Multiple-unit probe pusher and system for driving eddy current inspection probes in the heat exchanger tubes of a nuclear steam generator

Patent · Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:5109881

Burack, R D; Ritz, W C; Lutz, C E

This patent describes a system for driving inspection probes through heat exchanger tubes in a nuclear steam generator. It comprises a multiple-unit probe pusher including a housing containing a plurality of independently actuable drive means and a same plurality of inlets and outlets passing through the housing, thereby providing a plurality of probe drive paths, each having an inlet, an outlet, and a drive means; a control means for independently actuating each of the plurality of drive means of the multiple-unit probe pusher; a multiple-unit probe storage means located outside of the nuclear steam generator including a plurality of probe take-up means for feeding and receiving a probe to and from the multiple-unit probe pusher, wherein there is at least one take-up means for each probe drive path; and a guide means for receiving and directing selected probes from any one of the plurality of probe drive paths from the multiple-unit probe pusher to selected tubes for inspection; wherein the guide means is incapable of receiving all of the probes simultaneously such that at least one of the probes and its associated drive path is immediately available as a spare in the event that one of the selected probes fails.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5105876; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-375989
• OSTI ID: 5109881
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 6 Jul 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
42 ENGINEERING
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
STEAM GENERATORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
PROBES
REACTOR MONITORING SYSTEMS
BOILERS
ENERGY TRANSFER
INSPECTION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
VAPOR GENERATORS
220400* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Control Systems
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
220200 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories