Device for repairing damage to the bottom of a container filled with water

A device for repairing damage to a bottom of a container filled with water is disclosed. The device comprises a guiding device, which can be placed on the bottom of the container and which has a centering device for centering the guiding device between wall sections of the bottom elements. The devices further comprises a fixing device for fixing the guiding device on the bottom of the container, a carrier, which can be guided along the guiding device and on which at least one pivot arm is arranged, and an accommodating element arranged at a free end of the pivot arm, for accommodating adhesive, with which part of a wall section of the bottom elements can be covered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/073544, filed Nov. 3, 2014, which claims the benefit of German Application No. 10 2013 112 136.5, filed Nov. 5, 2013. The entire contents of each of the foregoing patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Arrangement for repairing damage to the base of a container filled with water,

The invention relates to an arrangement for repairing damage to the base of a container filled with water.

2. Background and Relevant Art

Containers are used for storing, for example, radioactively contaminated water. Such containers usually have a container wall, a cover and a base, the latter being formed by a plurality of base elements joined together at least on two opposite sides with the aid of wall portions, which extend vertically into the container. These wall portions form a flange, at which the individual base elements are screwed together. Over time, these flange locations may be damaged, and the contaminated water can flow out of the container through said damaged locations. In order to avoid the environment of the container being contaminated by escaping water, it is therefore necessary to rectify the damage by sealing the damaged location. In order to be able to bring the adhesive to the damaged location, however, it would be necessary to let the water out of the container, but, for shielding or other reasons, this is not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify an arrangement for repairing damage to the base of a container filled with water.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an arrangement having the features of patent claim1. Accordingly, the arrangement comprises a guide arrangement, which can be placed on the base of the container. For this purpose, provision may be made for the guide arrangement to be able to be introduced into the container through an opening located on an upper side of the container.

The guide arrangement has a centering arrangement, which can center the guide arrangement between wall portions of the base elements. The guide arrangement also has a fixing arrangement, which can fix the guide arrangement on the base of the.

The arrangement comprises a carrier, which can be guided along the guide arrangement and on which at least one pivoting arm is arranged such that it can be pivoted between a transporting position, in which it is oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the base, and an operating position, in which it runs parallel to the plane of the base. The arrangement also comprises an accommodating element, which is arranged at a free end of the pivoting arm and is intended for accommodating adhesives, which can be used to cover over part of a wall portion of the base elements.

The arrangement according to the invention thus makes it possible for a region of the base, even a region located under water, to be repaired with adhesive by remote control. There is thus no need for the contaminated water to be let out. The guide arrangement can be used in order to move the carrier, on which the pivoting arm and the accommodating element are arranged, to the damaged location, and therefore, ultimately, the adhesive located in the accommodating element can seal the damage without a person having to enter into the interior of the container. In other words, the guide arrangement, in an operating position, forms a transporting route via which the adhesive can be transported to the damaged location from a site which can be accessed by a person.

In the case of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide arrangement is formed by a mast which, in an operating position, extends from the opening in the upper side of the container to the base of the latter.

If the mast is formed from a plurality of individual mast elements, it can be adapted to the desired dimensions, in particular heights, of the container which is to be repaired. Using a different number of mast elements and/or mast elements of different lengths allows the mast to be adapted individually to each specific case.

The centering arrangement preferably has two pivotable wings, on each of which are arranged fixing elements, which can be pushed against the wall portions.

In a preferred configuration of the invention, the fixing arrangement is formed by a magnet or a vacuum cup.

The operations of lowering the carrier and pivoting the pivoting arms can take place by means of a hoist.

In order that the carrier, with the pivoting arm and the accommodating element, can be guided through an opening that is as small as possible, the accommodating element is arranged such that it can be rotated between a transporting position, in which it is oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the base, and an operating position, in which it is oriented parallel to the plane of the base. In the transporting position, the accommodating element, which may be formed for example by an elongate U profile, is therefore in a vertical position, in which it can easily be moved through an opening. In order for the adhesive then to be positioned at the damaged location, it is only once it is located within the container that the accommodating element is rotated through 90° into a horizontal position, in which it is oriented parallel to the plane of the base of the container.

In order that the arrangement can be removed from the container again following the repair operation, the accommodating element can be released from the pivoting arm by means of an unlocking mechanism. The accommodating element and adhesive thus remain at the damaged location once repaired.

In order that different locations of the wall portions can be reached by the accommodating element and adhesive, the pivoting arm and accommodating element have arranged between them a movement element, by means of which the accommodating element, in the operating position, can be moved perpendicularly to the pivoting arm and to the guide arrangement, that is to say along the wall portions. The movement element is arranged on the pivoting arm such that it can be rotated preferably together with the accommodating element. The movement element is formed preferably by two telescopically movable rails.

In the case of a further preferred configuration of the invention, the arrangement additionally comprises a crane arrangement serving to support the guide arrangement, and all the other necessary components, and introduce these into the container and remove them therefrom. The crane arrangement here is configured such that it reduces to a desired amount the surface-area loading to which a cover provided is subjected by the arrangement. For this purpose, the crane arrangement may have, for example, a base plate, by means of which the weight of the arrangement as a whole is distributed over a certain surface area. It is also the case that the individual parts of the crane arrangement are of modular construction and can be dismantled into individual parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a cylindrical container2having a side wall4, a cover6and a base8. The container2is filled with radioactively contaminated water10.

