Measurement device

• US 7,334,341 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
• Inventors: Hall, Scott, Baucom, Darryl, Abbott, John, Donaldson, Teresa K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton; Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US11/189,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 332/86, 334/12, 335/29, 33D/IG.1
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/007 Inspection of the outer surfaces of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A measurement device provides coordinates for a specified location and position on the exterior surface of a vessel, including a base adapted to contact the exterior surface of the vessel; a rail extending upwardly from the base, the rail including a measurement scale; a head slidably supported by the rail; the head including a clamping mechanism used to releasably secure the head to the rail; and a laser carried by the head for projecting an image on the exterior surface of the vessel. The device quickly measures both the radial position and the angular position of an indicated location relative to the axis of the nozzle, and the skew of a transducer probe which provided the indicated location.

Claims

1. A quantitative measurement device capable of providing coordinates in three dimensions, for a specified location and orientation on the exterior surface of a vessel, comprising:

a base adapted to contact the exterior surface of the vessel, wherein said base is capable of being oriented at various positions on the exterior surface of the vessel;

a rail extending from the base, the rail including a measurement scale for determining a location coordinate in a first dimension;

an angle indicator for determining a location coordinate in a second dimension, the angular position of the rail;

a head slidably supported by the rail;

a laser carried by the head for projecting an image on the exterior surface of the vessel; and

means for determining the orientation of the image in a third dimension.

2. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the base is magnetized.

3. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the angle indicator is an electronic angle indicator.

4. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the angle indicator is a manual angle indicator, the manual angle indicator including a level and a protractor, and being associated with the base such that, when the level is level, and the protractor, according to an indicator, reads a calibrated degree value, the rail is vertically oriented, wherein the calibrated degree value is optionally ninety degrees.

5. The measurement device according to claim 4, wherein, when the base is repositioned on the exterior of the vessel, the angle indicator can be rotated to level the level, and the protractor, according to the indicator, can be read to determine the angular position of the rail and the head supported by the rail relative to vertical.

6. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein, when the image provided by the laser is projected on the exterior surface of the vessel, the measurement scale can be read to determine the radial position of the rail and the head supported by the rail, and the angle indicator can be read to determine the angular position of the rail and the head supported by the rail.

7. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the laser is a cross-hair laser capable of projecting a cross-shaped image.

8. The measurement device according to claim 7, wherein the cross-hair laser is mounted to a degree wheel housing rotatably carried by the head.

9. The measurement device according to claim 8, wherein the specified position on the exterior surface of the vessel is indicated by a traced outline, and when the degree wheel housing is rotated, the cross-shaped image projected by the cross-hair laser is rotated, and the orientation of the cross-shaped image is capable of being related to the skew of the traced outline via degree markings provided on the degree wheel housing.

10. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a clamping mechanism capable of releasably securing the head to the rail.

11. A method of providing three quantitative coordinates for a specified position and orientation on the exterior surface of a vessel, comprising:

placing a measurement device on the exterior surface of the vessel, the measurement device having a base, a rail including a measurement scale extending from the base, an angle indicator for determining the angular position of the rail, and a head slidably supported by the rail;

projecting an image from a laser carried by the head on the exterior surface of the vessel;

centering said image projected from the laser on the specified position by orienting the base around the exterior surface of the vessel, and by adjusting the head on the rail;

orienting said image projected from the laser about the specified position by rotating the laser relative to the head;

determining coordinates of the specified position on the exterior surface of the vessel from the positions of the base and the head; and

determining the coordinate of the specified orientation of the image from the orientation of the laser.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein coordinates of the specified position can be determined by reading an angle indicator associated with the base and a measurement scale included on the rail.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the angle indicator provides the angular position of the rail relative to vertical and the measurement scale provides the radial position of the head supported by the rail.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the angle indicator is an electronic angle indicator.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the angle indicator is a manual angle indicator including a level and a protractor, and being associated with the base such that, when the level is level, and the protractor, according to an indicator, reads a calibrated degree value, the rail is vertically oriented, wherein the calibrated degree value is optionally ninety degrees.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the specified position on the exterior of the vessel is indicated by a traced outline.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cross-hair laser is mounted to a degree wheel housing rotatably carried by the head.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, when the degree wheel housing is rotated, the cross-shaped image projected by the cross-hair laser is rotated, and the orientation of the cross-shaped image is capable of being related to the skew of the traced outline via degree markings provided on the degree wheel housing.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the laser carried by the head is a cross-hair laser projecting a cross-shaped image.

20. The method according to claim 19, including determining the skew of the traced outline by rotating the cross-hair laser relative to the traced outline.