JP3389002B2 - Multiple probe feeder assembly - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multiple probe feeder assembly for sending and pulling back a plurality of probes. 2. Description of the Related Art A multiple probe feeder assembly is used to check a large number of hard-to-reach or dangerous places and to perform cleaning and other operations at a plurality of places at the same time. I have. For example, in the inspection of a heat transfer tube of a steam generator of a nuclear power plant, a so-called twin probe feeder assembly including two probe feeders has conventionally been used. FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional twin probe feeder assembly, and FIG. 8 is a plan view thereof. As shown, the twin probe feeder assembly 4
Numeral 0 is constituted by one set of a feeding device 41, two reel drums 42, and a frame 43. Further, the feed device 41 includes a servo motor 41a,
Speed reducer 41b, two drive rollers 41c provided on each of two output shafts on both sides of the speed reducer 41b, a guide roller 41d provided to face each drive roller 41c, and It is constituted by an encoder 4 provided adjacent to the guide roller 41d. The feeding device 41 is fixed to the gantry 43, and the two reel drums 42 are arranged on an extension of two sets of the drive rollers 41c, and are rotatably fixed to the gantry 43. The twin probe feeder assembly 40 thus configured includes two reel drums 42 each of which is a rope-shaped probe 2 having both flexibility and rigidity provided with an ETC probe at the tip thereof. And the leading ends of the probe 2 are respectively driven by a driving roller 41c and a guide roller 41d of the feeding device 41.
And is held between them. When inspecting a large number of heat transfer tubes of a steam generator, for example, using the twin probe feeder assembly 40 configured as described above, first, the two probes 2 from the twin probe feeder assembly 40 are inspected. And the ETC probe is manually inserted into the openings of the two heat transfer tubes through the manhole of the steam generator. Next, the servo motor 41a is driven in the normal rotation direction. By driving the servo motor 41a, the reduction gear 41b
Roller 41c and guide roller 4 driven through
The probe 2 sandwiched and held by 1d is fed out from the reel drum 42 and sent out from the twin probe feeding device 40. The sending length and sending speed of the probe 2 are measured by the encoder 4, and the driving conditions of the servomotor 41a are controlled based on the measured values as needed. The probe 2 is sequentially sent into the heat transfer tube due to its flexibility and rigidity, and the ETC probe advances in the heat transfer tube to collect inspection information, and the inspection information obtained by the ETC probe is sequentially recorded. Is done. When the ETC probe reaches the other end of the heat transfer tube, the servo motor 41a is temporarily stopped, and then the servo motor 41a is driven in the reverse direction. The probe 2 is sequentially pulled back from the heat transfer tube to the twin probe feeder assembly 40 and rewound onto the reel drum 42, and the ETC probe retreats in the heat transfer tube. During this retreat, the ETC probe collects inspection information as needed. When the ETC probe returns to the original opening, the servo motor 41a is stopped. Thereafter, the two ETC probes are pulled out of the heat transfer tubes and inserted again into the next two untested heat transfer tubes. The above operation is repeated until the inspection of all the heat transfer tubes of the steam generator or all the heat transfer tubes that need to be inspected is completed. [0005] Since the conventional twin probe feeder assembly 40 is configured as described above, there are the following problems. That is, since the probe 2 is sent out and pulled back between the drive roller 41c and the guide roller 41d, the probe 2 and the drive roller 41c and the guide roller 4d are pulled out.
