KR101734601B1 - Miniature sludge lance apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A miniature sludge lance for a steam generator of a pressurized light water reactor is provided. The sludge lance is configured to enter the steam generator through the inspection opening and has a body that is thin enough to fit between adjacent tubes. The sludge lance rails have at least two types of nozzle assemblies that can be attached to the sludge lance rails. One nozzle assembly rotates and the other nozzle assembly translates in a vertical direction. Drive assemblies, mounting assemblies, oscillating assemblies, and flow rectifiers are also provided.

Description

[0001] MINIATURE SLUDGE LANCE APPARATUS [0002]

Cross reference of related application

The present application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 257,584 entitled "MINIATURE SLUDGE LANCE APPARATUS", filed November 3, 2009, U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 258,794, filed November 6, 2009, : "HAMMERHEAD"), and U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 257,597, titled "MINIATURE NOZZLE FLOW STRAIGHTENER FOR 90 DEGREE BEND", dated November 3, 2009.

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for a steam generator, and more particularly to a small sludge lance configured to pass between adjacent tubes in a steam generator.

The pressurized light water reactor uses a steam generator to maintain the separation of water ("first order") past the nuclear fuel and water ("second order") passing through the electricity generating turbine. The steam generator includes an outer shell forming a sealed space, at least one first fluid inlet, at least one first fluid outlet, at least one second fluid inlet, at least one second steam outlet, and at least one first And a plurality of tubes of substantially uniform size extending and fluidly communicating between the fluid inlet and the at least one first fluid outlet. That is, the first order passes through a manifold that divides the first order into a plurality of streams through a plurality of tubes. The manifold may be located inside or outside the steam generator shell, but is preferably disposed within the steam generator shell. The second order can also pass through the manifold or simply through a plurality of inlets / outlets, but it is common to pass through a single inlet and a single outlet. A typical steam generator is cylindrical, about 6 feet high, and about 12 feet in diameter.

The tube is disposed in a substantially regular pattern, extending substantially vertically, and having a substantially uniform, narrow gap between adjacent tubes. Furthermore, the tube is generally connected to a flat plate having a plurality of apertures passing through it, having the overall shape of the inverted "U ". This flat plate, or tube sheet, substantially forms the aforementioned manifold, with at least one first fluid inlet and another plate separating the at least one first fluid outlet. Thus, within the steam generator shell, the tube has a raised side (high temperature) and a lowered side (low temperature). Between these two sides there is a gap identified as a "tube lane ". The steam generator shell has openings at various heights on either side of the tube lane. Generally, the openings are arranged in opposing pairs. A penetration of 6 inches in diameter is common to the opening in the tube lane axis. Since the tube lane is formed by the dome of the U-shaped tube, access to the center of the steam generator is made along the tube lane.

In operation, the first order is communicated through the tube, and the second order is passed through the tube. As this operation is performed, the second order is heated and the first order is cooled. During operation of the pressurized light water reactor steam generator, sediment appears on the secondary side as the second order is changed to steam. These particulate precipitates, or sludges, are deposited on the outer surface of the tube and on the most exposed surface, which typically comprises the top of the tube sheet. Periodic cleaning of the precipitate is desired to maintain good heat transfer and water flow within the steam generator. A typical wash is performed by spraying high pressure and high volume water jets flowing along the tube lane axis of a steam generator with a wide gap. In other words, a "lance " configured to spray high pressure water travels through the tube lane, generally in the transverse direction (i.e., generally perpendicular to the tube lane axis) To be sprayed. This spray removes most of the sludge from the tube sheet and removes the sludge from the exposed side of the tube. Chemical treatment may proceed prior to cleaning. However, this cleaning pattern can leave sludge between the dense patterns of the tubes, and is less effective at locations away from the tube lanes.

To control the auxiliary-side water flow pattern in the steam generator, a device called a tube lane block is installed in some steam generators. Tube lane blocks may prohibit access for equipment cleaning through 6 inch penetrations. Support plate constructions (stray rods) located within the tube bundles of the steam generator are other obstacles that may interfere with effective cleaning. Due to the various internal physical constraints in the tube lane (which is the area generated along the centerline of the tube by the minimum bend radius of the Row 1 tube), the tube seat legs (depending on the location of the inlet nozzles, May not be properly cleaned by conventional lancing equipment mounted on a hand hole. Access to the tube bundle is further limited by the arrangement of blowdown pipes and tube lane blocking devices (TLBD) located directly along the centerline of the hand holes in the tube lane.

In addition to the tube lane approach, some steam generators have openings that are small inspections of about 2 inches in diameter at various orientations and heights around the steam generator. After access through the inspection perforations, access is limited by the gaps between adjacent tubes. Such openings are generally not used for cleaning, as it is a problem to accurately position and inject the high pressure cleaning jet and to deliver a high water volume within the confines of the adjacent tube spacing and the inspection perforations. These penetrating portions may be arranged at a predetermined angle from the center of the tube lane. It is common that sludge lancing is not made through this penetration due to its physical size and location. Thus, the tube lanes in these steam generators are basically inaccessible, and it is easy to accumulate sludge and debris between the TLBDs and below the blowdown pipe. In addition, some installations are prohibited from hand-lancing with static jets impinging directly on the tube sheet and adjacent steam generator tubes - this is not possible with hand- Limit the type of manual lancing. The sludge lancing engineer experiences high doses or radiation using equipment that does not provide automated mechanical means of rotating or vibrating the high-speed jet beneath the tube gap.

During the steam generator washes (approaching the tube lane or the test well), high pressure and high volume water is injected into the steam generator and sprayed transversely about the longitudinal axis of the lance. That is, the water should be redirected 90 degrees to wash between the tubes. Water turbulence due to 90 degree bending greatly increases the divergence properties of existing water jets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact sludge lance configured to pass between adjacent tubes in a steam generator.

Cleaning of the tube sheet and tube outer surface, or "sludge lancing" can be accomplished efficiently, and essentially, automatically, by inserting a cleaning tool or "lance " through the inspection penetration that is narrower than the tube gap . Assuming, of course, that the lance can be aligned with the tube line, it is assumed that the lance can be positioned to spray a high velocity jet generally parallel to the tubesheet. The test lancing system disclosed below has the function of being indexed automatically to the tube bundle spacing and in one embodiment has a simulated jet oscillation feature that represents the rotational-to-linear motion for the high-speed lancing head hanging from the tube sheet level . Such a system shortens the time required to perform sludge lancing and thus lowers the radioactivity dose.

The concept disclosed and claimed generally provides a sludge lance configured to pass through a narrow tube gap. The sludge lance includes a nozzle assembly having a transverse nozzle. Thus, as the nozzle assembly is indexed, i. E. Advancing a distance equal to a multiple of the tube gap spacing, the fluid can be atomized through the tube gaps that clean adjacent tubes.

The nozzle assembly preferably includes a plurality of transverse nozzles spaced about the tube gap width. The "lateral nozzle" is configured to spray perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the sludge lance. That is, as the sludge lance advances between the two tube lines, the nozzles are sprayed laterally to clean two lines and more than two lines. In such a configuration, the nozzle assembly can index a plurality of tube gaps between washings. For example, if there are three nozzles, the nozzle assembly may be atomized between the first three tube gaps and then forward / indexed to the fourth through sixth tube gaps to re-atomize. Alternatively, irrespective of the number of nozzles on the nozzle assembly, the sludge lance can index one tube gap at a time, and each tube gap can be washed multiple times (except for the last tube gap).

The concepts disclosed and claimed also include segmented rails. The rails form a passage through which water or other cleaning agent passes prior to the nozzle assembly. Elliptical water passages and associated end seals allow high fluid flow. Placing the water passageway low can balance the connection load and eliminates the need for an internal support structure. The rails also include a drive shaft configured to move the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly is connected to the first end of the rail and the first end is inserted into the steam generator. A water manifold is connected to the second end of the rail, and the second end is maintained outside the steam generator. Furthermore, an oscillating assembly is disposed at the second end of the rail and configured to provide motion to the drive shaft.

On the other hand, it is desirable that as few separate components as possible be inserted into the steam generator, because this increases the likelihood of accidentally dropping components into the steam generator. Thus, instead of the opposed openings, the rail can, by nature, be as long as the diameter of the steam generator, at a given orientation and height on the steam generator shell, if there is only one inspection opening. On the other hand, the steam generators are often located in a limited space where the extended rails can not fit. Therefore, it is preferable that the rails are segmented. That is, a plurality of pseudo rail assemblies are connected together to form a rail. The rail assemblies can be of uniform length to reduce fabrication costs, or they can have varying lengths and still be useful within a limited space, while reducing the number of components. For example, rail assemblies of 5 feet, 3 feet, and 2 feet in length may be used to form rails having a total length of 10 feet, but these rail assemblies may be used in buildings that provide 6 foot space around the steam generator Lt; / RTI >

The rails are moved longitudinally by the device assembly. The drive assembly is configured to support and correctly index the rails. The drive assembly is disposed on a mounting assembly connected to the inspection opening. The mounting assembly has alignment (adjustment) devices that properly align the rails with the tube gaps between the two lines. A minor misalignment adjacent the inspection opening causes the first end of the rail to contact the tube as the rail advances. This is undesirable because the movement of the lance can be restricted.

Two nozzle assembly embodiments are disclosed herein. Both nozzle assemblies can use the same rails and drive assemblies, but each uses a different type of oscillatory motion. Thus, the oscillating assembly for each embodiment is slightly different. In one embodiment, the oscillation is simulated by mechanically raising or lowering the nozzle assembly (with high speed water jet) against the hydrostatic operating pressure developed by the jet geometry.

In another embodiment, the nozzle assembly is configured to rotate over an arc of 180 degrees. Using opposing nozzles creates a spray that covers 360 degrees. An anti-backlash mechanism enables precise nozzle sweep orientation. That is, when the drive shaft is segmented, there is a possibility that the segments can not maintain the orientation with respect to each other due to the tolerance at the connection portion. This misalignment is noticeable when high pressure water is sprayed. This is a disadvantage since the nozzle assembly must be properly oriented to pass through the tube gap.

In this configuration, the compact sludge lance provides a fast, accurate and repeatable set-up.

The following description of the preferred embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is an isometric sectional view of a steam generator.
2 is a top cross-sectional view of the steam generator of FIG.
3 is a detailed top cross-sectional view of a steam generator showing one embodiment of a small sludge lance.
4 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of a steam generator illustrating one embodiment of a small sludge lance.
5 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the rail.
6 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a nozzle assembly and a head assembly.
7 is a side cross-sectional view of the rail assembly.
8 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of an oscillator assembly and a water manifold.
Figure 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the second end of the rail assembly.
10 is a side cross-sectional view of the first end of the rail assembly.
11 is a top view of the drive assembly.
12 is a side view of the drive assembly.
Figure 13 is a rear end view of the drive assembly.
14 is a schematic side view of the drive assembly.
15 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of a steam generator illustrating a positioning assembly.
16 is an end view of the nozzle alignment reset device.
17 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of a steam generator showing another embodiment of a small sludge lance.
18 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the shrinkage assembly. 18A is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the sliding head assembly of FIG.
19 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a small sludge lance.
20 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the oscillator assembly.
21 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly.
22 is an end view of a flow straightening machine.
23 is a side view of the mounting assembly.
24 is an end view of the mounting assembly.
25 is a top view of the mounting assembly.

