Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: Apparatus and Method for Segmentation of Large Workpieces
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This
application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 63/166,853, filed March 26, 2021. The entire contents of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 63/166,853 is hereby incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
FIELD
10 [0002] The
specification relates generally to decommissioning, and more
specifically to apparatus and methods for segmenting large workpieces such as
steam generators and heat exchangers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Korean
Patent No. 101721937 purports to disclose a cutting apparatus
for cutting a bundle of tubes of a heat transfer tube, wherein the cutting
apparatus
is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
bundle
of tubes at the upper side of the bundle of tubes.
[0004] Korean
Patent No. 101164520 purports to disclose a cutting system
capable of effectively dismantling large metal waste such as a steam
generator,
greatly shortening the dismantling period and minimizing the generation of
secondary waste. Korean Patent No. 101164520 purports to provide a device for
preventing the spread of pollution to the surrounding area by allowing the
recovery
of chips or dust generated during the cutting process as the dismantling
operation
is performed in the cutting system.
SUMMARY
[0005] The
following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various
aspects of the applicant's teaching, but not to define any invention.
[0006] According
to some aspects, there is provided a segmentation assembly,
comprising a support framework; a cutting apparatus mounted to the support
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framework and operable to cut a large workpiece into a plurality of axial
segments;
and a welding apparatus mounted to the support framework and operable to weld
a first plate to a first segment of the plurality of axial segments and a
second plate
to a second segment of the plurality of axial segments.
[0007] In some examples, the support framework includes a gantry, and the
cutting apparatus is mounted to the gantry.
[0008] In some examples, the cutting apparatus is operable, when cutting
the
large workpiece into the plurality of axial segments, to cut into the large
workpiece
from a top surface of the large workpiece.
[0009] In some examples, the cutting apparatus includes an elongated
cutting
member operable to bisect the large workpiece into the plurality of axial
segments
in a single pass.
[0010] In some examples, the elongated cutting member is a diamond wire
saw.
15 [0011] In some examples, the segmentation assembly further comprises a
containment assembly mounted to the support framework and operable to contain
debris from the large workpiece while the at least one cutting apparatus cuts
the
large workpiece.
[0012] In some examples, the cutting apparatus is operable to cut the large
workpiece at a cutting location on the large workpiece when cutting the large
workpiece into the plurality of axial segments, and the containment apparatus
is
operable to enclose the cutting location when the cutting apparatus is cutting
the
large workpiece at the cutting location.
[0013] .. In some examples, the containment apparatus includes a plurality of
wall
portions operable to close against the large workpiece when the large
workpiece
is in arranged adjacent the cutting apparatus, the plurality of wall portions
forming
an enclosure around the cutting location when closed against the large
workpiece.
[0014] In some examples, the welding apparatus is operable to weld the
first
plate to the first segment, reorient after welding the first plate to the
first segment
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to face in an opposite direction, and weld the second plate to the second
segment
after reorienting.
[0015] In some examples, the welding apparatus is rotationally
mounted to the
support framework to rotate about a reorientation rotational axis, and
reorienting
after welding the first plate to the first segment to face in an opposite
direction
includes being rotated about the reorientation rotational axis.
[0016] In some examples, the welding apparatus includes a
welding head
mounted on a rotatable arm operable to rotate about a welding rotational axis
perpendicular to the reorientation rotational axis, such that the welding
apparatus
is operable to create a first circular weld when welding the first plate to
the first
segment and a second circular weld when welding the second plate to the second
segment.
[0017] In some examples, the large workpiece is a steam
generator of a nuclear
facility or a heat exchanger of the nuclear facility.
[0018] According to some aspects, there is provided a method of segmenting
a
large workpiece, comprising: positioning the large workpiece adjacent a
segmentation assembly, the large workpiece including an outer shell elongated
along a longitudinal axis of the large workpiece; cutting, following (a), the
large
workpiece into a plurality of axial segments along the longitudinal axis using
a
cutting apparatus of the segmentation assembly; welding a first plate to a
first
segment of the plurality of axial segments using a welding apparatus of the
segmentation assembly, including welding the first plate to a first portion of
the
outer shell, the first segment including the first portion of the outer shell;
and
welding a second plate to a second segment of the plurality of axial segments
using the welding apparatus, including welding the second plate to a second
portion of the outer shell, the second segment including the second portion of
the
outer shell.
