Apparatus for steam generator tube wrapper spacer and support block removal

A spacer and block cutting torch is lowered through the wrapper-to-shell annulus of a removed-top steam generator by addition of vertical sections of hollow-back column by vertical movement of a motorized carriage along a rack-and-guide track extending upwardly from atop the wrapper and manipulation of column clamps, one movable with the carriage and the other affixed to the wrapper, to transfer column weight from carriage to wrapper-top during adding and subtracting column sections. The rearward concave side of the column, held flush with the wrapper wall, readily accepts and serves to enclose operating gas hoses for the cutting torch. Yieldable bias means cooperates with the interior of the generator shell to urge the concave side of the column toward the wrapper