As used herein, the term " connected " means interlocking between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, as long as the interlocking occurs.

As used herein, the term "directly connected" means that two elements are in direct contact with each other.

As used herein, "fixedly connected" or "fixed" means that the two components are connected to move as if they were one while maintaining a constant orientation with respect to each other. Fixed components may be directly connected or may not be directly connected.

As used herein, the term " temporarily connected "means that two components are connected in such a way that the components can be easily separated without damaging the component. "Temporarily connected" components are either accessible or easy to manipulate. For example, the nut on the exposed bolt is "temporarily connected ", but a typical motorized case sealed by multiple fasteners is not" temporarily connected. &Quot;

The term "corresponding ", as used herein, means that the two structural components have a size to engage with each other with a minimal amount of friction. Thus, the opening corresponding to the member has a size slightly larger than the member, allowing the member to pass through the opening with minimal friction.

As used herein, "keyed coupling", "keyed socket", "keyed opening", and "keyed end" mean that two components are temporarily held together Structure. This can be realized by a set screw connection or extension or lug which is placed in a bore or passage. The extensions and the sockets have cross-sectional shapes corresponding to each other, not circular. As such, the extension can not rotate within the socket. The key elements may have a cross-sectional shape, such as but not limited to a hexagonal (e.g., a common nut), "D" For example, a key connection provides a temporary connection if it is not otherwise connected or otherwise difficult to access by welding or gluing.

As used herein, the term "single" means that an element is created as a single piece or a single unit. That is, an element that includes pieces that are individually created and joined together into one unit are not "single" components or objects.

As used herein, a moving body moving in the "longitudinal direction " means that the moving body moves in a direction aligned along the longitudinal (longitudinal) axis of the moving body.

The term "operatively engaged " when used with reference to the gears, or other components having teeth, as used herein, means that the teeth of the gears engage with one another such that rotation of one gear causes the other gear .

1 and 2 show a steam generator 10 associated with a pressurized light water reactor (not shown). A more complete description of the steam generator 10 is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0121194, the contents of which are included in the present invention, and in general, the steam generator 14 includes a steam generator 14, At least one first fluid outlet 16, at least one first fluid outlet 18, at least one second fluid inlet 20, at least one A second fluid outlet 22 and a plurality of substantially uniform sized tubes 24 extending in fluid communication between the at least one first fluid inlet 16 and the at least one first fluid outlet 18, . This cylindrical shell 12 is generally oriented to have a longitudinal axis extending substantially vertically. The tube 24 is sealingly connected to a tube sheet 23 which forms part of the manifold in a closed space that separates the fluid inlet 16 and the fluid outlet 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the tube 24 generally follows a path having the shape of the inverted "U ". As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tube 24 is disposed in a substantially regular pattern with a narrow gap 25, substantially uniform, between adjacent tubes 24. The tube gap 25 is typically between about 0.29 and 0.41 inches, and more typically about 0.33 inches. As also shown, the "U" shape of the tube 24 creates a tube lane 26 that extends across the center of the shell 12. On both sides of the tube lane 26 there is a tube lane access opening 30. Typically, the diameter of the rounded tube lane access opening 30 is typically between about 5 and 8 inches, and more typically about 6 inches. Moreover, the shell 12 has at least one inspection opening 32 disposed adjacent to the plurality of tubes 24 that are not aligned with the tube lane 26. Generally, the round inspection opening 32 generally has a diameter of between about 1 and 1/2 to 4 inches, more typically about 2 inches in diameter. The tube lane access opening 30 and the inspection opening 32 may be located at a plurality of heights of the shell 12. [

During operation of the pressurized water reactor, a first order from the reactor passes through tube 24 through at least one first fluid inlet 16 and is removed from the steam generator 10 through at least one first fluid outlet 18, do. The second order flows into the steam generator 10 through at least one second fluid inlet 20 and exits the steam generator 10 through at least one second steam outlet 22. As the second order passes over the outer surface of the tube 24, the second order is converted to steam to form sludge 24 on the tube sheet 23 and on other structures of the steam generator 10, leaving a sludge. Generally, access to a full sized sludge lance (not shown) is made through the tube lane access opening 30. [

3 and 4, the small sludge lance 50 includes a mounting assembly 52, a drive assembly 54, an elongated rail 56, a nozzle assembly 58, and an oscillator assembly 60 . The small sludge lance 50 has a structure that is inserted into the steam generator 10 through the inspection opening 32, unlike the full-size sludge lance. Furthermore, the portion of the small sludge lance 50 that enters the steam generator 10, i.e., the rail 56 and the nozzle assembly 58, is sized to pass between adjacent tubes 24, i. E., The tube gap 25 Have a size to pass through.

The mounting assembly 52 has a structure that supports the drive assembly 54 and the rails 56. The drive assembly 54 has a structure for moving the rail 56 through the inspection opening 32. Furthermore, the drive assembly 54 is connected to the mounting assembly 52. The rail 56 has a body 70 and a drive shaft 72 (Fig. 5). The rail body (70) has a first end (74) and a second end (76). Generally, as used herein, the first end 74 of the rail body is the end that moves into the steam generator 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the rail body 70 has a size that passes between adjacent tubes 24, as described above. The rail body 70 forms a water passage 78 and a drive shaft passage 80. The drive shaft 72 is rotatably disposed in the drive shaft passage 80. The rail body 70 is movably connected to the drive assembly 54. The water passage 78 of the rail has a structure in which it is connected to a water supply source (not shown) and is in fluid communication, typically due to high pressure water supply. The water may include a cleanser, or the fluid may be a cleanser. As used herein, "water" refers to the fluid used to clean the tube 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle assembly 58 has a body assembly 400, 500 (FIG. 19) having a size to pass between adjacent tubes 24. The body assembly 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly also forms a water passage 401. The nozzle assembly body assemblies 400 and 500 are connected to the rail body 70 using the body assembly water passages 401 of the nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the water passages 78 of the rail body. In this configuration, as the rail body 70 moves through the inspection opening 32, the nozzle assembly 58 passes between adjacent tubes 24. Because the nozzle assembly 58 passes between adjacent tubes 24 and the application of the small sludge lance 50 is to clean the plurality of tubes, the water is generally directed transversely, that is, In a direction generally perpendicular to the directional axis. More preferably, the water is sprayed with a slight downward slope so as to impinge on the sludge from above the tube sheet 23. Accordingly, it is preferred that the body assembly 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly is of an elongated shape and includes at least two lateral nozzles 600. At least two lateral nozzles 600 are longitudinally spaced from each other on the body assembly 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly such that the nozzles 600 are spaced substantially equidistant from the centerline of the two adjacent tubes 24 That is, the same distance between the center lines of the adjacent tube gaps 25). Furthermore, the nozzle assembly 58 may include four nozzles 600, and the nozzles 600 are arranged in opposing pairs. In this structure, the paired nozzles 600 face in a substantially opposite direction. Thus, the water is sprayed in two directions. The nozzle assembly 58 may be positioned and operative in a different tube gap 25. That is, the nozzle assembly 58 can spray high pressure water through the tube gap 25 and thus the tube 24 immediately adjacent to the nozzle assembly 58 and the lines 24 beyond it Can be cleaned.

The small sludge lance 50 may utilize at least two different nozzle assemblies 58. Each nozzle assembly 58, i.e., rotating nozzle assembly 58A and vertical reciprocating nozzle assembly 58B (Figure 19), is detailed below. Each type of nozzle assembly 58A, 58B has an associated oscillator assembly 60A, 60B. The remaining components of the small sludge lance 50 may be used with any nozzle assembly 58. Therefore, the following description will first cover common components, and then two types of nozzle assemblies 58A and 58B will be discussed.

As described above, the rail 56 has a main body 70 and a drive shaft 72. The rail body (70) has a first end (74) and a second end (76). The rail body 70 is substantially rigid. The rail body 70 has a size that passes between adjacent tubes 24. The corners of the rail body 70 may be chamfered to reduce the chance of sharp edges contacting the tube 24. [ The rail main body 70 preferably has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a height larger than the width. In this structure, the water passage 78 of the rail body is larger than other shapes (for example, a circular cross section), so that a sufficient amount of water can be provided. It is also preferable that the water passage 78 of the rail body has an elliptical cross-sectional shape. In this configuration, turbulence is less as water enters the nozzle assembly 58. The drive shaft passage 80 of the rail main body is preferably generally circular. The drive shaft 72 is generally circular. The drive shaft 72 has a first end 82 (Fig. 6) and a second end 84 (Fig. 8). The first and second ends 82 and 84 of the drive shaft are preferably keyed connections (key and key sockets 134 and 136, described below) and are connected to the key for key connection do.

The rail body 70 has a length sufficient to reach all the tubes 24 of the steam generator. Thus, if the diameter of the steam generator shell 12 is 10 feet and all inspection openings 32 have opposing inspection openings 32, the rail body 70 will be about 5 feet long. If the diameter of the steam generator shell 12 is 10 feet and the inspection opening 32 has no opposed openings, then the length of the rail body 70 will be about 10 feet.

However, the steam generator 10 is not always placed in a facility having a space of 10 feet or more around the steam generator 10. Thus, the rail 56 can be segmented. That is, rail 56 may include modular rail assemblies 90 and water manifold 92, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The rail assemblies 90 are connected together and have a structure connected to the water manifold 92 to form the rails 56. Thus, the selected component for the rail 56, i.e., the second end 84 of the drive shaft, is shown as part of the selected assembly. Each rail assembly 90 has a drive shaft segment 4 and an elongated body 96. As before, the body 96 of each rail assembly is of elongated shape and has a first end 98 and a second end 100. Furthermore, each rail assembly body 96 preferably has a rectangular cross section defining an elliptical water passage 99 and a generally circular drive shaft passage 101. The body 96 of each rail assembly has a size that passes between adjacent tubes 24.

