Patent Number: 052710467
Section: abstract

A nuclear power plant includes a primary loop having a vessel with a connection piece. A manipulator for working in the vicinity of the connection piece, especially for non-destructive testing, includes two trolleys being moveable circumferentially of the connection piece. A jointed-shank arm disposed on the trolleys has two shanks each having first and second ends. Hinged supports are each disposed on a respective one of the trolleys and each support the first end of a respective one of the shanks. A crown hinge joins the second ends of the shanks together. A support for a tool or a test head is mounted on the crown hinge. A process for carrying out work in the connection-piece region with a maneuvering unit includes adjusting a position of each of the trolleys with a respective drive motor, pressing the tool or test head against a wall of the vessel with spring means acting upon the shanks, such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, and maneuvering the crown hinge into a predetermined position and/or over a predetermined path by varying the position of at least one of the trolleys with a control device acting upon the drive motors.