Abstract: The invention provides a method of positioning a robot intended to perform inspection and maintenance operations within a nuclear plant, and especially within a vessel of a pressurized-water reactor. The robot, which comprises an articulated arm, is controlled so that it initially attaches its head at one end of the arm to a support point having known coordinates. Then, supported on this point, the robot brings and attaches a foot-plate at the other end of the arm to a working support position having known coordinates adjacent the access opening of the vessel. The head is then released and the robot operated to move and position the head through the access opening and into the operating zone in the vessel.

Abstract: A thrust reverser includes a thrust reversing door having maximum efficiency in both the closed, forward thrust position and the open, reverse thrust positions. An inner panel is pivotally attached to the thrust reverser door by a linkage mechanism such that, in the closed position, an interior surface of the inner panel is substantially flush with the interior surfaces of the housing defining the cold flow duct so as to minimize or eliminate any perturbations in the air flowing through the cold flow duct. When the door is moved to the opened position, the linkage mechanism interconnecting it to the inner panel causes the inner panel to pivot a greater amount so as to bring an upstream portion of the inner panel closer to an upstream portion of the door to expose the deflector and thereby increase the thurst reversing efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movable air deflector which, in a first position, deflects air passing through the cold flow air duct of a turbofan engine in a direction such that it approximates the theoretical air flow line and does not enter a cavity defined by the interior of the thrust reverser door when the door is in its closed position. A linkage mechanism connects the air deflector to the door actuator, such that, when the door is moved to its opened or thrust reversing position, the deflector is moved to a second position so as to minimize its interference with the thrust reversing air flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thrust reverser system for a turbofan-type turbojet engine having thrust reverser doors with movable deflectors. The deflectors are movably attached to an upstream edge of the thrust reversing doors and are movable between retracted and extended positions. When the thrust reversing door is closed and the turbojet engine operates in its normal thrust mode, the deflectors are retracted thereby enabling the difference between the inner surface of the thrust reversing door and the theoretical aerodynamic flow line to be reduced or eliminated. When the thrust reversing door is in the thrust reversing position, the deflector is extended so as to protrude beyond the inner surface of the door so as to direct the air flow in a more forward direction to increase the thrust reversing capabilities of the system. The deflectors are mounted on the thrust reversing door such that they are automatically extended when the thrust reversing door moves to the thrust reversing position.

Abstract: A thrust reversing system acting on a cold flow air duct of a turbofan-type turbojet engine is disclosed wherein the thrust reversing doors conform to a turbojet engine housing formed as a body revolution about a central longitudinal axis. The thrust reversing doors function to selectively divert the air passing through the cold flow air duct into a reverse thrust direction and also serve to vary the cross-section of the air duct. When the thrust reversing doors are in the forward thrust position, the downstream edges of the doors may be adjusted in a radial direction to vary the cross-section of the duct. The thrust reversing door is pivotable about a pair of axes, which may extend generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine. The door is pivotally attached to a pair of link arms by a primary pivot which defines the first pivot axis. The link arms are attached to a fixed portion of a turbojet engine structure by a secondary pivot which define the second pivot axis.