Furthermore, the body 96 of each rail assembly includes a water passage seal 102. The water passage seal 102 of the body of the rail assembly may be disposed on either or both of the end portions 98,100 of the body of the rail assembly but may be disposed on the first end 98 of the body of the rail assembly . That is, relative to the body 96 of each rail assembly, there is an associated seal 102 at the first end 98 of the body of the rail assembly. When the body 96 of the rail assembly is connected together as described below, each water passage seal 102 has a structure that is sealingly coupled to the body 96 of the adjacent rail assembly. Each water passage seal 102 is preferably disposed in a groove 104 in the axial surface of the first end portion 74 of the rail body. The seal groove 104 extends around the water passage 78 of the rail body and provides support for the water passage seal 102. In addition, a seal support frame 106 may be disposed within the seal groove 104 to provide additional support for the seal 102. [ Moreover, the body 96 of each rail assembly may have a longitudinal window 108 therein. The longitudinal window 108 is aligned with the drive shaft passage 101 and provides communication with the drive shaft passage 101. The longitudinal window 108 can easily create the drive shaft passage 101 and reduce the length that the drive shaft passage 101 must be cut from each end of the body 96 of the rail assembly, The drive shaft segment 94 can be seen when connecting the shaft segments, allowing the user to observe the drive shaft segment 94 during use.

The body 96 of each rail assembly preferably has a substantially uniform length between about 6.0 and about 24.0 inches, and more preferably about 10 inches. Preferably, the length of the body 96 of each rail assembly is a multiple of the tube pitch. Thus, the rail assemblies 90 can be intermixed with each other. That is, the body 96 of the rail assembly, when the length is a multiple of the tube pitch, for the respective steam generator 10 model (tube 24 spacing is substantially uniform), the sprocket holes 200, And positioning indicia 308 are evenly spaced on the body 96 of each level assembly. Alternatively, the body 96 of the rail assembly may have a size that fits within the installation where the steam generator 10 is located, and the number of the body 96 of the rail assembly required to extend between the steam generators 10 The body 96 of the rail assembly may have different lengths to minimize the size of the rail assembly. For example, in the case of a steam generator 10 having a diameter of 10 feet, the body 96 of the rail assembly may have a length of 5 feet, 3 feet, and 2 feet.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water manifold 92 has a structure in which it is connected to a fluid supply source (not shown), particularly, a high pressure water supply source (not shown). The water manifold 92 has a drive shaft segment 110 and a body 112. The body 112 of the water manifold has a first end 114 and a second end 116. The body 112 of the water manifold has a water passage 118 and a drive shaft passage 120. The first end 114 of the body of the water manifold is connected to the second end 100 of the body 96 of the rail assembly disposed at the second end 76 of the rail body. That is, as described above, the second end 76 of the rail body is the end of the rail body 70 located outside the steam generator 10. The water manifold 92 is positioned between the second end 76 of the rail body and the body 96 of the rail assembly regardless of how many rail assemblies 90 are used to form the rail 56. [ Lt; / RTI >

As described above, drive shaft 72 is a substantially cylindrical elongated body configured to rotate in drive shaft passage 80. When the drive shaft 72 is divided into drive shaft segments 94 as shown in Fig. 7, the drive shaft segments 94 have a structure that is temporarily fixed to each other by couplings. That is, each drive shaft segment 94 has a first end 130 and a second end 132. The drive shaft segment ends 130 and 132 are extensions 134 or sockets 136 and according to the nozzle assemblies 58A and 58B used the first end 130 of each drive shaft segment is connected to the key- And the second end 132 of each drive shaft segment is a keyed socket 136A or a screw socket 136B. 8, the drive shaft segment 110 of the water manifold has a first end 140 and a second end 142, and depending on the type of drive shaft 72 used, All are keyed extensions 134A or screw extensions 134B. That is, the first end 140 of the drive shaft segment of the water manifold corresponds to the type of socket 136 of the drive shaft segment in use. When the rail body 70 is segmented, the second end 142 of the drive shaft segment of the water manifold is configured so that the second end 142 of the drive shaft segment of the water manifold is always at the second end of the rail body 76, it is the second end 84 of the drive shaft. Thus, all of the drive shaft segments 94 and the drive shaft segments 110 of the water manifold can be temporarily secured to one another to form drive shaft 72.

As described below, the drive shaft 72 is preferably configured to move in the longitudinal direction. 9 and 10, this is assisted by at least one bearing 150 disposed between the drive shaft 72 and the drive shaft passage 80 of the rail body. When the rail body 70 is segmented, at least one bearing 150 is disposed between each drive shaft segment 94 and the drive shaft passage 101 of the body of each rail assembly. More preferably, there are two bearings 150 in the body 96 of each rail assembly, one between each adjacent drive shaft segment end 130, 132. At least one bearing 150 is held in a desired position adjacent each drive shaft segment end 130, 132 by securing the bearing to the body 96 of the rail assembly by means of spring pins 153. Further, each drive shaft segment 94 includes at least one reduced diameter portion 152, and preferably one reduced diameter portion 152 per bearing 150. Each reduced diameter portion 152 forms a channel in which the bearing 150 is disposed. The ends of each reduced diameter portion 152 prevent the bearing 150 from moving past the reduced diameter portion 152. This has the effect of trapping the drive shaft segment 94 in the body 96 of the rail assembly since at least one bearing 150 is fixed in place relative to the body 96 of the rail assembly. The reduced diameter portion 152 is longer than the associated bearing 150 so that the drive shaft segment 94 can be moved a short distance in the longitudinal direction relative to the body 96 of the rail assembly. Each of the at least one bearings 150 has a predetermined length and the reduced diameter portion 152 of each drive shaft segment has an axial length greater than the length of the at least one bearing 150. [ Relative to the first embodiment described below, the relative length of the bearing 150 and the reduced diameter portion 152 is such that the drive shaft segment 94 is moved between 0.125 inch and 0.375 inch, more preferably about 0.25 inch. . In the second embodiment described below, the drive shaft segment 94 is configured to move between about 1.0 inch and 2.0 inches, and more preferably about 1.25 inches.

The body 96 of each rail assembly has a coupling assembly 160 disposed at each end 98, 100. The connecting assembly 160 of each rail body is substantially the same so that any two rail bodies 70 can be connected to one another. That is, the coupling assembly 160 of each rail body has a first component 162 and a second component 163. The first end 98 of the body of each rail assembly has a first component 162 of the linkage assembly and the second end 120 of each rail body includes a second component 163 of the linkage assembly . Thus, the body 96 of the rail assembly can be connected in series. The first component 162 of each linkage assembly is at least one screw fastener 164 and the second component 163 of each linkage assembly includes at least one threaded bore 166 )to be. At least one screw fastener 164 is disposed within the elongated pocket 165 that extends generally longitudinally at the first end 98 of the body of the rail assembly. A retaining body 167 is disposed in the elongated pocket 165 and is held in place by the spring pin 153. [ The retainer 167 prevents at least one screw fastener 164 from being removed from the elongated pocket 165, thereby reducing the chance that the component will fall into the steam generator 10.

One nozzle assembly 58A utilizes a head assembly 170 that is disposed at the first end 74 of the rail body, as shown in FIG. When alternate nozzle assemblies 58A and 58B are not used, the elements of the head assembly 170 may be integrated into the rail body 70. Thus, the components described with respect to the head assembly 170 can also be considered a part of the rail body 70. The head assembly 170 is configured to movably support the nozzle assembly 58A, as described below. The head assembly 170 has a body 172 having a first end 174 and a second end 176. The body 172 of the head assembly forms a drive shaft passageway 180, which is generally elliptical, and water passageway 178, which is preferably elliptical. The body 172 of the head assembly has a size that passes between adjacent tubes 24. The second end 176 of the body of the head assembly is configured to be connected to the first end 98 of the body 96 of the rail assembly disposed at the first end 74 of the rail when assembled. That is, as the water manifold 92 is disposed at the rearward end of the rail 56, i.e., at the second end 76, the head assembly 170 includes a front end portion of the rail 56, (74). Moreover, the water passage 178 and the drive shaft passage 180 of the body of the head assembly are connected to the water passage 78 of the rail body and the drive shaft passage 80 of the rail body, or the water passage (not shown) of the body of the adjacent rail assembly 99 and the drive shaft passage 101 of the body of the rail assembly. Moreover, the water passage seal 102 of the body of the rail assembly is configured to be sealed against the body 172 of the head assembly. In this configuration, the body 172 of the head assembly, the body 96 of at least one rail assembly, and the body 112 of the water manifold form an elongated rail water passage 78 and a drive shaft passage 80 .

As described above, the rail body 70 or the body 96 of the rail assembly is elongate in shape and, if desired, has a rectangular cross-section. Thus, the rail body 70 or body 96 of the rail assembly includes two broad side portions (hereafter the outer side 190 (FIG. 3) and the inner side 192 (FIG. 3)) and two narrow lateral sides (194, 196) (Figure 4). The lateral side portion 194 of one rail body has a plurality of sprocket holes 200 (Fig. 5). When the rails 56 are formed from the body 96 of the rail assembly, the sprocket holes 200 maintain a consistent gap across the interface between the bodies 96 of adjacent rail assemblies. The lateral sides 196 of the other rail body are generally smooth, if desired. The sprocket holes (200) are configured to be coupled by a drive assembly (54).

11-13, the drive assembly 54 has a motor 210, a housing assembly 212, and a non-slip drive 213 and at least one guide surface 216. As shown in FIG. The non-slip drive 213 may be a gear system or a rack and pinion (not shown), but is not limited thereto, and may be a drive sprocket 214 if desired. The motor 210 has an output shaft 218 and the motor 218 of the drive assembly is connected to a drive sprocket 214. The output shaft 218 is connected to a drive sprocket 214. At least one guide surface 216 is configured to maintain the rail body 70 or body 96 of the rail assembly in contact with the drive sprocket 214. The rail body 70 or the rail assembly body 96 is disposed between the guide surface 216 and the sprocket 214 using a sprocket hole 200 that engages the sprocket pin 215. If desired, the sprocket pins 215 are threaded. The housing assembly 212 of the drive assembly includes an upper case 220 and a lower case 222. The upper case 220 and the lower case 222 are movably connected to each other and configured to translate relative to each other. The upper case 220 and the lower case 222 are configured to move over a single axis in substantially the same plane (i.e., the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 move along a single axis Translational motion in one plane).

14, the housing assembly 212 of the drive assembly includes two elongated guide pin passageways 224 and two elongated guide pin passageways 224 to achieve this controlled motion of the upper and lower cases 220, And includes guide pins 226. The guide pin passage 224 extends to pass through both the upper case 220 and the lower case 222. That is, the guide pin passage 224 is branched and aligned on the upper case 220 and the lower case 222, respectively. The guide pin passageway 224 longitudinal axes are disposed within the same plane and extend substantially parallel to one another. The guide pin passage 224 includes a linear bearing 225 disposed within the lower pinion 222 guide pin passage 224. It is further contemplated that the lower case 222 guide pin passage 224 preferably includes a threaded portion 227 and the guide pin 226 has a corresponding thread 228 so that the guide pin 226 extends through the corresponding passage 224, Lt; / RTI > The guide pin 226 is preferably disposed in the guide pin passage 224 and connected to the lower case 222.

