Patent Number: 052710475
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A control station 1 is installed at a certain distance from a site 2. If the site is a damaged nuclear power station, the distance is determined as a function of the dangerous radiation risk, and the control station 1 is installed outside the perimeter defined in this way. The control station 1 includes a microwave generator and a signal-receiving cabinet. At least one moving carriage 3 is controlled from the station 1, the carriage including a microwave generator compartment and a transmit/receive antenna 10. In addition, the carriage 3 includes a support device for supporting a certain number of lengths 4 of waveguide, handling equipment 5 for taking hold of a length 4 in the support device, for laying said length on the ground, and at least one robot arm 6 for connecting said length to the end of a length that has already been laid on the ground. In addition, the carriage 3 includes an elevator arm 13 having a rotary television camera 14 installed thereon for locating and inspection purposes. A locating antenna may optionally be installed on the carriage to provide locating information complementary to that from the camera. To control these items, the control station 1 includes control means 7 for controlling displacement of the carriage, for controlling the handling equipment 5, for controlling the robot arms 6, and for controlling the elevator arm, and it also includes a screen 8 for displaying the signals sent from the camera. A first length 4 of waveguide is installed close to the control station and is connected thereto by a coaxial cable 9. The carriage 3 is installed close to said length, with its antenna 10 facing the openings for passing electromagnetic radiation. The line of waveguides is then implemented by repeating the following cycle of operations: the carriage 3 is displaced along the last length to have been laid; PA1 the carriage 3 is stopped close to the end of said length; and PA1 the following length is laid and connected by using the handling equipment 5 and the robot arms 6. This cycle is repeated until the site is reached. In the event of the number of lengths loaded on the carriage being insufficient, then the cycle of operations is interrupted, the carriage 3 is brought back to the beginning of the line and is reloaded with a certain number of lengths 4, and it then returns to the end of the line as laid so far. To increase the speed with which lengths of waveguide 4 are laid, two identical carriages 3 can be used as shown in the drawing, with one of the carriages acting from the right of the line and the other acting from the left. Thus for example, a possible operation has one of the carriages 3 active, and when its store of lengths 4 has been used up, it is sent back to the beginning of the line to be reloaded, whereupon the other carriage becomes active and lays its lengths 4. The time required for reloading lengths 4 is thus not wasted. Once on the site, inspection can be performed using the camera and the robot arm may be used or replaced with treatment tooling, if so required. Once the line of waveguide has been installed, any type of vehicle suitable for remote control thereby can be used. The figure shows one example of such a robot vehicle 11 that can then be used. To increase the area that is accessible from the line of waveguide lengths, mobile-carrying carriages can be used to transport mobile robots to a desired location. The mobiles are connected to the carriage by means of a coaxial cable and thus have a radius of action determined by the length of the cable. In addition, the site (in particular a nuclear power station) may be fitted with pre-installed waveguides. If the waveguide installation is not damaged, then it can be connected to the control station under remote control by means of an appropriate carriage. Under such circumstances it suffices merely to connect it to the line as laid by means of a coaxial cable. If the installation is damaged in part, then those parts which are still serviceable can be connected and put into operation.