Patents Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
  • Patent number: 10974326
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drilling instrument for machining tubes in tube sheets of heat exchangers in a radioactive environment, comprising a transport device having clamping elements and having a drilling device with clamping fingers, which are arranged in each case on a common first side. The transport device and the drilling device are connected to a support device having a support plate on which a resting plate of the drilling device rests. In addition, the support plate is connected to the resting plate by way of at least one movable connecting element, and the resting plate is connected to the support plate in a play-free manner in a first position of the connecting element, wherein the resting plate exhibits predefinable play with regard to the carrier plate in a second position of the connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Ziegelmeyer
  • Patent number: 10821524
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drilling device for machining tubes in tube sheets of heat exchangers in a radioactive environment. A retaining plate is clampable in the tubes with at least two retaining fingers on a first side and a first drive, which drives a tool shaft, is arranged on a second side. A tool chuck on a first end side of the tool shaft is connected detachably to the latter, wherein a forward feed of the tool shaft is brought about by a feed device. In addition, the tool chuck is unlockable from the tool shaft by way of an unlocking instrument and the unlocking instrument is controllable by a remote-control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Ziegelmeyer
  • Patent number: 10335864
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a clamping apparatus for fixing in a recess of a component and for holding a workpiece carrier against the component. The clamping apparatus includes a housing for attachment to the workpiece carrier and a clamping sleeve for insertion into the recess. A clamping mandrel is at least partially disposed inside the clamping sleeve. The clamping mandrel is movable relative to the clamping sleeve between a release position and a clamp position. When the clamping sleeve is inserted into the recess and the clamping mandrel is in the clamp position, the clamping sleeve is braced within the recess by a holding force so as to be in a clamped position. When the clamping sleeve is in the clamped position, the housing is movable relative to the clamping mandrel, which permits the housing to move the workpiece carrier into contact with the component and apply a bearing force thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Ziegelmeyer
  • Patent number: 9845914
    Abstract: The invention relates to a narrow gap inspection system, having a tube to be inspected, in particular a boiler tube, which extends in the axial direction and, surrounding this at a radial distance with a hollow-cylindrical gap, a casing, in particular a casing tube. The casing has an axially extending opening with an opening angle running perpendicular to the axial direction, and radially over the opening there is provided an axially mobile support system which supports a ring which is arranged in the gap and is able to rotate about the tube and has an inspection device that can be placed over the tube by means of a respective axial movement of the support system and a respective rotation of the ring in the gap. The invention also relates to a method for installing a narrow gap inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Riecker, Christian Röllig, Jens Meissner, Wolfgang Obierai, Phetoury Souvannavong
  • Publication number: 20170304907
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a clamping apparatus for fixing in a recess of a component and for holding a workpiece carrier against the component. The clamping apparatus includes a housing for attachment to the workpiece carrier and a clamping sleeve for insertion into the recess. A clamping mandrel is at least partially disposed inside the clamping sleeve. The clamping mandrel is movable relative to the clamping sleeve between a release position and a clamp position. When the clamping sleeve is inserted into the recess and the clamping mandrel is in the clamp position, the clamping sleeve is braced within the recess by a holding force so as to be in a clamped position. When the clamping sleeve is in the clamped position, the housing is movable relative to the clamping mandrel, which permits the housing to move the workpiece carrier into contact with the component and apply a bearing force thereagainst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Ziegelmeyer
  • Patent number: 9793017
    Abstract: A nuclear plant manipulator system, including a manipulator with an image acquisition device and a remotely-controlled drive, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to capture image data, a remote-operating device is configured to remotely control the manipulator, an object counter is configured to be incremented or decremented, and an analysis device is configured to receive the image data captured by the image acquisition device and evaluate the received image data. The analysis device is configured to automatically identify respective known objects that are found along a path while the manipulator moves along the path. When a respective known object along the path is passed by the manipulator, the object counter is incremented or decremented depending on the direction of the manipulator along the path. A current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Marko Eckert, David Kisjuhasz