[0019] In some examples, the segmentation assembly includes a
gantry and
the cutting apparatus is mounted to the gantry to cut into a top surface of an
object
that is positioned under the gantry, and positioning the large workpiece
adjacent
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the segmentation assembly includes positioning the large workpiece under the
gantry.
[0020] In some examples, the method further comprises
containing debris from
the large workpiece while cutting the large workpiece into a plurality of
axial
segments using the cutting apparatus of the segmentation assembly.
[0021] In some examples, containing the debris includes
containing the debris
using a containment assembly of the segmentation assembly.
[0022] In some examples, the containment assembly includes a
plurality of wall
portions, and wherein containing the debris includes, prior to (b), closing
the
plurality of wall portions against the large workpiece around a cutting
location on
the large workpiece at which the cutting apparatus is cutting in (b) to
enclose the
cutting location.
[0023] In some examples, the welding apparatus is not enclosed
within an
enclosure formed around the cutting location when the plurality of wall
portions are
closed against the large workpiece, the method further comprising opening the
plurality of wall portions prior to (c).
[0024] In some examples, an enclosure formed around the
cutting location
when the plurality of wall portions are closed against the large workspace is
fully
enclosed
[0025] In some examples, the large workpiece is a steam generator of a
nuclear
facility or a heat exchanger of the nuclear facility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of
articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not
intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings:
[0027] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a segmentation assembly;
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[0028] Figure 2 is a partially transparent front perspective view of a portion
of the
segmentation assembly of Figure 1;
[0029] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the segmentation
assembly of Figure 1;
[0030] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a first position;
[0031] Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a second position;
[0032] Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a third position;
[0033] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a fourth position;
[0034] Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a fifth position;
[0035] Figure 9 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a sixth position;
[0036] Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a seventh position;
[0037] Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in an eighth position;
[0038] Figure 12 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a ninth position;
[0039] Figure 13 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a tenth position;
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[0040] Figure 14 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in an eleventh position;
[0041] Figure 15 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a twelfth position;
[0042] Figure 16 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a thirteenth position;
[0043] Figure 17 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a fourteenth position;
[0044] Figure 18 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a fifteenth position;
[0045] Figure 19 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a sixteenth position;
[0046] Figure 20 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a seventeenth position;
[0047] Figure 21 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in an eighteenth position;
[0048] Figure 22 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a nineteenth position;
[0049] Figure 23 is a front perspective view of the segmentation assembly of
Figure 1 in a twentieth position; and
[0050] Figure 24 is a flow chart of a method of segmenting a large workpiece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] Various apparatuses or processes will be described
below to provide an
example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described
below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover
processes
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or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions
are
not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one
apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all
of
the apparatuses or process described below. It is possible that an apparatus
or
process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any
invention disclosed in an apparatus or process described below that is not
claimed
in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument,
for
example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or
owners
do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such
invention by
its disclosure in this document.
[0052] Although method steps may be described (in the
disclosure and/or in the
claims) in a sequential order, such methods may be configured to work in
alternate
orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described
does
not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that
order.
The steps of methods described herein may be performed in any order that is
practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.
[0053] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity
and clarity of
illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated
among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In
addition,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the example embodiments described herein. However, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the examples described
herein
may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-
known
methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as
not to obscure the examples described herein.
[0054] As used herein, the wording "and/or" is intended to
represent an
inclusive - or. That is, "X and/or Y" is intended to mean X or Y or both, for
example.
As a further example, "X, Y, and/or Z" is intended to mean X or Y or Z or any
combination thereof.
