Products TFT products have ranged from simple devices to carry cameras and radiological probes down drains and bore holes, to complex manoeuvring tracked and wheeled vehicles (ROVs). The latter can carry a variety of operational equipment and are suitable for use in many hazardous situations including high radiation, toxic and explosive risk situations. All equipment is designed and produced to suit the customer’s particular requirements and has included: wheeled vehicle Click to zoom NUCLEAR DRAIN EQUIPMENT Vehicles: For the larger drains (150 mm dia and above) wheeled vehicles have been produced, carrying cameras, lighting, one or two radiological probes and sampling equipment. The vehicles are wheeled and electrically powered through an umbilical up to 100 metres long. This also carries the video and radiological signals and the command signal. In Drain Devices (IDDs): For drains smaller than 150mm dia, smaller devices have been produced and these are propelled with standard high quality locking drain rods. These IDDs are also equipped with a camera, lights and one or two probes and can produce the same information on the condition and contamination of the drain, as the larger vehicles. wheeled vehicle Click to zoom Supporting Equipment: The umbilical from the drain device or vehicle is connected to a base station that provides power, and processes and records the data. The base stations are man portable and designed for rugged site work. They require only 110v input and enable the operator to control the vehicle and monitor the view from the front of the vehicle, on his CCTV screen. Superimposed on that screen are the counts from the radiological probes, the distance that the vehicle has travelled down the drain and any information that the operator wishes to add, using a standard IBM computer keyboard. All this is captured on a video recorder, together the audio produced by the probes and with any verbal information from the operator. wheeled vehicle Click to zoom ROVs TFT has manufactured a number of remotely controlled tracked and wheeled vehicles capable of operating in hostile environments. These have each been designed to meet particular tasks, but in all cases have been based on the principle of rugged construction to ensure maximum reliability. They are man portable and capable of carrying a range of devices on their operational arms. All are equipped with colour cameras, slaved to the operational mounting, but they can also be fitted with additional cameras to aid navigation and umbilical management. Sizes range from small (less than 300 mm wide) to larger vehicles capable to lifting loads up to 5 Kgs using a manipulator fitted to the operational head. Some of these vehicles have been highly specialised, such as the ones to inspect the steam separators in the still active reactor at Chernobyl, whilst others have been highly versatile and able to operate in buildings or in rough outdoor conditions. They can be fully self contained, with internal batteries giving 1 to 2 hours of operational use between recharging, or they can be continuously powered from the base station, via the umbilical. UNDERWATER Much of TFT equipment is designed to be fully waterproof and to operate in flooded conditions. However, some equipment has been produced for use in deep water. This has included nuclear devices for use in deep bore holes and self contained radiological probes for use by divers when checking the sea bed for contamination. The Company maintains facilities for pressure testing such devices, to ensure their integrity in the required depth of water.