  • Patent number: 9779842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear facility pool cleaning device having a floating platform, capable of floating in water, having buoyancy bodies; a drive device for displacing the floating platform on the surface of a water-filled nuclear facility pool to be cleaned; a winching device connected to the floating platform; a pump which is winchable vertically by the winching device and has a vacuum hose, connected thereto at its first end, for cleaning the bottom of the nuclear facility pool; a remote control device for remotely operating at least the drive device and the winching device; an optional stationary external storage tank; and wherein the second end of the vacuum hose preferably leads at least indirectly into the stationary external storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Strohmayer, Dominik Demtröder, Udo Weintrager
  • Patent number: 9764404
    Abstract: An erosion device and a corresponding method are disclosed for machining a hollow-cylindrical workpiece, wherein the device is elongated and/or formed in the manner of a tube or cylinder and is characterized in that at least two rotationally acting drives (A1, A2), each with a drive shaft (AW1, AW2), and also an erosion electrode (E), interacting with the drives (A1, A2) and formed in the manner of a ring or disc, are provided. The drives (A1, A2) and the electrode (E) are adapted in size and extent to the internal diameter of the workpiece (W) to be machined, so that the device can be introduced into the respective hollow-cylindrical workpiece (W) and can be positioned at the location respectively to be machined or the region to be machined in the workpiece (W), and the erosion electrode (E) can be pivoted or can be rotated by a coupled pivoting or rotating movement of the at least two drives (A1, A2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Marko Eckert
  • Patent number: 9435481
    Abstract: A steam generator heating tube repair sleeve has an encircling flange, conical region, and a straight region. The encircling flange merges into a conical region that tapers on the outside in the direction of the other sleeve end and which is adjoined to the straight region. A steam generator heating tube repair method is used to repair a steam generator heating tube that is installed in a steam generator having a defective tube end. The method includes conical milling out of the defective tube end, inserting a steam generator heating tube repair sleeve into the conically milled-out defective tube end, rolling in the steam generator heating tube repair sleeve, and welding the flange region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Bienentreu, Nicolas Jeanvoine
  • Publication number: 20160230923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a narrow gap inspection system, having a tube to be inspected, in particular a boiler tube, which extends in the axial direction and, surrounding this at a radial distance with a hollow-cylindrical gap, a casing, in particular a casing tube. The casing has an axially extending opening with an opening angle running perpendicular to the axial direction, and radially over the opening there is provided an axially mobile support system which supports a ring which is arranged in the gap and is able to rotate about the tube and has an inspection device that can be placed over the tube by means of a respective axial movement of the support system and a respective rotation of the ring in the gap. The invention also relates to a method for installing a narrow gap inspection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander RIECKER, Christian RÖLLIG, Jens MEISSNER, Wolfgang OBIERAI, Phetoury SOUVANNAVONG
  • Publication number: 20160148711
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear facility pool cleaning device having a floating platform, capable of floating in water, having buoyancy bodies; a drive device for displacing the floating platform on the surface of a water-filled nuclear facility pool to be cleaned; a winching device connected to the floating platform; a pump which is winchable vertically by the winching device and has a vacuum hose, connected thereto at its first end, for cleaning the bottom of the nuclear facility pool; a remote control device for remotely operating at least the drive device and the winching device; an optional stationary external storage tank; and wherein the second end of the vacuum hose preferably leads at least indirectly into the stationary external storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas STROHMAYER, Dominik DEMHÖDER, Udo WEINTRAGER
  • Patent number: 9194629
    Abstract: A condensation chamber cooling system of a condensation chamber for a boiling water reactor has a heat exchanger outside the condensation chamber. An elongate cooling module is provided in the condensation chamber with an evaporation space in its upper region. The cooling module is configured such that the evaporation space is located above a maximum filling level of the condensation chamber. The cooling module includes at least one riser pipe and one downpipe that issue with their upper ends into the evaporation space and with their lower ends in the condensation chamber. A first pressure line leads from the evaporation space to the heat exchanger and, from there, a second pressure line which issues in the condensation chamber below the minimum filling level. Thus, the condensation chamber, the pressure lines, the cooling module and the heat exchanger form a passive closed cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Tietsch, Daniel Freis, Felix Sassen
  • Publication number: 20150235718
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reactor pressure-relieving filter system having an interior space hermetically enclosed by a pressure-resistant reactor casing, at least one pressure-relieving opening through the reactor casing, and a dry filter for a gas mass flow emerging from the pressure-relieving opening when there is excess pressure in the interior space. The filtering efficiency can depend both on the average dwell time of the gas mass flow in the dry filter and on the temperature difference between the gas mass flow and the respective dew point. A flow channel connects the pressure-relieving opening and the dry filter. A passive orifice plate is provided upstream of the dry filter in the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel FREIS, Ralf Obenland, Wolfgang Tietsch, Hans Martinsteg