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[0055] Referring to Figure 1, illustrated is an example of a
segmentation
assembly 100 for segmenting a large workpiece 106. The assembly 100 includes
a frame 110 with a first or front end 112 an opposite second or rear end 114,
a first
side 116 and a second side 118. The assembly 100 and/or frame 110 also
includes
a longitudinal axis 120.
[0056] The segmentation assembly 100 includes a cutting
apparatus 126 and
a welding apparatus 130 (Figure 3) each mounted on the support frame 110. In
some examples, the segmentation assembly 100 also includes a containment
assembly 134 mounted to the support frame 110 to contain debris (e.g., chips
and/or dust released by operation of the cutting apparatus 126) and/or to
contain
the cutting apparatus 126 (e.g., a saw containment box including two laterally
translatable doors).
[0057] The segmentation assembly 100 may be partially or fully
automated.
One or more device of the assembly 100 is operable automatically in response
to
a command from a human user and/or a predetermined condition. For example,
the cutting apparatus 126 may be operable to automatically cut through the
workpiece 106 in response to a command and/or a condition such as the closing
of the containment assembly 134 against the workpiece 106. In another example,
the containment assembly 134 is operable to close and/or open automatically in
response to a command and/or a condition such as a workpiece 106 positioned
adjacent the containment assembly (e.g., between the doors). In some examples,
the segmentation assembly 100 is operable to perform a segmentation operation
automatically in response to a command or a condition, the segmentation
operation including a plurality of automated steps including cutting the
workpiece
106 and welding on end caps, discussed further elsewhere herein.
[0058] The large workpiece 106 is at least 5 meters long, and
may be at least
7, at least 10, or at least 15 meters long. A large workpiece may be difficult
to work
with. For example, a large workpiece may be difficult to move, contain, and/or
store. Segmenting the large workpiece may make it easier to work with (e.g.,
after
the large workpiece is no longer needed and can be decommissioned).
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[0059] In some
examples, the large workpiece 106 is an elongated workpiece
with a length 138 along a longitudinal axis 140 that is greater than a maximum
width 142 and/or a height 144 of the workpiece 106. The large workpiece 106
may
be segmented into a plurality of axial segments by cutting the large workpiece
106
using the segmentation assembly 100.
[0060] In some
examples, the support frame 110 includes a workpiece mount
148 to hold the large workpiece. The workpiece mount 148 may include a base
150 (e.g., a plurality of bases 150) and a removeable fastener 152 (e.g., a
plurality
of straps 152) such that the large workpiece 106 may be rested on the base 150
and secured to the base 150 using the removeable fastener 152. For example, a
separate crane may be used to hoist the large workpiece 106 (e.g., a workpiece
with a weight of at least 100 metric tons, 200 metric tons, 300 metric tons,
400
metric tons, or 500 metric tons) onto the base 150 of the segmentation
assembly
100.
15 [0061] Referring
now to Figure 2, the cutting apparatus 126 may include a
cutting member 154 and may include a carrier body 156 to which the cutting
member 154 is mounted. The carrier body 156 may be translatable, e.g.,
vertically
translatable to carry the cutting member 154 vertically. The cutting apparatus
126
is operable (i.e., automatically in response to a condition and/or a command)
to
cut the large workpiece 106 into the plurality of axial segments (e.g.,
while the large
workpiece 106 is mounted on the workpiece mount, such as resting on and/or
secured to the base 150).
[0062] In some
examples, the frame 110 includes a gantry 160. The cutting
apparatus 126 may be mounted to the gantry 160. The cutting apparatus 126 may
be operable, when cutting the large workpiece 106 into the plurality of axial
segments, to cut into the large workpiece 106 from a top surface of the large
workpiece 106. For example, the cutting apparatus 126 may be positioned above
the workpiece 106 prior to a cutting operation, and then applied to cut into
the top
surface of the workpiece 106 and then cut down through the workpiece 106
(e.g.,
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generally vertically). The workpiece may be orientated with the axis 140
generally
parallel to the axis 120 when in a position to be cut.