Furthermore, the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 are configured to be biased toward each other. With this bias, the components connected to the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 can be combined with the lateral sides 194, 196 of the rail body 70. This bias may be affected by a device such as a tension spring connected to both the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 but is preferably affected by the bias assembly 230 on one guide pin 226. The guide pin biasing assembly 230 includes a biasing device 232, a knob 234, and a threaded end 236 on the associated guide pin 226. Further, the associated guide pin passage 224 has a portion 238 having a larger diameter, so that when the guide pin 226 is disposed in a guide pin passage 224 having a portion 238 having a larger diameter An annular space 240 is created. The guide pin passage 224 having a portion 238 having a larger diameter is preferably disposed on the upper side of the branched guide pin passage 224. [ The biasing device 232, which is preferably a compression spring 242, is disposed within the annular space 240. The threaded end 236 of the guide pin is disposed adjacent to the upper case 220. That is, the threaded end 236 of the guide pin is present in the upper portion of the branched guide pin passage 224. The knob 234 has a threaded opening 244. The knob 234 is disposed on the threaded end 236 of the guide pin. In this configuration, the biasing device 232 is disposed between the knob 234 and the lower portion of the annular space 240. With this structure, the bias assembly 230 can biases the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 toward each other.

In order to achieve the desired effect of the components connected to the upper and lower cases 220 and 222 which engage the lateral sides 194 and 196 of the rail body 70, the drive sprocket 214 and at least one The guide surface 216 must be connected to different portions of the housing assembly 212 of the drive assembly. The driving sprocket 214 is rotatably connected to the lower case 222 and at least one guide surface 216 is disposed on the upper case 220. In this embodiment, In this configuration, the drive sprocket 214 and the at least one guide surface 216 engage the opposite lateral sides 194, 196 of the rail body 70. At least one guide surface 216 is at least one guide wheel 250 that is rotatably attached to the upper case 220, although in at least one preferred embodiment the at least one guide surface 216 may be a cam surface. At least one guide wheel 250 may have three guide wheels 250 for a higher level of control of the rail body 70. The guide wheel 250 and the sprocket 214 (not the teeth 215 of the sprocket) have substantially the same diameter. The axes of the three guide wheels 250 and the sprocket 214 are arranged in a substantially regular pattern. This construction effectively creates a longitudinal path through which the rail body 70 passes. When the guide wheel 250 and / or the sprocket 214 have different diameters, the same effect can be obtained by disposing the three guide wheels 250 and the sprocket 214 in a quadrilateral pattern.

The system of the guide wheel 250 is configured to move on the cam surface to reduce wear and abrasion on the sides of the rail body 70 as the guide wheel 250 and the sprocket 214 repetitively act on the rail body 70. [ It is preferable to leave it. By rotating at least one guide wheel 250 vertically opposed to the sprocket 214 at the same speed as the sprocket, the wear and abrasion can be further reduced. This is realized by the gear assembly 260 of the drive assembly, which is configured to be coupled to the sprocket 214 to rotate at least one guide wheel 250. The drive assembly's gear assembly 260 includes a first gear 262, a second gear 264, a third gear 266, a fourth gear 268, a first elongated link 270, (272). The first gear 262 is fixed to the sprocket 214 and shares the same rotational axis. The second gear 264 is fixed to at least one guide wheel 250. The first link 270 has a first end 274 and a second end 276. The first link 270 has a size capable of rotatably supporting the first gear 262, the third gear 266, and the fourth gear 268 in the operative engagement state. That is, the first link 270 is long enough to allow the first gear 262, the third gear 266, and the fourth gear 268 to be rotatably mounted, but the first gear 262, the third gear 266, The gear 266, and the fourth gear 268 are not long enough to fail to engage with each other. The second link 272 has a first end 278 and a second end 280. The second link 272 is sized to support the second gear 264 and the fourth gear 268 in the operative engagement state. The first end 274 of the first link is rotatably connected to the lower case 222 and its rotational axis corresponds to the rotational axis of the sprocket 214. The first end 278 of the second link is rotatably connected to the upper case and the rotation axis thereof corresponds to the rotation axis of at least one guide wheel 250. Furthermore, the second end 276 of the first link and the second end 280 of the second link are rotatably connected together and share a rotational axis with the fourth gear 268. [ In this configuration, the drive assembly's gear assembly 260 is configured to maintain the gears 262, 264, 266, 268 in operative engagement at the two links 270, 272 and at the second end 276, To rotate about each other. The two links 270 and 272 rotate about each other about the second end 276 and 280 joint as the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 move as described above. Thus, in this structure, regardless of the spacing between the upper case 220 and the lower case 222, the sprocket 214 and the at least one wheel 250 can engage the gears 262, 264, 266, 268 And remains connected through the network.

The drive assembly 54 and the long rail 56 have been described but the rail 56 passes through the path between the drive assembly sprocket 214 and the guide wheel 250 and the rail 56 is rotated by the sprocket 214 . As the motor 210 of the drive assembly rotates the sprocket 214, the rail 54 moves into / out of the steam generator 10. Moreover, when the rails 56 are segmented, the rail assemblies 90 can be attached to each other during the cleaning process. That is, a single rail assembly 90 is connected to the nozzle assembly 58 and to the water manifold 92, in order to clean the tube 24 closest to the inspection opening 32. The rail 56 then passes through the drive assembly 54 and the nozzle assembly 58 is inserted into the steam generator 10 and the tube 24 is cleaned. The water manifold 92 does not pass through the drive assembly 54. Thus, when the tube 24 closest to the inspection opening 32 is cleaned, the water manifold 92 can be detached from the first rail assembly 90, and then the second rail assembly 90 can be removed from the first Rail assembly 90 and the water manifold 92 is connected to the second rail assembly 90 again. The rail 56 is now longer and the first end 74 of the rail body can move further into the steam generator 10. [ This process can be repeated by adding additional rail assemblies 90 until the rails 5 have a length sufficient to extend between the steam generators 10.

However, it is desirable to align the nozzle 600 with the tube gap 25 before the cleaning process is performed. That is, as described above, it is desirable to substantially align the spray with the center of the tube gap 25 in order to allow the wash spray to reach as many tubes 24 as possible. Moreover, the location of the tube 24 should be determined prior to inserting the rail 56 with the nozzle assembly 58, since the various inspection openings 32 may be spaced apart from the adjacent tube 24 differently. Thus, as shown in FIG. 15, the rail 56 may have a positioning assembly 300 temporarily connected to the rail 56. Positioning assembly 300 includes a body 302, a stop 304, an adjustable pointer assembly 306, and a plurality of indicia 308 (FIG. 4). The body 302 of the positioning assembly has a dimension that is substantially similar to the body 96 of the rail assembly, but does not include an internal passageway. The body 302 of the positioning assembly is connected to the first end of the rail 56 and becomes the first end 74 of the rail. The stop 304 is connected to the body 302 of the positioning assembly, i.e., to the first end 74 of the rail. The stop 304 has a size that does not pass between adjacent tubes 24. The adjustable pointer assembly 306 is movably coupled to the drive assembly 54 adjacent the rail 56 and configured to move in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail 56. [ A plurality of indicia (308) are disposed on the rail (56). The indicia 308 is preferably a line or line segment extending between the outer sides 190 of the rail body. The indicia 308 is spaced apart by a multiple of the centerline distance of the tube, preferably a multiple of 1. Moreover, when the distance between the stop 304 and the display 308 is known and when the stop is in contact with the tube 24, the indication is placed at a known distance from the centerline of the tube 24 and / The distance between the stop 304 and the display 308 is configured.

In this configuration, the body 302 of the positioning assembly is inserted into the steam generator as described above, but instead of passing between the tubes 24, the stop 304 has a tube 24 closest to the inspection opening 32, Lt; / RTI > Thus, the position of the tube 24 closest to the inspection opening 32 can be determined. When the position of the tube 24 closest to the inspection opening 32 is known, the adjustable pointer assembly 306 is positioned to match one of the indicia 308. The adjustable pointer assembly 306 is then temporarily secured in this position. The rail 56 then exits the steam generator 10 and the nozzle assembly 58 is attached to the rail 56. The rail 56 is reinserted into the steam generator 10 and the rail 56 moves until the adjustable pointer assembly 306 is rearranged with the indicia 308. In such a configuration, the nozzle 600 will be substantially disposed at the centerline of the tube gap 25. After the wash spray has been applied, the rail 56 is moved in the forward direction until the adjustable pointer assembly 306 is aligned with the next mark 308 indicating that the nozzle 600 is now positioned in the next tube gap 25 Can be indexed (can be moved). This operation can be repeated until all the tube gaps 25 have been cleaned. At least one indicia 308 includes a plurality of indicia 308 disposed on each rail assembly 90 when the rail 56 includes a plurality of rail assemblies 90.

The adjustable pointer assembly 306 includes an elongated body 312 having a display portion 314 and at least one fastener 310. The adjustable pointer assembly 306 includes a display 314, Further, the drive assembly 54 includes at least one fastener opening 313 adjacent the rail 56. [ The adjustable pointer assembly body 312 has a longitudinal slot 316 therein. At least one fastener 310 of the adjustable pointer assembly 306 is disposed through a slot 316 of one adjustable pointer assembly body and is connected to at least one fastener opening 313 of the drive assembly 54 do. Accordingly, the body 312 of the adjustable pointer assembly is movably connected to the drive assembly 54, is longitudinally movable, and can be temporarily fixed to the drive assembly.

The nozzle assembly 58 includes an essentially fixed nozzle, but preferably includes a movable nozzle 600 to increase the effective wash area capable of supplying water. The motion of the nozzle 600 is generated by the oscillator assembly 300 (FIG. 1). The oscillator assembly 330 is configured to generate periodic motion and is coupled to a drive shaft 72. Therefore, the drive shaft 72 also moves periodically. 4) includes a housing assembly 332, a motor assembly 334 (FIG. 1) having an elongated output shaft 336, and a gear assembly 338, as shown in FIG. . The motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly is connected to the housing assembly 332 of the oscillator assembly. The motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly may include a control assembly 450 and a sensor assembly 452 having an encoder 454 and a mechanical resistance sensor 456 both of which are described in detail below / RTI > The motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly is configured to rotate the output shaft 336 in two directions. That is, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly can rotate the output shaft 336 of the motor of the oscillator assembly in two directions.