1d may cause a slip phenomenon. Further, since the two sets of drive rollers 41c are integrally driven by one reduction gear 41b, it is impossible to individually drive one set of drive rollers 41c. That is, the slip phenomena occurring in the two probes 2 do not occur simultaneously, nor do they occur under the same conditions. As a result, the sending lengths of the two probes 2 are different. Therefore, the two ETC probes do not reach the other end of the heat transfer tube at the same time, and an untested portion remains in the heat transfer tube that the ETC probe does not reach. In order to inspect the uninspected portion, it is necessary to remove the probe 2 from the twin probe feeder assembly 40, manually inspect the probe 2, and re-attach the probe 2 to the twin probe feeder assembly 40. Greatly decreases. Also, when performing a repair work for adjusting the sending length of the two probes 2 in the middle of the heat transfer tube, the same labor is required. The slip phenomenon may also occur when the probe 2 is pulled back, and it is necessary to perform a manual operation for equalizing the retraction lengths of the two probes 2. Efficiency is greatly reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is intended to make sure that a plurality of probes can be sent out and withdrawn without slipping, and that the slipping occurs. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multiple probe feeder assembly capable of easily performing a repair operation on an individual probe. [0007] In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a plurality of feeders each having a probe holding portion for holding a probe, and the same number of reel drums as the feeders. In the multiple probe feeder assembly comprising: an endless flexible drive / transport member for driving the probe, wherein each probe holder of the feeder has an endless flexible drive member capable of adjusting a pressing force. And each of the feeders is provided with a separate drive for the drive and transport member, and each of the reel drums is rotatable separately. A preferred embodiment of a multiple probe feeder assembly according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view of a multiple probe feeder assembly according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a feeder portion of FIG. 1,
5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows V-V in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a use state of the multiple probe feeder assembly. In addition, the same code | symbol is used below also about the member which is the same, similar or corresponding to the member represented by the code | symbol used for description in the prior art. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a multiple probe feeder assembly, which is a multiple probe feeder assembly equipped with four probes 2 as an example of a multiple feeder (hereinafter, referred to as a feeder assembly). 1 is shown. The feeder assembly 1 includes four feeders 10, four reel drums 20, and a gantry 30. Each of the feeders 10 further includes a motor 11 with a speed reducer, a drive sprocket 12a provided on an output shaft of the motor 11 with a speed reducer,
Driven sprocket 1 horizontally arranged in pairs with
2b, a so-called driving plastic combination chain (endless flexible driving and conveying member) 13a looped around the driving sprocket 12a and the driven sprocket 12b, and a first free sprocket 12c disposed opposite to the driving sprocket 12a. A second free sprocket 12d, which is paired with the first free sprocket 12c and is opposed to the driven sprocket 12b; a so-called presser plug which is wound around the first free sprocket 12c and the second free sprocket 12d A support 14 that rotatably supports the combination chain (endless flexible pressing and conveying member) 13b, the first free sprocket 12c and the second free sprocket 12d, and the support 14
, And an encoder 4 disposed along an extension of the opposing position of the driving plastic combination chain 13a and the holding plastic combination chain 13b. [0010] The four feeders 1 thus configured
0, the motor 11 with the reduction gear is fixed to a feeder base 16 that is integrated in common with four pieces, the driven sprocket 12b and the encoder 4 are rotatably supported, and the air jack 15 is Fixed so that the operation direction is perpendicular to the moving direction of the probe 2,
Supported. The driving plastic combination chain 13a and the holding plastic combination chain 13b are composed of a combination of a roller chain and a flexible or elastic belt, preferably made of plastic or rubber. Thus, grooves or cuts are formed at equal intervals. Each reel drum 20 has an inner cylindrical member 2
1 is covered with a non-rotating cover 22, and an axially outer side cover 23 is detachably fixed to an end plate of the cylindrical member 21 with a plurality of wing nuts 24. A hole for passing the probe 2 is formed at an appropriate position on the cover 22. The gantry 30 is arranged side by side with the gantry 16 for the feeding device. The gantry 30 also includes four reel drums 20 supported by a well-known support stand.
Are arranged on the rear of the extension lines of the opposing surfaces of the driving plastic combination chains 13a and the holding plastic combination chains 13b of the four feeding devices 10, respectively. Of the four reel drums, two reel drums each having the same axis at the same height are provided with bearings 32 by shafts 31a and 31b, respectively.
So that the cylindrical member 21 is rotatable via
I support it. In the feeder assembly 1 configured as described above, the side covers 23 of the four reel drums 20 are removed, and the four probes 2 are wound around the respective peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical members 21. After a while
The side cover 23 is attached, and the tip of the probe 2 is driven by the driving plastic combination chain 13a of the feeding device 10.
And the presser plastic combination chain 13b. The encoder 4 is at a position where the speed and the like of each probe 2 can be detected. When inspecting a large number of heat transfer tubes 52 of the steam generator 50 using the feeder assembly 1 configured as described above, first, as shown in FIG. The four probes 2 are pulled out by a required length, and the manhole 5 of the steam generator 50 is manually drawn.
1, one E is inserted into each of the openings of the four heat transfer tubes 52.
Insert the TC probe 3. After that, the following operations and operations are simultaneously performed in each feeder 10. First, the air jack 15 is operated to support the support 14 connected thereto.