[0063] In some examples, the cutting apparatus 126 includes an
elongated
cutting member 154. The elongated cutting member 154 may be operable to bisect
the large workpiece into the plurality of axial segments in a single pass. For
example, the elongated cutting member 154 may be a band saw or a diamond wire
saw. A diamond wire saw may enable the cutting apparatus 126 to more easily
cut
into the workpiece 106, particularly if the workpiece 106 includes a material
that is
difficult to cut (e.g., InconelTm). For example, a diamond wire saw may be
used
when the workpiece is a steam generator or heat exchanger.
[0064] The segmentation assembly 100 may also include a
manipulator arm
162. The manipulator arm 162 may be used to apply a tool to the workpiece 106.
The tool may be, e.g., selected from the group including a gripper, an oxy
torch, a
drill, a laser decontamination device, a grinder, a wire brush, a camera, and
a
gamma probe.
[0065] Referring now to Figure 3, the welding apparatus 130 is
operable to weld
plates onto exposed ends of the workpiece and/or segments. In some examples,
the welding apparatus is operable to reorient after welding a first plate and
then
weld a second. The welding apparatus 130 may be operable to rotate between a
first orientation in which it faces a first direction to weld against a
surface
perpendicular to the first direction and a second orientation in which it
faces a
second direction to weld against a surface perpendicular to the second
direction.
The second direction may be at least 45 degrees, at least 90 degrees, or about
180 degrees from the first direction. In some examples, the welding apparatus
130
is operable to be flipped around between welding operations. In some examples,
the welding apparatus 130 is rotationally mounted to the frame 110 to be
rotated
between welding operations. For example, the welding apparatus 130 may be
mounted to a rotatable bar 166 to be rotated about a reorientation axis 168
between welds.
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[0066] .. The welding apparatus 130 may be a rotary welding device, and may
include a welding head 170 mounted on a rotatable arm 172 operable to rotate
about a welding rotational axis 174. Accordingly, the welding apparatus 130
may
be operable to create a circular weld on a work piece by rotating the arm 172
about
the welding rotational axis 174 during a welding operation. The welding
rotational
arm 172 may be perpendicular to the reorientation rotational axis 168. The
welding
apparatus 130 may be operable to create a first circular weld when welding the
first plate to the first segment and a second circular weld when welding the
second
plate to the second segment.
[0067] The segmentation assembly 100 may also include a crane 178 to, e.g.,
lift the workpiece 106. For example, the crane may be used to lift the
workpiece
106 onto the base 150.
[0068] The large workpiece 106 may be a component of a nuclear facility
(e.g.,
a component of a nuclear reactor). For example, the large workpiece may be a
steam generator (e.g., as in the illustrated example) or a heat exchanger of a
nuclear facility. Accordingly, the large workpiece may be contaminated (e.g.,
radioactive and/or contaminated with radioactive particles).
[0069] The large workpiece 106 may include an outer shell 180. The outer
shell
180 may hold contamination within the large workpiece 106 while the outer
shell
180 is intact. Cutting the large workpiece 106 into the plurality of axial
segments
may include cutting into the outer shell 180. The welding apparatus 130 is
operable
to weld a first plate to a first segment of the plurality of axial segments
and a second
plate to a second segment of the plurality of axial segments, which may
facilitate
containing radiation and/or radioactive particles within the segment(s).
25 [0070] Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the segmentation assembly 100
includes a motive system 186. The workpiece mount 148 and/or the portion of
the
frame 110 on which the cutting apparatus 126 is mounted (e.g., the gantry 160)
is
operable to be moved along the frame 110 and/or the rest of the frame by the
motive system 186 (e.g., the workpiece mount 148 moved relative to the cutting
apparatus 126 or vice versa). The motive system 186 may be operable to move
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the cutting apparatus 126 relative to the workpiece 126. In some examples, as
illustrated, the motive system 186 includes a first track 188 (e.g., a pair of
rails)
along which the portion of the frame 110 on which the cutting apparatus 126 is
mounted (e.g., the gantry 160) is moveable and a second track 190 along which
the workpiece mount 148 is moveable.
