METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAPPING INTO TUBING UNDER A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TUBING IN A NUCLEAR POWER STATION

摘要

A B S T R A C TMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAPPING INTO TUBING UNDER A CONTROLLEDATMOSPHERE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TUBING IN A NUCLEAR POWER STATIONThe method comprises the steps of: digging out a continuousgroove (13) in the wall of the tubing at the location of thetapping point to be made, said groove being slightly shallowerthan the thickness of the wall, thereby leaving a membrane (14)of metal at the bottom of the groove between the inside of thetubing and the outside atmosphere; placing a sealed isolationunit on the tubing, said unit covering a wide area which is atleast equal to the area delimited by the groove; breaking themetal membrane so as to make an opening in the wall of thetubing; removing the cut out portion of the wall; welding on ablind tail pipe; and removing the sealed isolation unit. Theinvention also provides a groove-digging device, and amembrane-breaking punch device (600).