Piezo-Actuated Replication Device for Nuclear Surface Feature Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surface replication devices face difficulties in obtaining high-quality replicas of narrow, deep, and sharp-tipped features in remote and wet environments, such as inside nuclear reactor pressure tubes, due to challenges in applying and controlling moderately viscous replicating materials, leading to incomplete feature capture and potential reactor outage times.
Innovation Solution
A replication device with a movable replicating plate, a thixotropic material housing, an extrusion piston, and a piezo-actuator that delivers stress waves to reduce the viscosity of the replicating material, allowing it to penetrate into surface features and maintain control during curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If moderately high viscosity replicating material is used, then material handling and control is facilitated, but the material is more difficult to apply into narrow, deep and/or sharp-tipped features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies stress waves to temporarily reduce the viscosity of the replicating material during application, allowing it to flow into narrow, deep, and sharp-tipped features. After application, the material returns to its original higher viscosity state, maintaining ease of handling and control. This dynamic parameter change resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If less viscous replicating material is used, then the material can be applied into narrow, deep and/or sharp-tipped features more easily, but material handling and control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static viscosity property of the replicating material into a dynamic property that can change on demand. By applying stress waves during application, the material temporarily becomes less viscous for easy application into difficult features. Once applied, the material returns to its higher viscosity state, providing ease of handling. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the replicating plate is kept in contact with the surface during material dispensing, then complete feature capture is achieved, but the replicating material may be lost into the reactor
Solution Approach 1:
The stress wave application temporarily reduces material viscosity only during the critical dispensing phase, allowing complete feature capture with minimal material loss. The material returns to higher viscosity immediately after dispensing, preventing loss into the reactor environment. This targeted parameter change resolves the contradiction between feature capture completeness and material loss prevention.
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
Enables the successful replication of complex surface features by temporarily reducing the viscosity of the replicating material for better penetration and restoring viscosity for control, resulting in more accurate replicas and reduced reactor outage times.
Implementation Method 1
a replicating material with moderately high viscosity must be used. Moderately high viscosity facilitates material handling and control, however, the viscous material is more difficult to apply into narrow, deep and/or sharp-tipped features
Implementation Method 2
an actuator for delivering stress waves to the replicating material, whereby when said replicating plate is in said extended position, movement of said extrusion piston to said forward dispensing position causes replicating material contained within said replicating material housing to be dispensed through said tube into said enclosure formed by said replicating plate and into contact with said surface, and whereby delivery of said stress waves to said replicating material reduces the viscosity of said replicating material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a replication device for delivering a replicating material to a surface. The device includes an extrusion piston slidably received therein and movable to a dispensing position for expelling the replicating material though an outlet. The device further includes an actuator, wherein the actuator produces stress waves so as to temporarily reduce the viscosity of the material during delivery of said material. Also provided is a method and kit for using the device for obtaining a replica of a surface.