Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation

George B Rabe

Robert H Johnson

A tube puller tool assembly for extracting tubes from a tubesheet of heat exchangers. The tool assembly includes an actuator cylinder unit attached to a guide cylinder, having a piston rod attached to a tapered mandrel for expanding multiple fingers of a collet member firmly against the tube inner surface. The collet is initially urged into contact with the tapered mandrel surface by a compression spring provided between the piston rod and collet member, except forward movement of the collet relative to the mandel is limited by a retainer ring in the guide cylinder. In use, the tool assembly is first pressurized to place the collet and mandrel members in an extended forward position, then the tool is inserted into a tube to be pulled, with a guide cylinder being abuted against the tubesheet. The tool is then pressurized to retract the piston and mandrel and thereby radially expand the collet fingers firmly into the tube. Increased actuator cylinder pressure results in withdrawal of the tube from the tubesheet. The actuator cylinder is then depressurized, the withdrawn tube is removed from the tool, and the procedure is repeated for each tube being pulled.

Tube puller tool assembly

A rotary tube cleaning system having a rotary cutting tool attached to an elongated flexible drive wire for remotely cleaning the inside of elongated tubes, and method for its use. The tube cleaning system includes a special rotary cutting tool rigidly attached to an elongated flexible drive wire, which are rotatably driven through a slip clutch by variable speed rotary drive means. The tool has dual oppositely-facing cutting edges at its forward end and also has dual longitudinally separated cylindrical guide surfaces provided at the tool forward and rear ends. In the method for remotely cleaning the tubes using the rotating cutting tool, the tool is inserted into a thimble tube, rotated at 150-250 rpm and fed forward at 5-20 ft/min to cut or scrape any deposits from the inner wall of the tube. The tool is then removed and similarly inserted into other tubes in sequence to scrape and substantially remove accumulated material therein.

Remotely operated rotary tube cleaning system and method

A rotary cutting tool useful for remotely machining tube ends, and method for using the tool to remotely machine a tube end portion such as for weld preparation. The cutting tool comprises an elongated main body having a reduced diameter front end portion and provided with three equally-spaced longitudinal grooves, each groove containing a spring-actuated cutting blade pivotally attached to the tool body. The cutting blades are adjustable radially relative to the tool body by spring and axially movable collar means, which collar is connected to and operated by an actuating piston means located at the opposite end of the tool. In use, the tool forward end with cutting blades retracted is first remotely inserted through an opening, after which the tool forward end with blades extended is inserted into a tube. The cutting tool is then rotated for trimming the end of the tube to a desired angle, and cleaning the tube end outer surface such as in preparation for welding a new mating replacement tube in place. Following the machining, the blades are retracted and the tool is withdrawn from the tube.

Rotary cutting tool device and method for use

An elongated tool device adapted for use in installing a tubular sleeve within a tube and forming a pressure-tight seal therebetween. The tool device includes a housing having a reduced-diameter forward extension portion attached to a front cylinder, and containing a rear piston. The front cylinder is attached to a collet having multiple radially expandable fingers and contains a front piston attached to a tapered mandrel which is axially movable within the fingers, and has a forward tapered nose portion to facilitate inserting the tool into a tube. The rear piston is attached to the front piston by an elongated rod. By pressurizing the tool front piston by a hydraulic fluid pressurizing unit, the mandrel is forced forward through the collet fingers to expand the fingers and sleeve tightly into the tube to form the seal joint. After withdrawing the tool from the tube, the tool rear piston is similarly pressurized to retract the front piston and attached mandrel back through the collet expandable fingers to reset the tool prior to its further use. A method for utilizing the tool device to locate a sleeve within a tube and then pressure-tightly seal the sleeve within the tube is also disclosed.

Sleeve to tube expander device

A pressurizable tool adapted for expanding a close-fitting sleeve into a tube in a tubesheet. The tool includes a housing containing an axially movable piston and a forward reduced diameter portion and having an elastic expander unit for inserting into the sleeve and tube in a tubesheet. The expander unit consists of at least two elastic rings composed of a polyurethane elastomer material and each having a chamfer provided at the outer edge of the unit forward and rear faces. By pressurizing a port at the housing front end, the piston is moved rearwardly to axially compress and expand the expander rings radially outwardly sufficiently to expand the sleeve firmly into the tube and provide a pressure tight seal therebetween. Following such expansion of the sleeve, the piston is pressurized and moved forward to release the compression on the expander unit rings, so that the tool can be easily withdrawn from the expanded sleeve and tube and inserted into another sleeve and tube for repeated usage.