[0071] Referring now to Figure 6, in some examples, the
containment assembly
134 is operable to contain debris from the large workpiece 106 while the
cutting
apparatus 126 cuts the large workpiece 106 and/or operable to contain the
cutting
apparatus 126 (e.g., a saw containment box). In some examples, the cutting
apparatus 126 is operable to cut the large workpiece at a cutting location 192
on
the large workpiece 106 when cutting the large workpiece 106 into the
plurality of
axial segments, and the containment apparatus 134 is operable to enclose the
cutting location 192 when the cutting apparatus 126 is cutting the large
workpiece
106 at the cutting location 192.
[0072] The containment assembly 134 may include a plurality of wall
portions
198 (e.g., two, as in the illustrated example). The plurality of wall portions
198 are
each moveably mounted to the support frame 110 (e.g., to the gantry 160) and
moveable between a rest position in which one or more of the wall portions 198
is
spaced from the workpiece 106 (e.g., as shown in Figure 5) and a closed
position
in which they enclose a cutting location 192 on the workpiece 106 (e.g., as
shown
in Figure 6). The wall portions 198 may be laterally translatable. The wall
portions
198 may close against the workpiece 106 from directions perpendicular to the
axis
140.
[0073] In the closed position, the wall portions 198 may each
abut the
workpiece 106, as shown. In some examples, the containment assembly 134 is
operable to be closed against the workpiece 106 to enclose the cutting
location
192. In some examples, the containment assembly 134 is operable to close
against the workpiece 106 without enclosing either axial end of the workpiece
106.
The containment assembly 134 may close against lateral sides of the workpiece
106.
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[0074] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in some examples, the
plurality of wall
portions 198 include a first wall portion 200 and a second wall portion 202
each
having an internal cavity 206 and operable to close against each other around
an
axial portion of the workpiece 106 (e.g., around a cylindrical workpiece) to
form a
joined internal cavity 210 with the workpiece 106 extending through the joined
internal cavity 210.
[0075] Referring now to Figure 7, the cutting apparatus 126
(e.g., including a
diamond wire saw) may be received in the joined internal cavity 210 to cut
through
(e.g., down through) the axial portion of the workpiece 106 against which the
walls
198 have closed. In some examples, as illustrated, the walls are generally
horizontal and/or generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 140 of the
workpiece 106. The cut made by the cutting apparatus 126 may be generally
horizontal and/or generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 140 of the
workpiece 106.
[0076] The containment assembly 134 may be a cutter box shaped to enclose
the cutting device 126 (e.g., a saw containment box for a diamond wire saw, as
illustrated). The cutter box may be sized to allow the cutting apparatus 126
to move
within the joined internal cavity 210. The cutter box may exclude one or more
other
tools or apparatus of the assembly 100, such as the welding apparatus 130, the
motive system 186, the reorientation apparatus 220 (described elsewhere
herein)
and/or the manipulator arm 162.
[0077] Referring now to Figure 8, the containment assembly 134
may open
following a cutting operation of the cutting apparatus 126. In some examples,
the
segmentation assembly 100 includes a debris removal tool such as a vacuum that
may remove debris from the cutting cavity 210 prior to the containment
assembly
134 opening.
[0078] Referring now to Figure 9, the segments 216 may be
separated (e.g.,
one or both carried along the second track 190 by the base 150). The segments
216 may be separated by being moved parallel to the longitudinal axis 120. The
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segments 216 may be moved after the containment assembly 134 has been
opened following the cutting operation.
[0079] Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, the welding
apparatus 130 is
operable to weld end caps 224 on one or each of the now-exposed ends 226
(e.g.,
newly-exposed) of the segments 216 that are separated by the cutting apparatus
126. For example, the welding apparatus is operable to weld a first end cap
230
on a first segment 232 and a second end cap 234 on a second segment 236. The
end caps 224 may each close off the now-exposed end 226 of the segment 216
(e.g., abutting all now-exposed surfaces cut by the cutting apparatus).