The base8of the container is formed from a plurality of base elements12, which are joined together on two opposite sides with the aid of wall portions14, which extend vertically into the container2. The respectively adjacent wall portions14of two neighboring base elements12here form a flange, which can be screw-connected by means of screws. It is at these flange locations in particular that damage occurs after the water10has been stored for a certain period of time, and it is necessary for said damage to be repaired and sealed so that it is not possible for any further contaminated water10to be able to run out of the container2into the environment surrounding the latter.

For the purpose of repairing the damage, use is made of the arrangement16according to the invention, which is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2in a state dismantled into individual parts. In order for it to be possible for the arrangement16to be introduced into the container2, circular openings18have been made in the cover6. Furthermore, a crane arrangement19has been arranged above an opening18. Said crane arrangement comprises, in turn, a framework20and a base plate21, which has been arranged on the upper side of the cover6, around the opening18. The crane arrangement19here is of modular construction, and it can therefore be dismantled into its individual components. The base plate21serves to distribute the weight of the arrangement16as a whole over a certain surface area in order thus to maintain a certain admissible surface-area loading for the cover, so that the latter is not dented by the weight. A first part of a guide arrangement22, in the form of a mast element24, is then fitted on the crane arrangement19. The mast element24has, at the lower end, a centering arrangement26. The mast element24, with the centering arrangement26, is then lowered into the container2, through the opening18, by means of the crane arrangement19. The operation of introducing the arrangement16into the container2and the repair operation are controlled entirely by a control element27. A retaining arrangement30, which is formed by two bolts28which can be pivoted into the opening18, retains the first mast element24in a temporary position as is illustrated inFIG. 3. The first mast element24can then have a further mast element24positioned on it, and connected to it, as is likewise illustrated inFIG. 3. It is then possible for any desired number of mast elements24to be assembled so that, in the operating position illustrated inFIG. 4, the guide arrangement22formed by the mast elements extends from the base8of the container2to above the opening18.

As lowering of the guide arrangement22continues, the centering arrangement26is the first to come into contact with the base8of the container2, as is illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the centering arrangement26has two pivotable wings32. These are pivoted open as a result of contact with the base8, such that they are located parallel to the plane of the base8.

Each of the wings32of the centering arrangement26have arranged on them two fixing elements34, which can be pushed against the wall portions14, and further transverse struts36, for example by means of hydraulics, pneumatics or a motor. Such a situation is illustrated inFIG. 6. By virtue of the individual fixing elements34being moved out symmetrically, the guide arrangement22is thus centered in relation to a base element12. The guide arrangement22is thus arranged above the center point of the base element12. In this position, the guide arrangement22is then fixed on the base8of the container2by a fixing arrangement38. Such a fixing arrangement38may be formed, for example, by magnets or vacuum cups. The fixing elements34are then moved back again into their original position within the centering arrangement26, so that they do not obstruct the rest of the repair operation.

Next, a carrier40is lowered on the guide arrangement22, said carrier being formed by two carriages and having arranged on it in this case two oppositely located pivoting arms42, although only one can be seen inFIGS. 7 and 8.

The pivoting arms42are arranged on the carrier40such that they can be pivoted between a transporting position, which is shown inFIGS. 7 and 8and in which the two pivoting arms are oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the base, and an operating position, which is shown inFIG. 9and in which the pivoting arms run parallel to the plane of the base8. In addition, a movement element46in the form of two telescopically displaceable rails is arranged at the free end44of the pivoting arm42, wherein one of the rails has arranged on it an accommodating element48, which is in the form of a U profile and can accommodate adhesive50.

InFIG. 7, both the pivoting arm42and the accommodating element48, with the movement element46, are located in a respective transporting position, in which they are oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the base8. This makes it possible for the carrier40, together with the pivoting arm42and the accommodating element48, to be able to be introduced into the container2through the opening18.

Once the carrier40, with the pivoting arms42and the accommodating elements48provided with adhesive50, has been introduced into the container2, as is shown inFIG. 8, the movement element46, together with the accommodating element, is rotated through 90° with the aid of a cylinder52, so that it is located in an operating position, in which it runs parallel to the plane of the base8. The pivoting arm42is then likewise pivoted into an operating position, in which it likewise runs parallel to the plane of the base8, as is illustrated inFIG. 9. In this situation, the accommodating element48covers, and seals, the damaged location with adhesive50. The accommodating element48is released from the movement element46by means of an unlocking mechanism, so that the pivoting arm42can be pivoted into the transporting position again. Conversely, it is then possible for the carrier40, in turn, to be removed from the container2in the upward direction through the opening18by means of a hoist. It is likewise possible for the guide arrangement22to be drawn out of the container2and used for repair purposes at a further location.

The damaged location is thus repaired entirely by remote control, without anyone having to enter into the container2. Furthermore, it is also the case that there is no need for the water10located in the container2to be let out.