Sleeve to tubesheet expander tool

An elongated tube expander tool and method for its use for remotely expanding a tube end to provide a close fit in an existing tube, such as before welding the tube end to the existing tube. The expander tool comprises an elongated central shaft attached to a cylinder which is attached to a collet having multiple expandable fingers. The cylinder contains a slidable front piston connected to a mandrel located within the collet, so that when the piston is pressurized and moved forward the multiple fingers are expanded radially outwardly within the tube end. In use, the tool is inserted into a replacement tube until a front shoulder of the tool housing contacts the replacement tube end portion to be expanded. The front piston is then pressurized and the mandrel forced axially forward through the collet so as to expand the collet fingers, which action expands the tube end firmly against the existing tube suitable for a weld to be reliably made between the closely fitting tubes. The rear piston is then pressurized and pulls the collet fingers free from the expanded joint, after which the tool is removed.

Elongated tube expander tool

A method for remotely removing and replacing defective tube ends of heat exchanger tubes located adjacent a tubesheet. In the method, a rotary cutting tool is inserted into each defective tube and the tube end portion is cut at a location near the tubesheet, a weld joint between the tube and tubesheet is removed, and the defective tube is then withdrawn through the tubesheet opening. Next, the resulting exposed end of the existing tube is remotely machined using a special rotary cutting tool, then a new replacement tube is inserted through the tubesheet opening and positioned in axial alignment and interfitting engagement with the end of the existing tube, after which the rear end of the new tube is expanded firmly against the tubesheet opening. The front or inner end of the replacement tube is then expanded firmly against the inner surface of the existing tube end, in preparation for welding these tubes together. Then, the new tube is welded to the existing tube and to the tube sheet to provide pressure-tight joints and complete the replacement tube installation.

Method for remotely replacing tube ends in a heat exchanger

A tube positioning tool for remotely positioning a replacement tube into axial alignment and interfitting engagement with an existing tube, and method for its use. The forward end section of the elongated pressurizable tube positioning tool is first inserted through the replacement tube and into the existing tube end, after which the forward end is clamped into position therein by pressurizing the tool and expanding the tool nose end. Next, the tool body rear piston is pressurized and the replacement tube is moved forward into axial alignment and interfitting engagement with the adjacent existing tube. Then the tool body front piston is pressurized to expand a resilient mandrel and the rear portion of the replacement tube is expanded firmly into the opening in the tube sheet. Following such replacement tube installation, the tool is depressured and withdrawn from the tubes.

Tube positioning tool and method for use

Apparatus for controlling the flow of a hot material, such as gases emanating from a coal gasification plant, in which a ball is rotatable in a housing having a passage therethrough. Rotation of the valve aligns a passage in the valve with the passage in the housing to permit the passage of fluids through the assembly. Conversely, counterrotation of the ball closes the valve to the passage of fluids. Both the housing and ball are provided with channels for the passage of a cooling fluid therethrough, which prevents destruction of rubber seals, reduces erosion by abrasive materials in the gases, and reduces the thermal distortion which results in poor sealing characteristics.

Liquid cooled ball valve

A split type sealing device for providing high pressure sealing around a cylindrical member such as a tube. The sealing device utilizes a primary flexible split seal ring element and a rigid split back-up ring, which have their splits positioned on opposite sides of the cylindrical member so as to encircle the member. The seal rings are maintained in position against high sealing pressure by a split seal retainer enclosed by mating clamping means, such as a slotted coupling member having an external threaded end and a mating conduit and ring nut. The pressure axial loading on the tube is accommodated by a split clamp ring which clamps the coupling to the cylindrical member, which is usually a tube. The seal device is suitable for sealing against internal pressures of 0-5000 psi.

Split ring sealing device for high pressure service

An internal bore welding torch assembly and method for use in making remote arc welds inside metal tubes. The torch assembly includes a torch body unit of plastic electrical insulating material, to which is connected the necessary welding services of coolant, shield gas, and electric power. The body unit contains a removable and rotatable welding wand which is made of flexible plastic and has a welding electrode oriented radially at its outer end. For making a weld, such as for repairing a damaged tube, a metal sleeve is first inserted into the tube the flexible welding wand is then inserted into the tube and the radial electrode positioned adjacent an end of the sleeve. The flows of coolant and shield gas are provided through the torch body unit to the wand, and the wand is rotated while making the metal arc welds desired to seal weld the sleeve ends to the tube.

Internal bore welding torch having removable flexible wand for remote

A flow control assembly in which a valve member is movable in a housing between a first position in which it permits the flow of material from an inlet to said housing, through said housing and to an outlet in said housing, and a second position in which it prevents the flow. A shield is provided in said housing which is movable to and from a position in which it shields the valve member from said material.

Growing community of inventors

Sparta, NJ, United States of America

George B Rabe