S.A.Robotics

Client	Fluor Corporation
Facility	DOE Hanford Site
Location	Hanford, WA

S.A. Robotics designed and fabricated Underwater Long Handled Tools to enable remote removal of debris from the bottom of the K-Basin East Pool, located at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site.

The Underwater Long Handled Tools were specifically designed to retrieve and cut up miscellaneous items such as piping, cable and other tools used during underwater operations at the Basin. A suite of Long Handled Tools were designed and fabricated to fit through 1 ½ inch grating slots located above the surface of the Basin. The tools were designed using small diameter carbon fiber to allow for easy maneuvering. Each tool extends up to 28 feet, allowing plenty of length for safe, remote removal.

The Underwater Long Handled Tools include the following types of tool ends. The products were provided under a firm fixed-price contract and accelerated schedule.

• Grippers

  The Underwater Long Handled Gripper is capable of picking up objects up to 4” wide and weighing as much as 200 pounds. This Gripper is able to rotate 90° and has the ability to reach small items in a basin or tank.

  

• Heavy Duty Shears

  The Underwater Long Handled Heavy Duty Shear is capable of a full 360° rotation. Heavy Duty Shear tool heads can move 90° from horizontal to up-vertical and can traverse 90° from horizontal to the down-vertical position. This flexible design adds needed versatility to reach items located in basins and tanks.

• Light Duty Shears

  The Underwater Long Handled Light Duty Shear is designed to cut items such as cable and rope. It has the capability to shear 2” stainless steel pipe. Light Duty Shear tool heads can move 90° from horizontal to up-vertical and can traverse 90° from horizontal to the down-vertical position. This flexible design adds needed versatility to reach items located in basins and tanks.

• Wash Wand

  The Underwater Long Handled Wash Wand operates at 2,500 psig. It was specifically designed for cleaning items underwater, before they are removed from the Basin. The Wash Wand design also provides stability during wash operations with no deflection of the carbon rod.

• Wash Station

  The Underwater Wash Station automatically washes components using water at 5,000 psig. The Wash Station’s high pressure capability removes scale, rust, and contamination. It operates equally well in either dry or submerged environments. The Wash Station is operated from a remote control panel. Opening and closing the lid is accomplished from the control panel and then, with the push of a button, the wash cycle runs automatically.

  

• Industrial Shredder

  The Industrial Shredding Machine operates equally well in dry or submerged environments. The shredder is able to size reduce insulated copper wire, spiral wound hose, and hydraulic hose up to 2 inches in diameter. The Shredder system can be supplied with a disposable debris container to make size reduction of contaminated material easy and efficient.