Bolt installation and tensioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11017909-B2
Application number	US-201715841056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2017
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A bolt installation and removal (BIR) system is used for assembling and disassembling a nuclear vessel. The BIR system includes a platform with a stand for supporting the nuclear vessel. A track extends around an outside perimeter of the platform and multiple tool carts include wheels that roll on the track. Tool towers are located on the carts and include tool assemblies configured to install and remove bolts on the nuclear reactor vessel. Magazine towers also extend up from the tool carts next to the tool towers and include magazines that hold bolts for exchanging with the tool assemblies. Drive mechanisms move tool heads in the tool assemblies around a first vertical axis, vertically up and down, and laterally to more simply and reliably install and remove the bolts in a radioactive underwater environment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool cart for assembling and disassembling a nuclear vessel, comprising:
a platform configured to travel around an outside perimeter of the nuclear vessel;
a tool tower extending up from the platform;
a tool assembly attached to the tool tower configured to rotate about a vertical axis to install bolts on the nuclear vessel and remove the bolts from the nuclear vessel;
a magazine tower extending up from the platform;
a center shaft extending up from a top end of the magazine tower;
a magazine including a cylinder for removably sliding over the center shaft; and
a gear and motor for rotating the magazine about a second vertical axis.

2. The tool cart of claim 1 , wherein the magazine includes:
an upper plate attached to the top end of the cylinder and including a first set of circularly arranged holes; and
a lower plate attached to a bottom end of the cylinder and including a second set of circularly arranged holes concentrically aligned with the first set of holes forming a set of circularly arranged slots.

3. The tool cart of claim 1 , wherein:
the motor rotates different slots of the magazine into an exchange position with the tool assembly; and
the tool assembly rotates from a first position underneath the slots in the exchange position and a second position underneath a bolt hole on the nuclear vessel.

4. The tool cart of claim 3 , wherein:
the motor rotates the slots along a first circular path; and
the tool tower rotates a tool head on the tool assembly along a second circular path that intersects the first circular path.

5. A tool cart for assembling and disassembling a nuclear vessel, comprising:
a platform configured to travel around an outside perimeter of the nuclear vessel;
a tool tower extending up from the platform, wherein the tool tower includes
a tool base;
a carriage moving vertically up and down the tool base; and
a gear assembly positioned to rotate the tool base and carriage about a vertical axis; and

a tool assembly supported by the carriage, wherein the tool assembly is configured to rotate about the vertical axis to install bolts on the nuclear vessel and remove the bolts from the nuclear vessel.

6. The tool cart of claim 5 , wherein the tool assembly includes:
a slide plate horizontally displaceable relative to the tool base;
an install head located on a first end of the slide plate; and
a tensioning head located on a second opposite end of the slide plate.

7. A tool cart for assembling and disassembling a nuclear vessel, comprising:
a platform configured to travel around an outside perimeter of the nuclear vessel;
a tool tower extending up from the platform;
a tool assembly attached to the tool tower configured to rotate about a vertical axis to install bolts on the nuclear vessel and remove the bolts from the nuclear vessel, wherein the tool assembly includes
an install head;
a drive bit located in the install head;
a drive bit cylinder extending the drive bit vertically up into a bottom hole formed in each of the bolts; and
a bolt clip positioned to retain one of the bolts and extend out and release the retained bolt when the drive bit cylinder extends the drive bit up into the bottom bolt hole.

8. The tool cart of claim 5 , further comprising wheels located on the platform configured to travel over a track that extends around a perimeter of the nuclear vessel.

9. The tool cart of claim 8 , including:
a hold down clamp attached to the platform including reciprocating claws; and
a hold down cylinder configured to extend a rod causing the claws to retract and attach onto the track.

10. A tool tower for attaching and detaching a bolt to a nuclear vessel, comprising:
a base rotatably attached to a platform;
a carriage extending around the base;
a slide plate attached to the carriage;
a tool head attached to the slide plate for attaching and detaching the bolt on the nuclear vessel;
a first drive mechanism coupled to the base for rotating the tool head along a circular path about a vertical axis;
a second drive mechanism coupled to the carriage for moving the tool head vertically up and down on the base; and
a third drive mechanism coupled to the slide plate for moving the tool head laterally relative to the base.

11. The tool tower of claim 10 , including:
a first tool head located on a first end of the slide plate for installing and removing the bolt on the nuclear vessel; and
a second tool head located on a second opposite end of the slide plate for tensioning the bolt on the nuclear vessel.

12. The tool tower of claim 11 , wherein the drive bit includes a shoulder that presses against oppositely facing protuberances formed in the bolt clips as the drive bit cylinder extends the drive bit up into the hole formed in the bolt.

13. The tool tower of claim 10 , wherein the tool head includes:
a top opening for receiving a bottom end of the bolt;
a drive bit located in the tool head;
a drive bit cylinder coupled to the end of the drive bit extending the drive bit vertically up into a bolt hole formed in the bottom end of the bolt; and
bolt clips clamping onto the bolt when inserted into the top opening and to release the bolt when the drive cylinder extends the drive bit upward into the bolt hole.

14. The tool tower of claim 10 , wherein the first drive mechanism comprises:
a gear assembly located between a bottom end of the base and a tool cart platform; and
a motor rotating the gear assembly and the base about a shaft that extends up from the tool cart platform.

15. The tool tower of claim 10 , wherein the second drive mechanism comprises one or more cylinders coupled at a first end to the base and coupled at a second end to the carriage.

16. The tool tower of claim 10 , wherein the third drive mechanism comprises a motor moving the slide plate and tool head laterally relative to the base.

17. A bolt installation and removal system for assembling and disassembling a nuclear vessel, comprising:
a platform including a stand for supporting the nuclear vessel;
a track that extends around an outside perimeter of the platform;
multiple tool carts including wheels that roll on the track;
tool towers located on the carts; and
tool assemblies attached to the tool towers configured to install and remove bolts on the nuclear reactor vessel.

18. The system of claim 17 , including magazine towers extending up from the tool carts next to the tool towers, the magazine towers including magazines that hold bolts for exchanging with the tool assemblies on the tool towers.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the tool assemblies are configured to exchange bolts with the magazines on adjacent ones of the tool carts.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the tool carts include:
first drive mechanisms for rotating the tool assemblies about a first vertical axis;
second drive mechanisms moving the tool assemblies vertically up and down;
third drive mechanisms laterally extending and retracting the tool assemblies relative to the tool towers; and
fourth drive mechanisms rotating the magazines about a second vertical axis.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein:
centerlines of tool heads in the tool assemblies travel along a first circular path about the first vertical axis that intersects a bolt hole in the nuclear vessel; and
slots in the magazines travel in a second circular path about the second vertical axis that intersects the first circular path.

Assignees

• Nuscale Power Llc

Inventors

• Shaw Steven W
• Noel Derek

Classifications

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title

• B23P19/067 Primary

  Bolt tensioners (for hand tools B25B29/02) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49822

  by applying force · CPC title

• Y10T29/53543

  including transporting track · CPC title

• G21C13/06

  Sealing-plugs (for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00) · CPC title