging the tube, and a digital rotary shaft encoder attached to the wheel. A POP circuit is coupled to the encoder. A pair of coils disposed around the object make up the active elements in an eddy current bridge. An ADC is coupled to both the bridge and POP circuit and corrects the signal from the bridge for motion complications. A method for doing same comprises sensing only the net motion of the object, detecting flaws in the object, providing an erratic motion complicated flaw signal, and correcting the flaw signal for the erratic motion.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Paul B Tuck