The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1989
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1987
Thomas E Arzenti, Munhall, PA (US);
William E Pirl, Level Green, PA (US);
Annette M Costlow, Plum Borough, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for remotely inserting and positioning a sleeve-loaded mandrel within a damaged tube mounted in the tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The apparatus of the invention generally comprises a frame, a mounting mechanism for detachably and pivotally mounting the frame to the open end of one of a first tube in the tubesheet, an advancing assembly supported by the frame for remotely inserting and advancing the sleeve-loaded mandrel to a position across a damaged section of the selected tube, and a drive train for pivotally positioning the advancing assembly into alignment with the open end of the selected tube. In the preferred embodiment, the advancing means is formed from the pair of hydraulically operated grippers, one of which is reciprocably movable with respect to the other. Additionally, the mounting mechanism inlcudes a double-action hydraulic cylinder that is capable of translating the frame into engagement with the tubesheet after the advancing assembly has been pivoted into alignment with the damaged tube. In the method of the invention, the first tube is chosen so that the advancement assembly may be pivoted into position under two or more tubes that need to be sleeved.