THIMBLE TUBE INSERTION/EXTRACTION DEVICE

摘要

A thimble tube insertion/extraction device easily and reliably performs insertion and extraction operations of a thimble tube. The thimble tube insertion/extraction device has a thimble tube holding part and a drive part for driving the holding part. The holding part has a pair of clamping heads each having a clamping groove of generally semi-circular shape in cross section. The inner diameter of the pair of clamping grooves is set to a predetermined dimension slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the thimble tube. The thimble tube is clamped and held between the clamping grooves of the pair of clamping heads. The drive part is constructed from a hydraulic cylinder, and the thimble tube insertion/extraction device has a load detection part for detecting a load applied to the hydraulic cylinder and an operating position detection part for detecting the operating position of the hydraulic cylinder. With this construction, insertion and extraction operations for the thimble tube can be easily and highly reliably performed by the cooperation between a holding structure by which large holding force can be provided without deforming the thimble tube and a drive structure by which drive force can be easily and properly controlled, and as a result, insertion and extraction operations are further automatized.