Positioning means for circumferentially locating inspection apparatus in a nuclear reactor vessel

• US 4,174,999 A
• Filed: 03/25/1977
• Issued: 11/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burns, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle, Samuel W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cangialosi, S. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/781,403
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 176/19, 176/30, 73/618, 73/619, 73/620, 73/622, 73/623, 73/625, 73/633, 73/640, 73/641
• US Class Current: 376/249
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/01 Inspection of the inner surfaces of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

Positioning means for locating inspection apparatus used to volumetrically examine a nuclear reactor vessel is disclosed. The positioning means is provided with a support ring having an annular key positioned longitudinally about its periphery. Three support legs are attached to the support ring by brackets adapted to fit the annular key. In addition, the support ring also carries three guide stud bushings which are movably mounted thereon by clamps adapted to engage the support ring key. Prior to lowering the inspection apparatus into the vessel, the guide stud bushings are each moved to a point of alignment with one of three guide studs extending upwardly from the vessel. After alignment has been verified, the guide stud bushings are clamped in position.

The inspection apparatus is now lowered towards its fully seated position within the vessel and is coarsely circumferentially positioned with respect thereto by the engagement of the guide studs within the guide stud bushings. A fine degree of circumferential positioning is achieved by providing a specially configured shoe for one of the support legs. With the core barrel internals in, the special shoe is adapted to key onto a core barrel pin the exact location of which is known. With the core barrel internals removed, the special shoe is adapted to place a locating key into a notch in a vessel flange, the location of which is also exactly known. Thus, as the inspection apparatus is lowered into its fully seated position, exact circumferential positioning thereof with respect to the vessel is achieved. The other support legs rest on an inner circumferential flange so that no portion of the inspection apparatus touches or threatens the vessel'"'"'s top flange.

Claims

1. Apparatus for locating an inspection device within a nuclear reactor vessel for volumetric examination thereof, the vessel having an external flange having located thereon a plurality of guide studs extending upwardly therefrom defining a generally circular path, an internal locating element the exact position of which is known and an internal circumferential flange, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a support ring generally sized to relate to the path defined by the position of the guide studs;

(b) a plurality of guide stud bushings, equal in quantity to the number of guide studs, said bushings being larger in internal diameter than the outer diameter of the guide studs;

(c) first clamping means for movably mounting said bushings on said support ring to enable, when loosened, alignment of each of said bushings with one of said guide studs;

(d) at least three support legs, all but one of said support legs including means for adapting said legs to contact and rest upon the internal circumferential vessel flange, the remaining support leg including means for adapting said leg to engage the internal locating element; and

(e) second clamping means for mounting said support legs to said support ring at a point thereon which insures that the internal circumferential vessel flange and the internal locating element are simultaneously and respectively contacted and engaged.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support ring includes means for positively engaging said first and second clamping means in a predetermined alignment and said first and second clamping means include means for accepting said positive engagement with said support ring.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said support ring means for positively engaging comprises an annular longitudinal key running about its periphery and said first and second clamping means for engagement comprises a keyway sized to accept said support ring key.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said remaining support leg means for adapting includes a keyed plate mounted to said remaining leg when the core barrel of the reactor vessel remains in place.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said remaining support leg means for adapting includes a locating key mounted to said remaining leg when the core barrel of the reactor vessel is removed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said remaining support leg means for adapting includes a keyed plate mounted to said remaining leg when the core barrel of the reactor vessel remains in place.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said remaining support leg means for adapting includes a locating key mounted to said remaining leg when the core barrel of the reactor vessel is removed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support legs include means for extending said legs radially with respect to said support ring.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said support legs include means for extending said legs radially with respect to said support ring.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

14. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said support legs include means for extending said legs radially with respect to said support ring.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

17. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said support legs include means for extending said legs radially with respect to said support ring.

18. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said first clamping means is adapted to clamp said guide stud bushings at varying radial distances from said support rings.