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:
Jan. 09, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1993
William E Pirl, Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA (US);
Kurt K Lichtenfels, Murrysville, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A frame is coupled to a remotely operable service arm (ROSA), and a rotatable carousel, in turn, is carried by the frame to position several tool modules used in a welding operation adjacent to a damaged tube in a tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator. The arm positions an alignment module directly beneath the damaged tube and the module aligns the carousel. The carousel is rotated to sequentially align and register a laser welding module, a cleaning module, and an inspection module with the damaged tube for a welding operation on a lower portion of the damaged tube in the tubesheet area. One embodiment for the alignment module has a pneumatically operated pin which is operator controlled, and which has an increasing diameter from its distal end to obtain a gross to a vernier alignment of the carousel and, thus, a proper alignment for the remaining modules. A further embodiment provides an alignment pin which is automatically computer controlled without operator intervention. Limit switches and grooves are used as a logic checking device for the proper positioning of a respective module in the frame, and a pneumatically operated radial pin holds the module in the frame.