[0080] Where the workpiece has an outer shell 180 (e.g., a shell of a steam
generator or a heat exchanger) the plates 224 may be welded to the portions
240
of the outer shell 180 of each segment 216 (e.g., only welded to the portion
240 of
the outer shell 180 or welded to both the portion of the outer shell 180 and
one or
more other parts of the segment 216). The welding apparatus 130 may be
operable
to weld the plate 224 to the outer shell portion 240 along the entire
perimeter and/or
exposed end of the outer shell portion 240 to close off the now-exposed end of
the
outer shell portion 240. Welding the plate on the now-exposed end may close
off
the outer shell portion 240 of the segment (e.g., if the opposite end is
already
closed off) to turn the segment 216 into a closed container to contain any
contaminants in the segment 216.
[0081] The welding apparatus 130 may be operable to create a
circular weld
on a segment 216. Where the outer shell portion 240 is cylindrical, a circular
weld
may be helpful in welding the plate to the outer shell portion along the
circumference of the outer shell portion. In some examples, the plate 224 is
circular
in cross section to conform to the shape of the outer shell portion 240.
[0082] The welding apparatus 130 may be repositioned between
welding one
plate to one segment and another plate to another segment. For example, the
welding apparatus 130 may be rotated about a repositioning axis 168 as
described
elsewhere herein.
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[0083] Referring now to Figure 12, the segmentation assembly
100 may be
operable to segment the large workpiece 106 into three or more axial segments
216. For example, the segmentation assembly 100 may be operable to segment
the large workpiece 106 into five axial segments 216. Each segment may be
closed off with an end cap 224. Some segments 216may be closed off with a
plurality (e.g., two) of end caps 224 (e.g., where the segment was cut on each
end). The segments 216 may be easier to work with than the full-sized
workpiece
106.
[0084] Referring now to Figure 13, in some examples the
segmentation
assembly 100 includes a workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 to reorient the
workpiece 106 (e.g., the full workpiece or a part thereof) relative to the
cutting
apparatus 126 (with may be a main cutting apparatus) and/or a longitudinal
axis
120 of the frame 110. The workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 is mounted to
the support frame 110. The workpiece reorientation apparatus includes a mount
248 to which the workpiece (the full workpiece or a portion of the workpiece)
can
be secured, and an actuator 250 operable to reorient the mount to which the
workpiece is secured (i.e., rotate the mount relative to the cutting
apparatus).
[0085] The workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 may include a
tilt table. For
example, as illustrated, the mount 248 may include a planar table top against
which
the workpiece can be secured (e.g., via fastener 252) and the actuator 250 may
include a hydraulic cylinder operable to raise and/or lower one side of the
table
top. The workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 may be operable to reorient the
workpiece (i.e., all or a portion thereof) from between horizonal and vertical
orientations.
[0086] Referring still to Figure 13, the workpiece 106 may be positioned
against
the workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 (e.g., against the planar table
top).
[0087] Referring now to Figure 14, the workpiece 106
positioned against the
workpiece reorientation apparatus 246 may be secured to the workpiece
reorientation apparatus 246. For example, the fastener 252 (e.g., one or more
straps, clamps, and/or screws) may secure the workpiece against the apparatus
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246 (e.g., against the table top). The fastener 252 may hold the workpiece at
a
location on the workpiece 106 that is adjacent to the apparatus 246 (e.g.,
within 1
meter, 0.5 meters or 0.1 meter of the surface of the apparatus 246 against
which
it is held) such that the portion 260 of the workpiece 106 that is secured to
the
apparatus 246 (e.g., a portion with a length of less than 5 meters, less than
2
meters, or less than 3 meters parallel to the longitudinal axis 140) can be
cut free
of the rest of the workpiece and remain secured to the apparatus 246.
[0088] Referring
now to Figure 15, in some examples the portion 260 is cut free
from the rest of the workpiece 106. A cutting apparatus (e.g., cutting
apparatus
126) may be used to cut the portion 260 free of the rest of the workpiece 106.