Is pressed down, and the plastic combination chain 13 is pressed with a predetermined pressing force.
b is pressed against the driving plastic combination chain 13a. As a result, the probe 2 is elastically held between the driving plastic combination chain 13a and the holding plastic combination chain 13b with a predetermined holding force. Next, the motor 11 with a speed reducer is driven in the normal rotation direction. By driving the motor 11 with a reduction gear,
The driving plastic combination chain 13a is driven via the driving sprocket 12a, and the probe 2 elastically clamped between the driving plastic combination chain 13b and the pressing plastic combination chain 13b is connected to the reel drum 20.
From the feeder assembly 1. The sending length and sending speed of the probe 2 are detected by the encoder 4 that operates in accordance with the movement of the probe 2, and the driving conditions of the motor with reduction gear 11 are controlled as necessary based on the detected value. The probe 2 is sequentially fed into the heat transfer tube 52 due to its flexibility and rigidity, and the ETC probe 3 advances in the heat transfer tube to collect inspection information, and obtains the ETC probe 3. The inspection information is sequentially recorded. When the ETC probe 3 reaches the other end of the heat transfer tube 52, the motor 11 with the speed reducer is temporarily stopped, and then the motor 11 with the speed reducer is driven in the reverse direction. The probe 2 is sequentially pulled back from the heat transfer tube 52 to the feeder assembly 1 and rewound onto the reel drum 20, and the ETC probe 3 retreats in the tube. Even during this retreat, the ETC probe 3 collects inspection information as needed. When the ETC probe 3 returns to the original opening, the motor 11 with the reduction gear is stopped. Thereafter, the ETC probe 3 is pulled out of the heat transfer tube 52, inserted again into the untested heat transfer tube 52, and the above operation is repeated. This repetition is performed until the inspection of all the heat transfer tubes 52 of the steam generator 50 or all the heat transfer tubes 52 that need to be inspected is completed. In the above description, as an example, the case where the feeder assembly 1 according to the present invention is used for inspection of the heat transfer tube 52 of the steam generator 50 of a nuclear power plant has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and can be applied to heat transfer tubes of various heat exchangers used in thermal power plants, chemical plants, general industrial fields, and the like. Further, the contents of work can be applied to send a tool for cleaning or repairing the inside of the pipe. Therefore, instead of the ETC probe 3, various sensors, observation cameras, cleaning tools, repair tools, and the like can be used. Further, not only the case where the number of the probes 2 is four, but also a multiple probe feeder assembly equipped with a plurality of other probes 2 can be provided. Since the multiple probe feeder assembly according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, in each feeding device, the probe is sandwiched between the flexible driving and conveying member that drives the probe and the flexible pressing and conveying member that can adjust the pressing force, and is adjusted to a sufficient holding force. By being sent out and pulled back while being held, the probe can be reliably sent out and pulled back without causing a slip phenomenon of the probe. In addition, since the driving devices of the driving / conveying members are provided in the individual feeding devices, and the reel drums are individually rotatable, the driving devices are individually driven even if a slip phenomenon occurs, By individually sending or pulling out the probes as necessary, a repair operation for mutually adjusting the sending lengths of the plurality of probes can be easily performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view showing a multiple probe feeder assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the multiple probe feeder assembly of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the multiple probe feeder assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a feeder portion in the multiple probe feeder assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a view showing a use state of the multiple probe feeding device assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional twin probe feeder assembly. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the twin probe feeder assembly of FIG. 7; [Description of Signs] 1. Multiple probe feeder assembly, 2. Probe,
3: ETC probe, 10: feeder, 11: motor with reduction gear (drive), 12a: drive sprocket, 13a
... Driving plastic combination chain (driving and conveying member), 13b ...
Pressing plastic combination chain (pressing and conveying member), 15: air jack, 16: mount for feeder, 20: reel drum, 30: mount, 31a: shaft, 31b: shaft.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-342095 (JP, A) JP-A-9-19884 (JP, A) JP-A-8-15479 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 250396 (JP, A) JP-A-3-42776 (JP, U) US Patent 5,105,876 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G21C 19/02 B08B 9/04 G01N 27/90 G21C 17/003

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A multiple probe feeding device including a plurality of feeding devices each having a probe holding portion for holding a probe, and the same number of reel drums as the feeding devices. In the assembly, each probe holding portion of the feeder includes an endless flexible driving and conveying member for driving the probe, and an endless flexible pressing and conveying member capable of adjusting a pressing force, The multiple probe feeding device assembly, wherein each of the feeding devices includes a driving device for the driving / transporting member, and each of the reel drums is individually rotatable.