As noted above, the sludge lance 50 often has to operate in tight quarters. As such, the oscillator assembly 330 can be coupled to the drive shaft 72, although the longitudinal axis of the motor assembly 334 and / or the output shaft 336 of the oscillator assembly can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 72. [ So that the overall length of the sludge lance 50 is reduced. Accordingly, it is preferred that the gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly is a meter gear assembly. The gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly has a first gear 340, a second gear 342, and a meter gear socket member 343. The gear assembly first and second gears 340 and 342 of the oscillator assembly are connected. The first gear 340 is fixed to the output shaft 336 of the motor of the oscillator assembly. The second gear 342 is connected to the meter gear socket member 343 forming the keyed opening 344. That is, in the case of each embodiment of the nozzle assemblies 58A, 58B, the gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly has different meter gear socket members 343. The meter gear socket member 343 has a flange 352 generally perpendicular to the tubular portion 350. The metering gear socket member tubular portion 350 is disposed within the central opening of the second metric gear 342. The meter gear socket member tubular portion 350 is of a hollow type and forms a keyed socket. The meter gear socket member flange 352 includes a fastener opening 354 aligned with a screw bore hole 356 in the second metric gear 342. Instead of using the metering gear socket member 343 to adapt the assembly for use with both embodiments of the nozzle assemblies 58A and 58B, the second gear 342 may comprise a single nozzle assembly 58A, 58B, (Not shown) for use in conjunction with the connector assembly. Thus, the term " second keylock opening " used herein refers to the equivalent structure of the second gear 342 with the associated metric gear socket member 343 or the second gear 342 with keyed opening.

The second end 84 of the drive shaft extends from the rail body 70 and the outer periphery can be a keyed extension 134 or connected to a key 134 for a keyed opening, as described above. That is, in the first embodiment, the second end 84 of the drive shaft is the key, and in the second embodiment, the second end 84 of the drive shaft has threads and passes through the nut 570. As used herein, the nut 570 is a movable part of the second end 84 of the drive shaft such that the second portion of the drive shaft, which is a key having a size corresponding to the metering gear socket member keyed opening 344, Is the same as the end portion 84.

The drive shaft 72 can move through the keyed opening 344 of the second gear, even for the keyed second end 346 of any type of drive shaft. That is, when there is no thread on the second end 84 of the drive shaft, the second end 84 of the drive shaft, and more specifically the keyed second end 84 of the drive shaft, ). ≪ / RTI > The driving shaft 72 is moved through the thread collar 570 by the rotation of the threaded collar 570 and the driving shaft 72 is moved And moves through the keyed opening 344 of the second gear. Thus, the keyed second end 346 of the drive shaft is disposed in the keyed opening 344 of the second gear, and the drive shaft 72 is movable in the axial direction through the second gear 342.

Both embodiments of the nozzle assemblies 58A, 58B include a body 400, 500 of elongated nozzle assemblies. As described above, it is preferred that at least two lateral nozzles 600 are present. The nozzle 600 is in fluid communication with the water passage 401 of the body of the nozzle assembly and at least two of the lateral nozzles 600 are configured to move relative to the rail 56. That is, the body 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly is connected to the drive shaft 72, and the nozzle body 400, 500 moves relative to the rail 56 as the drive shaft 72 moves.

In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly 58A provides a rotating nozzle 600. 6, the body 400 of the nozzle assembly has an elongated, substantially hollow, and substantially linear tube 402 having a first end 404, A first end portion 406, and a second end portion 408. The body 400 of the nozzle assembly forms a water passage 401 of the body of the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly body 400 is configured to be rotatably connected to the rail 56 or, in the case of a segmented rail, configured to be rotatably connected to the head assembly 170, The second end 408 and the middle portion 406 of the nozzle assembly body are disposed within the rail body 70 (or within the body 172 of the head assembly) and the first end 404 of the body of the nozzle assembly Extends from the first end 74 of the rail (or extends from the first end 174 of the body of the head assembly).

In this embodiment, the nozzle 600 is an extension 403 that is generally perpendicular to the body 400 of the nozzle assembly. It is preferable that the nozzle 600 is six, and the three nozzles 600 extend in parallel with each other in the first direction, and the three other nozzles 600 extend in the opposite direction. The opposing nozzles 600 preferably substantially share a common axis. Moreover, the combined length of the opposing vertical extensions 403 has a width greater than the tube gap 25 for insertion of the rail 56. The longitudinal axis of the vertical extension 408 must be oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube 25 during insertion of the rail 55 and subsequent longitudinal movement. During cleaning, the body 400 of the nozzle assembly, and thus the vertical extension 403, rotates to about 180 degrees to provide a larger wash area. That is, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly is configured to reciprocate the drive shaft 72 as follows. First, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly moves the drive shaft 72 to about 90 degrees in the first direction. The motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly then returns the drive shaft 72 to its original orientation. The motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly then moves the drive shaft 72 to about 90 degrees in the opposite second direction. This means that the vertical extension 403 moves about 180 degrees. During this rotation, the vertical extension 403 rotates into the tube gap 25 between the tubes adjacent to the rail 56. Moreover, the distal end of the body 400 of the nozzle assembly may include a cap 409, which is flexible, e.g., non-metallic. This flexible cap 409 protects the tube 24 from damage when the rail 56 is not properly aligned with the tube gap 25 for insertion. Further, it is preferable that the cap 409 has a larger width or diameter than the rail main body 70. Therefore, the rail main body 70 should be inhibited from moving into a gap narrower than the rail main body 70. [ Moreover, the vertical extension 403 may also include a non-metallic sleeve 411. [ The sleeve 411 helps to protect the tube 24 when the body 400 of the nozzle assembly is not properly aligned with the vertical extension 403 disposed in the tube gap 25.

In the case of this embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the nozzle body 400 is aligned with the drive shaft 72. Accordingly, the nozzle body 400 will be separated from the water passage 78 (or the water passage 178 of the head assembly) of the rail body, and will not be in fluid communication. The water passage 78 (or the water passage 178 of the head assembly) of the rail body and the drive shaft passage (not shown) of the rail body, at the first end 74 of the rail body (or within the head assembly 170) 80) (or the drive shaft passage 180 of the head assembly). Furthermore, there is at least one fluid port 412 in the middle portion 406 of the body of the nozzle assembly. At least one fluid port (412) of the nozzle assembly is located in the first end fluid passageway (410) of the rail body. At least one fluid port 412 is in fluid communication with the water passage 401 of the nozzle body. Thus, at least one fluid port 412 provides fluid communication between the water passageway 78 (or the water passageway 178 of the head assembly) of the rail body and the water passageway 401 of the nozzle body. If desired, the edges of at least one fluid port 4120 are cut at an angle corresponding to the fluid flow direction to reduce turbulence.

In this structure, the high-pressure water is exposed to the drive shaft passage (80). To prevent water from penetrating into the drive shaft passage (80), a seal is provided. In particular, the middle portion 406 of the body of the nozzle assembly includes a solid portion 414 disposed between the keyed socket 420 at the second end of the body of the nozzle assembly described below and the water passage 401 of the nozzle body do. The body 400 of the nozzle assembly includes a seal assembly 416 having a plurality of seals 415. A plurality of seals 415 are disposed about the body 400 of the nozzle assembly to substantially prevent water from escaping around the body 400 of the nozzle assembly. The seal assembly 416 includes at least a first seal 415A and a second seal 415B. The first seal 415A is disposed immediately adjacent the first end 74 of the rail body and is configured to prevent water from passing through the first end 74 of the rail body. A bearing can also be placed in this position. A second seal 415B is disposed around the solid portion 414 of the body of the nozzle assembly and is configured to prevent water from passing through the drive shaft passage 80. [ The second seal 415B may include a radial channel (not shown) configured to communicate water in the transverse direction. This type of seal 415B requires a discharge passage 418 (Figure 4) in the body 172 of the head assembly. In this configuration, water that is urged downwardly of the drive shaft passage 80 may exit the body 172 of the head assembly.

Moreover, the nozzle body 400 may be configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the nozzle body to provide a larger coverage area for the cleaning spray. If desired, the second end 407 of the nozzle assembly body forms a keyed socket 420. Moreover, as described above, the first end 82 of the drive shaft is the key 134. [ The key 134 at the first end of the drive shaft corresponds to the keyed socket 420 at the second end of the body of the nozzle assembly. Thus, when the nozzle body 400 is partially disposed within the rail body 70 (or the body 170 of the head assembly), the keyed first end 134 of the drive shaft engages the keyed socket And the nozzle body 400 is rotated by the rotation of the drive shaft 72. [

There is a potential problem of alignment of the body 400 of the nozzle assembly when the rail 56 is formed from the rail assembly 90. That is, as described above, when the specific extension portion 403 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube 25, the user can move the nozzle body 400 in the steam generator 10 Lt; / RTI > orientation. However, when the drive shaft 72 is segmented and connected by the keyed extension 134 and the socket 136, there is a possibility that the connection will "play". Each joint has an allowance tolerance, and when the tolerance is multiplied by the number of joints, the effect of the combined tolerance can become significant. That is, when the second end portion 84 of the drive shaft is in a circular orientation, i.e., when the nozzle body 400 is properly aligned during insertion, the vertical extension portion 403 is displaced by the combined tolerance from the tube gap 25 ). ≪ / RTI >

To address this problem, the keyed extension 134 and the socket 136 are tapered, and the drive shaft 72 is biased towards the first end 82 of the drive shaft. The keyed extension 134 is shown in FIG. The keyed socket 136 has a corresponding shape. The keyed socket 136 is tapered and has a major cross sectional area (large cross sectional area) immediately adjacent to the drive shaft segment 94 and an auxiliary cross sectional area (small cross sectional area) away from the drive shaft segment 94. The drive shaft 72 is biased toward the first end 82 of the drive shaft by a plunger 434 as described below. This bias reduces / controls the "play " between drive shaft segments 94. To ensure tight fit between each keyed extension 134 and keyed socket 136, the keyed extension 134 can be tapered sharply between 0.0 and 4.0 degrees, and more preferably, the socket 136 ) Of about 2.0 degrees. The drive shaft 72 is configured to slide through the keyed opening 344 of the oscillator assembly second gear as described above and is driven to bias the keyed extension 134 into the keyed socket 136 It is preferable to bias the shaft 72 in the forward direction. As shown in FIG. 8, this is accomplished by a keyed socket insertion assembly 430 on the housing assembly 332 of the oscillator assembly. The keyed socket inserting assembly 430 is configured to engage the drive shaft 72 and bias the drive shaft 72 toward the first end 74 of the rail body. The keyed socket inserting assembly 430 includes a generally tubular, keyed body 432, a plunger 434, a biasing device 436, and a cap 438. The outer radial surface of the body 432 of the keyed socket insert assembly has a shape corresponding to the keyed opening 344 of the second gear. The keyed socket insert assembly body 432 also has an elongated keyway passage 440. The keyed channel 440 of the body of the keyed socket insertion assembly is configured to correspond to the keyed second end 84 of the drive shaft. The plunger 434 of the keyed socket inserting assembly is disposed in the elongated passageway 440 of the body of the keyed socket inserting assembly. The keyed socket insert assembly cap 438 is connected to the keyed socket insert assembly body 432 at the rear end of the elongated passageway 440 of the keyed socket insert assembly body. The biasing device 436 of the keyed socket inserting assembly, which is preferably a compression spring 437, is disposed between the plunger 434 of the keyed socket inserting assembly and the cap 438 of the keyed socket inserting assembly and the plunger 434 of the keyed socket inserting assembly 434 to the first end portion 74 of the rail body. Thus, the plunger 434 of the keyed socket insert assembly engages the drive shaft 72 to bias the drive shaft 72 toward the first end 74 of the rail body.

