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:
Mar. 02, 1999
Filed:
May. 09, 1997
Brian H Burrows, Campbell, CA (US);
Michael Y Suekawa, San Jose, CA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enabling repeatable positioning of inspection and other service tools on an inner diameter of a shroud wall between a top guide and core plate in a boiling water nuclear reactor are described. In one embodiment, the delivery system includes a positioning unit configured to attach to a shroud head flange, a strong back assembly, and a rail assembly connected to the strong back assembly. The positioning unit includes a horizontal member having a plurality of slots and circular shaped openings to mate with seismic pins on the shroud head flange, a radial member and a z-axis adjustment assembly. The radial member extends from the horizontal member to the z-axis adjustment assembly. The z-axis adjustment assembly includes a mast coupling and an elongate screw threadedly attached to the coupling so that as the screw rotates, the coupling moves relative to the radial member. The strong back assembly includes a mast and an extension unit. The mast attaches to the coupling of the positioning unit, and the extension unit is connected to one end of the mast. The mast transfers the load between the extension unit and the positioning unit, thereby causing the shroud to support the weight of the tools. The rail assembly is connected to the extension unit, and the rail assembly includes a rail and a mounting plate movably secured to the rail. The rail assembly further includes a motor coupled to the mounting plate for moving the mounting plate relative to, and along, rail. The rail assembly also includes a plurality of suction cups for removable attachment to an inner wall of the shroud.