Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Robert P Vestovich

Warren R Junker

Michael J Metala

William G Clark, Jr

Bruce W Bevilacqua

Lee W Burtner

Thomas E Arzenti

Harold P Johnson

Herbert E Ferree

Paul J Boone

Wenche W Cheng

Daniel E Klinvex

Robert D Senger

Michael D Hecht

Raymond G Kelly, Jr

George A Savage

Kurt K Lichtenfiels

Michael H Canton

Anthony Grieco

Tara D Mapson

Stanley F Niziol

Bruce R Cox

An improved robotic arm system for servicing the tubesheet located within the channel head of a nuclear steam generator is provided. The system includes a robotic arm whose shoulder and elbow joints are rotatable only in the plane parallel to the tubesheet in order to eliminate the imposition of cantileverly-induced torques on the electric motors driving these joints, as well as to minimize the possibility of mechanical interference between the arm and the walls of the channel head. Each of the motorized joint assemblies of the arm includes resolvers connected not only to the output of the drive train that moves the joint, but also to the drive shaft of the electric motor that drives the drive train, wherein the feedback signal generated by the resolver connected to the drive shaft of the electric motor is the primary signal used to modulate the amount of electric power conducted to the motor of the joint. Such a configuration advantageously results in smoother robotic arm movement. Finally, the control circuit assembly of the robotic arm system includes a control processing unit (CPU) which is capable of simultaneously driving not only the joint assemblies of the robotic arm, but also any computer-operated mechanisms associated with a variety of end effectors which the arm is capable of delivering. The CPU, power supply and other components of the control circuit assembly are installable in the containment area surrounding the steam generator in order to eliminate the number of cable penetrations through the containment walls that are necessary to operate the system.

Robotic system for servicing the heat exchanger tubes of a nuclear steam

Both an apparatus and a method for simultaneously inspecting the walls of a tube with both ultrasonic and eddy current probes is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a cylindrical housing assembly insertable within the tube to be inspected, and a probe carrier rotatably mounted within and helically movable with respect to the housing. The probe carrier holds three ultrasonic probes for transmitting ultrasonic beams which are directly oriented radially, chordally, and axially with resepect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, as well as an eddy current probe for simultaneously inspecting the walls of the tube with electromagnetic lines of flux. The apparatus further includes a helical drive train formed from a lead screw assembly having a motor means, a drive shaft, and a drive sleeve for imparting a helical scanning motion to the probe carrier with respect to the housing. The interior of the drive sleeve is slidably engaged to the shaft which is in turn coupled to the output of the motor, while the outside of the drive sleeve is threadedly engaged to the interior of the housing. The probe carrier is in turn coupled to the drive sleeve. In the method of the invention, the data generated by the three eddy current probes is correlated with the data generated by the eddy current probe for each specific section of the tube, and displayed simultaneously to the system operator. The resulting complementary display of both ultrasonic and eddy current probe information allows the system operator to accurately determine the size, shape and nature of any flaws which may be present in the walls of the tube.

Apparatus and method for providing a combined ultrasonic and eddy

Both an apparatus and a method for simultaneously inspecting the walls of a tube with both ultrasonic and eddy current probes is disclosed herein. The apparatus generally comprises a cylindrical housing assembly insertable within the tube to be inspected, and a probe carrier rotatably mounted within and helically movable with respect to the housing. The probe carrier holds three ultrasonic probes for transmitting ultrasonic beams which are directly oriented radially, chordally, an axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, as well as an eddy current probe for simultaneously inspecting the walls of the tube with electromagnetic lines of flux. The apparatus further includes a helical drive train formed from a lead screw assembly having a motor means, a drive shaft, and a drive sleeve for imparting a helical scanning motion to the probe carrier with respect to the housing. The interior of the drive sleeve is slidably engaged to the shaft which is in turn coupled to the output of the motor, while the outside of the drive sleeve is threadedly engaged to the interior of the housing. The probe carrier is in turn coupled to the drive sleeve. In the method of the invention, the data generated by the three eddy current probes is correlated with the data generated by the eddy current probe for each specific section of the tube, and displayed simultaneously to the system operator. The resulting complementary display of both ultrasonic and eddy current probe information allows the system operator to accurately determine the size, shape and nature of any flaws which may be present in the walls of the tube.

Calibration apparatus for calibrating an ultrasonic transducer array by moving it along an arcuate calibration test member, includes four upright posts interconnected by a rectangular carriage which is slidably movable vertically along the posts. A horizontal pivot shaft is rotatably mounted on the carriage. Fixed to the shaft and depending therefrom are two pendulum arms, interconnected at their lower ends by a pair of cross bars on which is slidably mounted a mounting block. An attachment rod is vertically slidably movable in the mounting block and carries a coupling joint at its lower end for mounting the transducer array. A reversible gearmotor drives the pivot shaft through a chain and sprocket assembly in an oscillating motion. Backlash in the gear train is reduced by a bias weight.

Adjustable radius apparatus for calibrating ultrasonic transducer array

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Monroeville, PA, United States of America

Robert P Vestovich