For
example, as shown in Figure 15, the cutting apparatus 126 may be positioned
adjacent (e.g., above) a cutting location between the portion 260 and the rest
of
the workpiece 106. The portion 260 may then be severed from the rest of the
workpiece 106 as shown in Figure 16.
15 [0089] Referring
now to Figure 17, the portion 260 remains secured to the
apparatus 246 and may be spaced from the rest of the workpiece 106 (e.g., by
moving the rest of the workpiece 106 and/or the reorientation apparatus 246
along
the second track 190).
[0090] Referring
now to Figure 18, the reorientation apparatus 246 is operable
to reorient the portion 260 relative to the first cutting apparatus 246 and/or
the
longitudinal axis 120 of the frame 110. The reorientation apparatus 246 may be
operable to reorient the portion 260 from a horizontal position (i.e., with a
longitudinal axis 140 of the portion 260 extending horizontally and/or
parallel to the
longitudinal axis 120 of the frame110; Figure 17) to a vertical position
(Figure 18).
The reorientation apparatus 246 may be operable to lower the portion 260
and/or
rotate the portion 260 by at least 45 degrees at least 80 degrees or about 90
degrees. As in the illustrated example, the reorientation apparatus 246 may
reorientate the portion 260 by retracting a hydraulic cylinder to rotate the
table top
about a pivot axis.
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[0091] Referring now to Figures 19 to 21, one or more cutting
apparatus of the
segmentation assembly 100 may be used to cut the portion 260 into disposal
pieces. Accordingly, the segmentation apparatus 100 may include one or more
cutters in addition to the cutting apparatus 126. For example, a band saw 262
(e.g.,
a BehringerTM band saw; may be mounted on a second gantry 264) secured to the
frame 110 may be used (see, e.g., Figure 19), the cutting apparatus 126 may be
used (see, e.g., Figure 20), and/or a cutter 266 (e.g., an oxy torch) mounted
to a
manipulator arm 162 may be used (see, e.g., Figure 21).
[0092] Referring now to Figure 22, a cleaning device 270
mounted to the
manipulator arm 162 may be used to reduce the amount of contamination adjacent
the portion 260 (e.g., on the table top and/or on the frame). For example, the
cleaning device 270 may be a vacuum to vacuum up debris (e.g., chips and/or
dust) that may be and/or include radioactive contamination.
[0093] Referring now to Figure 23, the manipulator arm 162
mounted to the
frame 110 (e.g., to the gantry 160) may be used to load the disposal parts
into a
disposal container 272 (e.g., a free container not mounted to the frame).
[0094] Referring now to Figure 24, illustrated is a method 280
of segmenting a
large workpiece (e.g., a steam generator or a heat exchanger). The method 280
includes, at step 282, positioning the large workpiece (e.g., workpiece 106)
adjacent a segmentation assembly (e.g., segmentation assembly 100). The large
workpiece may include an outer shell elongated along a longitudinal axis of
the
large workpiece.
[0095] The method 280 also includes, at step 284 following
step 282, cutting
the large workpiece into a plurality of axial segments along the longitudinal
axis
using a cutting apparatus of the segmentation assembly (e.g., cutting
apparatus
126). The method 280 may include, at step 286, containing debris from the
large
workpiece while cutting the large workpiece into a plurality of axial segments
using
the cutting apparatus of the segmentation assembly 100.
[0096] The method 280 also includes, at step 288, welding a
first plate to a first
segment of the plurality of axial segments using a welding apparatus of the
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segmentation assembly (e.g., welding apparatus 130), including welding the
first
plate to a first portion of the outer shell, the first segment including the
first portion
of the outer shell. At step 290 the method 280 includes welding a second plate
to
a second segment of the plurality of axial segments using the welding
apparatus,
including welding the second plate to a second portion of the outer shell, the
second segment including the second portion of the outer shell.
[0097] The present invention has been described here by way of
example only.
Various modification and variations may be made to these exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is
limited
only by the appended claims.
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