Granted Patent B2

US 8,800,500 · App. 13/078,017 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A rail for a miniature sludge lance that is used in a steam generator, said steam generator having a shell defining an enclosed space, at least one primary fluid inlet port, at least one primary fluid outlet port, at least one secondary fluid inlet port, at least one secondary fluid outlet port, a plurality of substantially uniformly sized tubes extending between, and in fluid communication with, said at least one primary fluid inlet port and at least one primary fluid outlet port, said tubes disposed in a substantially regular pattern having substantially uniform, narrow gaps between at least some of adjacent tubes, said shell having at least one inspection opening disposed adjacent to said plurality of tubes, said sludge lance including a mounting a assembly, a drive assembly and a nozzle assembly, said mounting assembly structured to support said drive assembly and the rail, said drive assembly structured to move the rail through said inspection opening, said drive assembly coupled to said mounting assembly, said nozzle assembly having a body assembly, said nozzle assembly body assembly sized to pass between adjacent tubes, said nozzle assembly body assembly defining a water passage, said nozzle assembly body assembly structured to be coupled to a rail body with said nozzle assembly body assembly water passage being in fluid communication with a rail body water passage, said rail comprising:

an elongated body and a drive shaft, said rail body having a first end and a second end, said rail body sized to pass between adjacent tubes, said rail body defining the rail body water passage and a drive shaft passage, said drive shaft rotatably disposed in said drive shaft passage, said rail body movably coupled to said drive assembly, said rail water passage structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with, a water supply,

whereby, as said rail body is moved through said inspection opening, said nozzle assembly passes between adjacent tubes;

said rail further includes a number of rail assemblies and a water manifold;

each said rail assembly having a drive shaft segment and an elongated body;

each said rail assembly body having a first end and a second end and defining a water passage and a drive shaft passage, each said rail assembly body sized to pass between adjacent tubes;

each said drive shaft segment having a first end and a second end, each said drive shaft end structured to be keyed coupling;

said water manifold structured to be coupled to, and in fluid communication with, a water supply and having a drive shaft segment and a body with a first end and a second end and defining a water passage and a drive shaft passage;

said water manifold body first end coupled to the second end of the rail assembly body disposed at said rail body second end; and

wherein said water manifold drive shaft segment and each said rail assembly drive shaft segment are temporarily fixed to each other to form said drive shaft.

2. The rail of claim 1 wherein each said drive shaft segment includes at least one bearing disposed between said drive shaft segment and said rail assembly body drive shaft passage.

3. The rail of claim 2 wherein:

each said drive shaft segment includes at least one reduced diameter portion; and

each said at least one bearing disposed at said drive shaft segment reduced diameter portion.

4. The rail of claim 3 wherein:

each said at least one bearing has a length; and

each said drive shaft segment reduced diameter portion having an axial length that is greater than said at least one bearing length.

5. The rail of claim 4 wherein:

each said rail assembly includes a coupling assembly having first coupling component disposed at said rail assembly body first end and a second coupling component disposed at said rail assembly body second end; and

said coupling assembly structured to couple said rail assemblies in series.

6. The rail of claim 5 wherein:

each said rail assembly coupling assembly first coupling component includes at least one threaded fastener disposed at said rail assembly body first end; and

each said rail assembly coupling assembly second coupling component includes at least one threaded bore disposed at said rail assembly body second end.

7. The rail of claim 6 wherein:

each said rail assembly includes a water passage seal: and

each said rail assembly water passage seal disposed at the first end of the associated rail assembly body, each said water passage seal structured to sealingly engage an adjacent rail assembly body.

8. The rail of claim 1 wherein each said rail assembly body has a substantially uniform length.

9. The rail of claim 1 wherein

said rail includes a head assembly, said head assembly structured to movably support said nozzle assembly, said head assembly having a body with a first end and a second end and defining a water passage and a drive shaft passage, said head assembly body sized to pass between adjacent tubes;

said head assembly body second end coupled to the first end of the rail assembly body disposed at said rail first end; and

wherein said head assembly body, said at least one rail assembly body and said water manifold body define said rail water passage and said drive shaft passage.

Assignments (9)