The vertical extension 403 must be oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube 25 during insertion of the rail 56 and during subsequent longitudinal movement. Generally, the orientation of the vertical extension 403 is monitored by the motor control assembly 450 (shown schematically in FIG. 1) of the oscillator assembly. That is, the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly is configured to receive input, typically electronic signal carrying data, from the sensor assembly 452. The sensor assembly 452 (shown schematically in FIG. 1) includes a mechanical resistance sensor 456 (shown schematically in FIG. 1), an encoder 454 configured to track the orientation of the drive shaft 72 1). ≪ / RTI > The resistance sensor 456 is generally a current sensor that detects the amount of current being used by the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly. Both the encoder 454 and the mechanical resistance sensor 456 generate an input that is received by the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly. That is, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly operates in response to an input, e.g., according to an input from an operator, and operates to receive input from an encoder 454 and a resistance sensor 456. The encoder 454 is configured to track the position of the gear in the gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly and is configured to provide position data to the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly. As the gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly is placed in a relatively fixed orientation relative to the drive shaft 72, the orientation of the drive shaft 72 is also known. The encoder 454 is reset each time the rail 56 is inserted into the steam generator 10 after the rail body 70 is positioned in the proper orientation. Because the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly is electronic, loss of power causes the system to lose orientation tracking of the vertical extensions 403. This is undesirable because the longitudinal movement of the rail 56 with a vertical extension 403 of an orientation other than that which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tube 24 can damage the tube 24. Thus, a nozzle alignment reset device 460 is included within the oscillator assembly 330.

The nozzle alignment reset device 460 is configured to position the body 400 of the nozzle assembly of the body and thus the vertical extension 403 with the nozzle in a selected orientation, generally perpendicular. The nozzle alignment reset device 460 includes an end plate 462 and a lug 464 as shown in FIG. The end plate 462 is disposed adjacent the body 432 of the keyed socket insertion assembly. That is, the end plate 462 is disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 72 adjacent the keyed socket insert assembly body 432 (FIG. 6). The end plate 462 has an arcuate channel 466. The end plate arcuate channel 466 has a center that is substantially aligned with the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 72. The lugs 464 are disposed on the body 432 of the keyed socket insert assembly and extend axially therefrom. The lug 464 is sized and positioned to be movably disposed in the arcuate channel 466. Thus, as the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly operates, the lugs 464 reciprocate in the channels 466. [ The arcuate channel 466 extends over 180 degrees and when the vertical extension 403 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tube 24 the lug 464 is positioned substantially centrally of the channel 466 do.

The orientation of the body 400 of the nozzle assembly is reset by moving the lug 464 within the channel 466 until the lug 464 contacts one end on the channel 466 (450 is reset). The motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly is preferably programmed to have data indicative of the angle between the end of the channel 466 and the neutral position. When contact is made, the resistance sensor 456 provides position input data to the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly, and the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly uses the encoder position data to determine the nozzle, And relocates the portion 403 to the selected, i.e., neutral, orientation.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the nozzle assembly 58B is configured to move the nozzle 600 vertically. That is, in the second embodiment, the nozzle assembly 58B includes an elongated body assembly 500 having an elongated first end 502, a middle portion 504, and an elongated second end 506. The body assembly intermediate portion 504 of the nozzle assembly is arcuate and preferably extends over an arc of about 90 degrees and thus extends between the first end 502 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and the second end 502 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly (506) are arranged substantially at right angles to each other. The nozzle 600 is disposed at the first end 502 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly. The nozzle 600 is configured to move vertically because the first end 502 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is configured to collapse. That is, the first end 520 of the nozzle assembly body assembly has a first position at which the first end 502 of the nozzle assembly body assembly extends, and a second position at which the first end 502 of the nozzle assembly body assembly is retracted And a second position. The second end 506 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly extends generally horizontally from the rail 56 and the body assembly middle portion 504 of the nozzle assembly is curved downwardly. In such a configuration, when the first end 502 of the nozzle assembly body assembly is in the first position, the nozzle 600 is lower than when the first end 502 of the nozzle assembly body assembly is in the second position Lt; / RTI >

The first end 502 of the nozzle assembly body assembly is configured to fold through a bellows device but in the preferred embodiment the movement of the nozzle 600 is accomplished by the retraction assembly 520 (Figure 18) do. That is, the body assembly 500 of the nozzle assembly includes a body member 510 and a retraction assembly 520. The body member 510 of the assembly of the body of the nozzle assembly is a substantially rigid member having an elongated first end 512, a middle portion 514, and an elongated second end 516. The middle portion 514 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is arcuate and preferably extends over an arc of about 90 degrees so that the first end 512 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly, The second end portions 516 of the body members of the body assembly of the first embodiment are disposed substantially at right angles to each other. Shrinkage assembly 520 includes a cable 522 and a sliding head assembly 524. 18 and 19, the sliding head assembly 524 is movably connected to the first end 512 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction < RTI ID = 0.0 > . The cable 522 of the retraction assembly is movably disposed in the body member 510 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and is connected to the sliding head assembly 524. In this configuration, movement of the cable 522 of the shrink assembly moves the sliding head assembly 524. The nozzle 600 is disposed on the sliding head assembly 5240. Movement of the sliding head assembly 524 relative to the first end 512 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is thus generally across a vertical axis.

The body member 510 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly forms a plurality of passageways. For example, in this embodiment, the water passage 401 of the nozzle assembly is divided into a first long high pressure channel 530 and a second long high pressure water channel 532. The first and second high pressure channels 530 and 532 are disposed substantially coplanar and extend substantially parallel to each other. One or both of the high pressure channels 530, 532 may include a passage in fluid communication with the body 544 of the sliding head assembly. In this configuration, the water pressure acts to bias the body 544 of the sliding head assembly to the first position, as described below. Further, at the first end 512 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly, there are two bores 536, if desired, which are configured to support the pair of gear shafts 540, 542.

That is, at a first end 512 of a body member of a body assembly of a nozzle assembly, a pair of generally parallel, generally parallel, longitudinal axes of a first end 512 of the body assembly of a body assembly of the nozzle assembly There are guide shafts, that is, first and second guide shafts 540 and 542. The first and second guide shafts 540 and 542 interact with the sliding head assembly 524. The sliding head assembly 524 further includes a body 544. The body 544 of the sliding head assembly is movably connected to the first and second elongate guide shafts 540 and 542 of the sliding head assembly and the body 544 of the sliding head assembly is coupled to the body member & And a second position in which the body 544 of the sliding head assembly is disposed proximate the first end 512 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly Lt; / RTI > The main body 544 of the sliding head assembly forms two passages 546 having a size corresponding to the first and second guide shafts 540 and 542. [ Thus, the body 544 of the sliding head assembly can be slidably coupled to the first and second guide shafts 540, 542. Moreover, the cable 522 of the reaction assembly is connected to the body 544 of the sliding head assembly. The operation of the cable 522 is thus effected over the first and second guide shafts 540 and 542 and relative to the first end 512 of the body member of the nozzle assembly body assembly The main body 544 is moved.

The body 544 of the sliding head assembly further defines two water passageways 546. The water passage 546 of the body of the sliding head assembly is generally terminated at the transverse nozzle 600, as shown in Fig. 18A. The nozzle 600 may be opened in the same direction, but may be opened in the opposite direction, or in both lateral directions. The sliding head assembly 524 further includes a first elongated high pressure tube 550 and a second elongated high pressure water tube 552. The first and second high pressure tubes 550 and 552 are connected to the body 544 of the sliding head assembly. The first and second high pressure channels 530 and 532 are sized to receive the first and second high pressure tubes 550 and 552. Furthermore, each of the first and second high pressure tubes 550, 552 is connected to and in fluid communication with one of the high pressure channels 530, 532 and one of the water passages 546 of the body of the sliding head assembly. A seal 554 is present around the first and second high pressure tubes 550 and 552 and the seal 554 is located between the first and second high pressure tubes 550 and 552 and the first and second high pressure channels 530, 532). In this configuration, as the body 544 of the sliding head assembly moves between the first and second positions, the first and second high pressure tubes 550 and 552 are connected to the first and second high pressure channels 530 and 532, Moving in and out. Finally, the body 544 of the sliding head assembly is protected by a shell 556 disposed about the sliding head assembly body 544 and connected to the second end 516 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly . The shell 556 of the body of the sliding head assembly has a slot 558 (FIG. 17), and the slot 558 extends over the course of travel of the nozzle 600 and aligns with the travel path of the nozzle 600.

The nozzle assembly 58B does not rotate as in the embodiment with the nozzle assembly 58A and the motion of the drive shaft 72 should be longitudinal motion. That is, in the present embodiment, the drive shaft 72 has a first position in which the drive shaft 72 extends from the first end 74 of the rail body, and a second position in which the drive shaft 72 extends from the second end of the rail body 76 in the rail 56 between the first position and the second position. Moreover, the first end 82 of the drive shaft is a threaded connection or other type of temporary flexible connection. Cable 522 has a first end 526 and a second end 528. The second end 528 of the cable is configured to be temporarily secured to the first end 82 of the drive shaft. The first end 82 of the drive shaft is temporarily connected to the second end 528 of the cable. Thus, in accordance with the longitudinal movement of the drive shaft 72, the cable 522 can move longitudinally within the body member 510 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly.

The longitudinal motion of the drive shaft 72 is generated by the oscillator assembly 330. Many of the oscillator assemblies 330 are the same as described above, and like reference numerals will be described below. That is, the motor assembly 334 and the gear assembly 338 are substantially the same as those described above. A notable difference between the previous embodiment and the present embodiment lies in the connection with the drive shaft 72. In the previous embodiment, a drive shaft 72 is required for rotation to rotate the nozzle assembly 58A. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 72 has to be moved in the longitudinal direction. This is accomplished by having threads 576 on the second end portion 84 of the drive shaft and between the second end portion 84 of the drive shaft and the gear assembly 338 of the oscillator assembly, (570).