  • Patent number: 9058906
    Abstract: A fuel element storage and cooling configuration includes a fuel element storage pool and a cooling system having at least one first heat exchanger disposed in the fuel element storage pool and at least one second heat exchanger disposed in a heat sink and located at a distance therefrom, above a highest point of the first heat exchanger. The two heat exchangers are connected, using a pipe system, to form a closed circuit, which is at least partially filled with a flowable coolant. If the temperature of the first heat exchanger is increased with respect to the second heat exchanger, natural circulation of the coolant, and thus heat transport from the fuel element storage pool to the heat sink, is ensured without a pump apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Marcel Schmidt, Daniel Freis, Norbert Haspel
  • Publication number: 20140355729
    Abstract: A nuclear plant manipulator system is disclosed which can include a manipulator with an image acquisition device and remote-control drive, a remote-operating device, as well as an analysis device for analyzing image data of the image acquisition device. The analysis device can be configured in such a way that when the manipulator moves along a path of movement based on image data, respective known objects that are found along the path of movement are automatically identified, and when such an object is passed, depending on the direction, an object counter is incremented or decremented, whereby the current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device. A method is disclosed for controlling a manipulator of the nuclear plant manipulator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GmbH
    Inventors: Marko ECKERT, David KISJUHASZ
  • Publication number: 20140183165
    Abstract: An erosion device and a corresponding method are disclosed for machining a hollow-cylindrical workpiece, wherein the device is elongated and/or formed in the manner of a tube or cylinder and is characterized in that at least two rotationally acting drives (A1, A2), each with a drive shaft (AW1, AW2), and also an erosion electrode (E), interacting with the drives (A1, A2) and formed in the manner of a ring or disc, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Marco ECKERT
  • Publication number: 20130199462
    Abstract: A steam generator heating tube repair sleeve has an encircling flange, conical region, and a straight region. The encircling flange merges into a conical region that tapers on the outside in the direction of the other sleeve end and which is adjoined to the straight region. A steam generator heating tube repair method is used to repair a steam generator heating tube that is installed in a steam generator having a defective tube end. The method includes conical milling out of the defective tube end, inserting a steam generator heating tube repair sleeve into the conically milled-out defective tube end, rolling in the steam generator heating tube repair sleeve, and welding the flange region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Bienentreu, Nicolas Jeanvoine
  • Publication number: 20130140005
    Abstract: A condensation chamber cooling system of a condensation chamber for a boiling water reactor has a heat exchanger outside the condensation chamber. An elongate cooling module is provided in the condensation chamber with an evaporation space in its upper region. The cooling module is configured such that the evaporation space is located above a maximum filling level of the condensation chamber. The cooling module includes at least one riser pipe and one downpipe that issue with their upper ends into the evaporation space and with their lower ends in the condensation chamber. A first pressure line leads from the evaporation space to the heat exchanger and, from there, a second pressure line which issues in the condensation chamber below the minimum filling level. Thus, the condensation chamber, the pressure lines, the cooling module and the heat exchanger form a passive closed cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
  • Publication number: 20120051484
    Abstract: A fuel element storage and cooling configuration includes a fuel element storage pool and a cooling system having at least one first heat exchanger disposed in the fuel element storage pool and at least one second heat exchanger disposed in a heat sink and located at a distance therefrom, above a highest point of the first heat exchanger. The two heat exchangers are connected, using a pipe system, to form a closed circuit, which is at least partially filled with a flowable coolant. If the temperature of the first heat exchanger is increased with respect to the second heat exchanger, natural circulation of the coolant, and thus heat transport from the fuel element storage pool to the heat sink, is ensured without a pump apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: MARCEL SCHMIDT, DANIEL FREIS, NORBERT HASPEL
  • Publication number: 20090060780
    Abstract: A device for the treatment and/or decontamination of surfaces has at least one generator configuration with which directed waves, in particular of an electromagnetic type, can be generated and its energy transmitted by a transmission device onto contaminated surface deposits, in particular surface deposits of a reactor pressure vessel and/or reactor internals. The surface deposits are dissolved and/or sublimated by the directed waves. In a corresponding method, the device is used to generate the directed waves and bring about transmissions of energy onto the contaminated surface deposits, in particular surface deposits of a reactor pressure vessel and/or reactor internals, in such a way that these surface deposits are dissolved and/or sublimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Konstantin Walter, Johannes Scharrer