Encapsulating Product for Retrieving Foreign Material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retrieval devices for foreign materials in installations, such as nuclear reactors, are limited in reaching narrow and winding areas and are insufficiently versatile to capture foreign materials of various shapes and sizes, especially when submerged in liquids.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of an encapsulating product that is discharged onto the foreign material, encapsulates at least a portion of it, and solidifies to mechanically secure the foreign material, allowing for its displacement and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional retrieval devices are used, then the retrieval process can be performed, but the devices cannot reach narrow and winding areas effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to foreign materialVSAvoidretrieval device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an encapsulating product as an intermediary substance that is discharged onto the foreign material. This encapsulating product acts as a mediator between the retrieval device and the foreign material, allowing the device to indirectly capture and retrieve the foreign material by encapsulating it, thus solving the problem of accessing foreign materials in narrow and winding areas where conventional direct grasping tools cannot reach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional retrieval devices are used, then the retrieval process can be performed, but the devices are insufficiently versatile to capture foreign materials of various shapes and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture capability for various foreign materialsVSAvoidretrieval device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating product serves multiple functions: it encapsulates foreign materials of various shapes and sizes, secures them mechanically, and enables their retrieval. This universal approach replaces the need for multiple specialized retrieval tools, allowing a single encapsulating product system to handle diverse foreign material types and geometries, thereby improving versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If conventional retrieval devices are used, then the retrieval process can be performed, but they are insufficiently effective in capturing foreign materials submerged in liquids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture effectivenessVSAvoidretrieval device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating product acts as an intermediary that overcomes the liquid environment barrier. By discharging the encapsulating product onto the submerged foreign material, it creates a mechanical securement that is not dependent on direct mechanical grasping tools, thereby improving capture effectiveness for submerged foreign materials without requiring complex underwater manipulation devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If retrieval operations are performed frequently, then foreign material removal is maintained, but installation downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretrieval operation frequencyVSAvoidinstallation downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulating product enables the foreign material to essentially retrieve itself through the encapsulation and solidification process. The system performs the capture and securing actions automatically once the encapsulating product is discharged, reducing the need for complex manual intervention and prolonged operational sequences, thereby minimizing installation downtime while maintaining effective foreign material removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables the retrieval of foreign materials of various shapes and sizes from difficult-to-reach locations, including those submerged in liquids, with minimal equipment requirements and without the need for specific tools, thereby reducing installation downtime and ensuring safety.

Implementation Method 1

solidifying the encapsulating product around the at least one portion of the foreign material whereby the foreign material is mechanically secured into the solidified encapsulating product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS20250128431A1Method for retrieving a foreign material inside an installation
Publication Date: 2025.04.24 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIQUE FRANCE SAS
  • US20250128431A1 patent drawing
  • US20250128431A1 patent drawing
  • US20250128431A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of retrieving a foreign material (10), located in an internal space (2) of an installation (1), comprising steps of:capturing (S2) the foreign material (10) with an encapsulating product (20), the step of capturing (S2) comprising:a step of discharging (S21) the encapsulating product (20) onto the foreign material (10)a step of encapsulating (S23) at least a portion of the foreign material (10) with the encapsulating product (20); anda step of solidifying (S23) the encapsulating product (20) around the at least one portion of the foreign material (10) whereby the foreign material (10) is mechanically secured into the solidified encapsulating product (20); anddisplacing the solidified encapsulating product (20) so as to displace the foreign material (10).