That is, in this embodiment, the second end 84 of the drive shaft includes a thread collar 570. The thread collar 570 has a keyed outer radial surface 572 and, if desired, a square shaped threaded inner surface 574. The outer radial surface 572 of the thread collar has a shape corresponding to the keyed opening 344 of the second gear. The second end (84) of the drive shaft also has a threaded portion (576). The threaded portion 576 at the second end of the drive shaft extends past the second end 76 of the rail body to be exposed. The thread collar 570 is disposed in the keyed opening 344 of the second gear. In this configuration, actuation of the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly rotates the screw collar 570. Thus, as the threaded portion 576 at the second end of the drive shaft is disposed and engaged within the threaded inner surface 574 of the threaded collar, rotation of the threaded collar 570 causes threaded portion 576 at the second end of the drive shaft Causing translation along thread collar 570. This creates a longitudinal motion of the drive shaft 72.

In order to actuate this structure and prevent the drive shaft segments 94 from releasing from each other, the drive shaft 72 should not be rotated. Moreover, it is still necessary to know the structure and / or position of the nozzle assembly body 500 in the case of power loss. That is, as described above, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly includes the motor control assembly 450 of the electronic oscillator assembly configured to track the position of the nozzle assembly 58. [ Because the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly is electrically powered, the power loss can cause the motor control assembly 450 of the oscillator assembly to lose data regarding the position of the nozzle assembly 58B. In this embodiment, both of these functions are accomplished by the oscillator assembly nozzle position reset device 580.

The nozzle position reset device 580 includes a drive shaft extension 582, a movable indicia 584, a fixed indicia 586, and a keyed opening 588. The drive shaft extension 582 extends longitudinally from the second end 84 of the drive shaft. The drive shaft extension 582 is keyed and may be an elongate portion of the second end 82 of the drive shaft that extends beyond the threaded portion 576 at the second end of the drive shaft. The movable indicia 584 is disposed on the second end 84 of the drive shaft, and more preferably, disposed on the drive shaft extension 582. [ The fixed indicia 586 is disposed adjacent the drive shaft extension 582 and may simply be the outer surface of the housing assembly 332 of the oscillator assembly. In the preferred case, when the sliding head assembly body 544 is in the first position, the two nozzle position reset device indications 584 and 586 are aligned. As the drive shaft 72 is moved longitudinally toward the second end 76 of the rail body to move the cable 522 and the body 544 of the sliding head assembly, 584, 586 are spaced apart from each other. To reset the position of the body 544 of the sliding head assembly, the two nozzle position reset device indications 584 and 586 have to be rearranged. That is, the motor assembly 334 of the oscillator assembly operates in the direction necessary to return the two nozzle position reset device indications 584, 586 to an aligned state. Accordingly, the position of the drive shaft 72 relative to the rail body 70 is indicated by comparing the position of the movable indicator 584 with the fixed indication 586. [ In a preferred embodiment, the housing assembly 332 of the oscillator assembly includes an offset end plate 590 that is axially spaced from the thread collar 570. The offset end plate 590 has a keyed opening 588 therethrough. The opening 588 of the offset end plate has a size that allows it to pass through the drive shaft extension 582. The fixed indicia 584 is disposed on the offset end plate 590. In addition, the keyed drive shaft extension 582 passing through the keyed opening 588 prevents the drive shaft 72 from rotating. Thus, as the thread collar 570 rotates, the orientation of the drive shaft 72 is maintained and interaction with the thread collar 570 causes the drive shaft 72 to translate longitudinally.

In the two nozzle assembly embodiments 58A, 58B, the water flow is directed from the direction in which the water travels in the body 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly, to the lateral direction in which the nozzle 600 faces, It should rotate about 90 degrees. This directional change creates turbulence, particularly when located close to the nozzle 600, resulting in an irregular spray pattern from the nozzle 600. At least one flow straightener 602 is disposed in at least one nozzle 600 to return the water flow to normal laminar flow. As shown in FIG. 22, the flow straightener 602 includes a body 604 having a plurality of passageways 606. The passageways (606) of the flow straightener extend substantially parallel to each other. At least one of the flow straightener bodies 604 is preferably a generally circular disk having a passage 606 of the flow straightener that extends in the axial direction. The flow straightener 602 is disposed in at least one of the transverse nozzles 600, as opposed to the upstream position of the body 400, 500 of the nozzle assembly. In the preferred case, the diameter of the body 604 of each flow straightener is between about 0.1 and 0.2 inches, and more preferably about 0.15 inches. It is preferred that there be between about 10 to 30 flow straightener passages 606, and more preferably about 19 flow straightener passages 606 are present. The diameter of the passageway (606) of the flow straightener is between about 0.01 to 0.03 inches, and more preferably about 0.02 inches.

The mounting assembly 52 is configured to be connected to the steam generator 10 and to be adjustable such that the sludge lance 50 and more particularly the rail 56 can be aligned with the tube gap 25. 23 to 25, the mounting assembly 52 includes a vertically oriented first plate 701, a horizontally oriented second plate 702, and a floating third plate 704, L " -shaped mounting bracket 700, and a fastener assembly 706. The " L " The first plate 701 is configured to be connected to the inspection opening 32. That is, the inspection opening 32 includes a fastener hole used for fixing a cover (not shown) to the inspection opening 32. [ The fastener assembly 706 includes a fastener 708 configured to pierce an opening (not shown) of the first plate 701 and into the inspection opening 32 fastener bore. The second plate 702 is fixed to the first plate 701 at a substantially right angle. That is, the second plate 702 generally extends in the horizontal direction. The third plate 704 is movably connected to the second plate 702. The fastener assembly 706 is configured to temporarily secure the third plate 704 to the second plate 702. [

That is, the third plate 704 is configured to be adjustable relative to the inspection opening 32 and the second plate 702. For example, the second plate 702 includes two transversely extending slots 710 (Figure 25). The third plate 704 includes a first threaded opening 712 and a second threaded opening 714 (Figure 24). The first threaded opening 712 and the second threaded opening 714 are configured to align with one of the second plate transverse extending slots 710 when the third plate 704 is disposed over the second plate 702 . The fastener assembly 706 includes two threaded knobs 720. Each screw knob 720 is configured to extend upwardly through one of the second plate transverse extending slots 710 and is configured to be threadedly wound into one of the third plate screw openings 712, do. In this configuration, the third plate 704 can move transversely with respect to the second plate 702, and when the proper position is reached, the screw knob 720 is tightened so that the second plate 702 3 plate 704 is temporarily fixed.

Moreover, the angle of the longitudinal axis of the rail with respect to the inspection opening 32 can be adjusted. That is, the third plate 704 includes a drive assembly connection 730. The drive assembly connection 730 is configured to rotate the drive assembly 54 relative to the third plate 704. That is, the second plate 702 includes an arcuate slot 732 disposed on the longitudinal axis of the second plate 702. The third plate 704 has an upwardly extending lug 734 disposed on the longitudinal axis of the second plate 702. The third plate 704 also has an arcuate slot 735 disposed on the longitudinal axis of the third plate 704. The fastener assembly 706 includes a third threaded knob 720. The drive assembly 54 includes two mounting apertures 734 (FIG. 14) corresponding to the mounting assembly lugs 734 and a second mounting aperture 736 (FIG. 14) corresponding to the threaded knob 720, Gt; 738 < / RTI > (FIG. 14). The second mounting opening 738 is configured to align with the second plate arcuate slot 732 when the third plate 704 is disposed on the second plate 702. When assembled, the drive assembly 54 is disposed on the third plate 704, the mounting assembly lug 734 is disposed on the first mounting opening 736, and the threaded knob 720 is threaded 2 mounting aperture 738 (i.e., engaged). In this configuration, the drive assembly 54 can rotate around the mounting assembly lug 734 until the desired angle is reached. When the drive assembly 54 is aligned, the threaded knob 720 is threaded through the second plate arcuate slot 732 and the third plate arcuate slot 735 into the second mounting opening 738. To temporarily secure the drive assembly 54 to the third plate 704, the threaded knob 720 is tightened.

Each of the second plate 702 and the third plate 704 may have a set of indicia 740, 742. The mounting assembly displays 740 and 742 are preferably scale or similar markings. The position of the mounting assembly indicia 740 and 742 relative to one another can be recorded when the sludge lance 50 is successfully used (meaning that the rail 56 is properly aligned with the tube gap 25). The second plate 702 and the third plate 704 can then be prepositioned relative to one another according to the recorded position set after the sludge lance 50 is used in the inspection opening 32.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alternatives to these details may be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the specific embodiments disclosed are illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, the scope of which is given in the appended claims and all their equivalents.

Claims (62)

A miniature sludge lance (50) for use in a steam generator (10), the steam generator (10) comprising a shell (12) forming a closed space, at least one first fluid inlet At least one first fluid outlet (18), at least one second fluid inlet (20), at least one second fluid outlet (22), at least one first fluid inlet (16) and at least one second fluid outlet A plurality of tubes 24 of uniform size extending between and fluidly communicating with a first fluid outlet 18 which is uniformly spaced between adjacent tubes 24, Wherein the shell (12) has at least one inspection opening disposed adjacent the plurality of tubes (24), the small sludge lance (50) being arranged in a regular pattern with a gap (25)
A mounting assembly 52 configured to support drive assembly 54 and rails 56,
A drive assembly (54) coupled to the mounting assembly (52) and configured to move the rail (56) through the inspection opening,
An elongated rail (56) having a rail body (70) and a drive shaft (72), said rail body (70) having a first end (74) and a second end (76) (70) is sized to pass between adjacent tubes (24), said rail body (70) forming a water passage (78) and a drive shaft passage (80), said drive shaft (72) The rail body 70 is rotatably disposed within the shaft passage 80 and the rail body 70 is movably connected to the drive assembly 54 and the rail water passage 78 is connected to a water source to be in fluid communication The elongated rail 56,
A nozzle assembly (58) having a body assembly (400) having a body assembly (400) sized to pass between adjacent tubes (24), the body assembly (400) Wherein the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is connected to the rail body 70 and the water passage 401 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is connected to the water passage 78 of the rail body The nozzle assembly (58) being in fluid communication,
As the rail body 70 moves through the inspection opening, the nozzle assembly 58 passes between adjacent tubes 24,
The tubes 24 in the plurality of tubes 24 have a centerline and the centerline of the tube is uniformly spaced so as to have a uniform tube centerline distance between adjacent tubes 24,
The rail 56 includes a positioning assembly 300 that includes a body 302, a stop 304, an adjustable pointer assembly 306, and a plurality of indicators < RTI ID = 0.0 > 308)
The stop 304 is sized to be connected to the first end 74 of the rail and not to pass between adjacent tubes 24,
The adjustable pointer assembly 306 is movably connected to the drive assembly 54 adjacent the rail 56 and configured to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail 56,
The plurality of indicia 308 are disposed on the rail 56 and the indicia 308 is spaced a multiple of the centerline distance of the tube 24
Small sludge lance. The method according to claim 1,
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is elongate and includes at least two lateral nozzles 600,
The at least two transverse nozzles 600 are longitudinally spaced from each other on the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly and the nozzles 600 are spaced at equal distances from the centerlines of the two adjacent tubes 24, felled
Small sludge lance. The method according to claim 1,
The rail 56 includes a plurality of rail assemblies 90 and a water manifold 92,
Each of the rail assemblies 90 has a drive shaft segment 94 and a elongate body 96,
The body 96 of each of the rail assemblies has a first end 98 and a second end 100 and forms a water passage 99 and a drive shaft passage 101, (96) has a size to pass between adjacent tubes (24)
Each of the drive shaft segments 94 has a first end 130 and a second end 132 and each of the drive shaft ends 130 and 132 is configured to be a coupling 160,
The water manifold 92 is configured to be connected to and in fluid communication with a water supply source and having a drive shaft segment 110 and a body 112 having a first end 130 and a second end 132, The body 112 of the water manifold forms a water passage 99 and a drive shaft passage 101,
The first end 130 of the body of the water manifold is connected to the second end 100 of the body 96 of the rail assembly disposed at the second end 76 of the rail body,
The drive shaft segment (110) of the water manifold and the drive shaft segment (94) of each of the rail assemblies are temporarily secured together to form the drive shaft (72)
Small sludge lance. The method of claim 3,
Each of the rail assemblies 90 includes a first connecting component 162 disposed at a first end 98 of the body of the rail assembly and a second connecting component 162 disposed at a second end 100 of the body of the rail assembly And a connecting assembly (160) having a second connecting component (164)
The connection assembly 160 is configured to connect the rail assemblies 90 in series,
The first connecting component (162) of the connecting assembly of each of the rail assemblies includes at least one screw fastener (164) disposed at a first end (98) of the body of the rail assembly,
The second connecting component 164 of the connecting assembly of each of the rail assemblies includes at least one threaded bore 166 disposed at the second end 100 of the body of the rail assembly,
Each of said rail assemblies (90) includes a water passage seal (102)
Each water channel seal 102 of each rail assembly is disposed at a first end 98 of a body 96 of an associated rail assembly and each of the water channel seals 102 comprises a body 96 of an adjacent rail assembly, ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 >
Small sludge lance. The method according to claim 1,
The rail body 70 has transverse side portions 194 and 196 and at least one transverse side portion 194 of the rail body has a plurality of sprocket holes 200,
The drive assembly 54 has a motor 210, a housing assembly 212, a drive sprocket 214, and at least one guide surface 216,
The motor 210 has an output shaft 218 and the motor 210 is configured to rotate the output shaft 218 and the output shaft 218 is connected to the drive sprocket 214,
Wherein the at least one guide surface (216) is configured to maintain the rail body (70) in contact with the sprocket (214)
The rail body 70 is disposed between the guide surface 216 and the sprocket 214 and the sprocket hole 200 is engaged with the sprocket teeth 215
Small sludge lance. 6. The method of claim 5,
The housing assembly 212 of the drive assembly includes an upper case 220 and a lower case 222,
The upper case 220 and the lower case 222 are movably connected to each other and configured to translate relative to each other. The upper case 220 and the lower case 222 are configured to move axially on the same plane And,
The housing assembly 212 of the drive assembly includes two elongate guide pin passageways 224 and two elongate guide pins 226,
The guide pin passage 224 extends through both the upper case 220 and the lower case 222,
The longitudinal axes of the guide pin passages 224 are disposed coplanar and extend parallel to each other,
The guide pin 226 is disposed in the guide pin passage 224 and connected to the lower case 222,
One of said guide pins 226 includes a biasing assembly 230 having a biasing device 232, a knob 234 and a threaded end 236 on an associated guide pin 226,
One of said guide pin passageways 224 has a wider diameter portion 238 so that annular space 240 is created when guide pin 226 is disposed within said passageway 224 having a wider diameter portion 238 ,
The biasing device 232 is disposed within the annular space 240,
The threaded end 236 of the guide pin is disposed adjacent to the upper case 220,
The knob 234 has a threaded opening 244 and the knob 234 is disposed on the threaded end 236 of the guide pin,
The biasing device 232 is disposed between the knob 234 and the lower portion of the annular space 240,
The biasing assembly 230 biases the upper case 220 and the lower case 222 toward each other
Small sludge lance. delete The method according to claim 1,
The rail (56) includes an oscillator assembly (60A) configured to generate periodic motion,
The oscillator assembly 60A is operatively connected to the drive shaft 72 such that the drive shaft 72 periodically moves,
The oscillator assembly 60A includes a housing assembly 212, a motor 210 having a elongated output shaft 218, and a gear assembly 260,
The motor 210 of the oscillator assembly is coupled to the housing assembly 212 of the oscillator assembly,
The gear assembly 260 of the oscillator assembly has a first gear 262 and a second gear 264 and the first gear 262 and the second gear 264 are operatively connected,
The first gear 262 is fixed to the output shaft 218 of the motor of the oscillator assembly,
The second gear 264 has a keyed opening 344,
The second end (84) of the drive shaft extends from the rail (56), the second end (84) of the drive shaft is keyed,
The keyed second end 84 of the drive shaft is disposed within the keyed opening 344 of the second gear,
The drive shaft 72 is axially movable through the second gear 264
Small sludge lance. 9. The method of claim 8,
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is elongated and includes at least two transverse nozzles 600 that are positioned between the water passage 401 of the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly and the fluid Communicating,
The at least two lateral nozzles (600) are configured to move relative to the rails (56)
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is connected to the drive shaft 72,
By movement of the drive shaft 72, the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is moved relative to the rail 56
Small sludge lance. 10. The method of claim 9,
The rail body 70 includes a first end fluid passage 410 between the water passage 78 and the drive shaft passage 80, Is disposed at one end (74)
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is elongate, hollow, and is a linear tube 402, and the tube 402 includes a first end 404, a middle portion 406, and a second end 407 And,
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is configured to be rotatably connected to the rail 56 and the second end 516 of the body of the nozzle assembly and the middle portion 514 of the body of the nozzle assembly are connected to the rails 56, Wherein a first end (404) of the body of the nozzle assembly extends from a first end (74) of the rail,
At least one fluid port 412 is located in the middle portion 514 of the body of the nozzle assembly and at least one fluid port 412 of the nozzle assembly 58 is connected to the first end fluid passageway 98 Wherein the fluid port 412 is in fluid communication with a water passage 401 of the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly such that the at least one fluid port 412 is located in the water passage 78 ) And the water passage (401) of the body assembly (400) of the nozzle assembly,
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly,
The second end (407) of the body of the nozzle assembly forms a keyed socket (136)
The first end 140 of the drive shaft is a key 134 corresponding to a keyed socket 136 at a second end of the body of the nozzle assembly,
When the body 58 of the nozzle assembly is partially disposed within the rail body 70, the keyed first end 140 of the drive shaft engages the keyed socket 136 at the second end of the body of the nozzle assembly So that rotation of the drive shaft 72 rotates the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly,
The housing assembly 332 of the oscillator assembly includes a keyed socket insertion assembly 430,
The keyed socket inserting assembly 430 is configured to engage the drive shaft 72 to bias the drive shaft 72 toward the first end 74 of the rail body,
The keyed socket inserting assembly 430 includes a tubular keyed body 432, a plunger 434, a biasing device 436, and a cap 438,
The outer radial surface of the body 432 of the keyed socket-insert assembly has a shape corresponding to the keyed opening 344 of the second gear, and the body 432 of the keyed socket- And the keyed opening of the body of the keyed socket-inserting assembly is configured to correspond to a keyed second end (84) of the drive shaft,
The plunger 434 of the keyed socket inserting assembly is disposed in the elongated passageway 440 of the body of the keyed socket inserting assembly,
The cap 438 of the keyed socket inserting assembly is connected to the body 432 of the keyed socket inserting assembly at the rear end of the elongated channel 440 of the body of the keyed socket inserting assembly,
The biasing device 436 of the keyed socket inserting assembly is disposed between the plunger 434 of the keyed socket inserting assembly and the cap 438 of the keyed socket inserting assembly and is biased toward the first end 74 of the rail body And configured to bias the plunger (434) of the keyed socket insertion assembly,
The plunger 434 of the keyed socket insert assembly engages the drive shaft 72 to bias the drive shaft 72 toward the first end 74 of the rail body
Small sludge lance. 11. The method of claim 10,
The rail 56 includes a plurality of rail assemblies 90,
Each of the rail assemblies 90 has a drive shaft segment 94 and a elongate body 96,
The body 96 of each of the rail assemblies has a first end 98 and a second end 100 and forms a water passage 99 and a drive shaft passage 101, (96) has a size to pass between adjacent tubes (24)
Each drive shaft segment (94) has a first end (130) and a second end (132), each drive shaft end (130, 132) configured to be a keyed connection,
Each of the keyed connections includes a tapered extension (134) and a corresponding tapered socket (136)
Small sludge lance. 11. The method of claim 10,
The oscillator assembly 60A includes a nozzle alignment reset device 46 configured to position the body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly such that the nozzle 600 is disposed in a selected orientation
Small sludge lance. 10. The method of claim 9,
The nozzle assembly 58 includes a elongated body assembly 400 having a elongated first end 404, a middle portion 406 and a elongated second end 407,
The middle portion 406 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is arcuate such that the first end 404 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and the second end 407 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly are disposed at right angles to each other And,
The nozzle 600 is disposed at a first end 404 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly,
The first end 404 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is configured to be folded,
The body assembly 400 of the nozzle assembly includes a body member 510 and a retraction assembly 520,
The body assembly 510 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly is rigid and has a elongated first end 512, a middle portion 514, and a elongated second end 516,
The middle portion 514 of the body member of the nozzle assembly body assembly is arcuate so that the first end 404 of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and the second end of the body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly 407 are disposed at right angles to each other,
The shrinkage assembly 520 includes a cable 522 and a sliding head assembly 524,
The sliding head assembly 524 is movably coupled to a first end 512 of a body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and is movable longitudinally relative to a first end of a body member of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly Lt; / RTI >
The cable 522 of the shrink assembly is movably disposed within the body member 510 of the body assembly of the nozzle assembly and is connected to the sliding head assembly 524 such that movement of the cable 522 of the shrink assembly Moves the sliding head assembly 524,
The nozzle 600 is disposed on the sliding head assembly 524
Small sludge lance. The method according to claim 1,
The nozzle assembly 58 includes at least one flow straightener 602
Small sludge lance. The method according to claim 1,
The mounting assembly 52 includes a vertical first plate 701, a horizontal second plate 702, a floating third plate 704, and a fastener assembly 706,
The first plate 701 is configured to be connected to the inspection opening 32,
The second plate 702 is fixed to the first plate 701 at a right angle,
The third plate 704 is movably connected to the second plate 702,
The fastener assembly 706 is configured to temporarily secure the third plate 704 to the second plate 702
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