Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Richard L Stiller

Edward H Smith

Robert Shaffer

Raymond P Castner

Kenneth S Gerkey

Regis R Vollmer

An apparatus for actuating a tube guide expander device inserted in a tube end and extracting it therefrom subsequent to tube expansion induced by guide-expander actuation. The apparatus includes inner and outer sleeve structures which are independently axially displaceable relative to the tube and guide-expander. The outer sleeve structure is engageable with a first compression structure of the device to secure it and its engaged tube in place during relative axial displacement of a second compression structure of the device. Selectively coupling the inner sleeve structure to the device's second compression structure and axial displacement of both axially compresses a radial expansion element situated between the compression structures and expands the enclosing tube. A series of balls are radially displaceable from an outer unobstructing position through radial openings in the inner sleeve structure and an intermediate sleeve structure to an inner obstructing position protruding into the inner sleeve structure's bore so as to axially engage a portion of the second compression structure and prevent its extraction from the bore during axial displacement of the inner sleeve structure. Radial displacement of the balls is provided by selective axial displacement of the intermediate sleeve structure arranged about the inner sleeve structure. Simultaneous axial displacement of the inner and outer sleeve structures away from the tube with the balls in obstructing position subsequent to the tube's expansion enables extraction of the guide-expander from the tube.

Apparatus for actuating and extracting a tube guide-expander

Apparatus and method for positioning either one of a pair of automatically controlled remote mechanisms for properly positioning the two opposed ends of a common heat exchanger tube within a tube sheet of a steam generator and having a tool for securing the tube therein. The apparatus includes a pair of microswitches precisely positioned closely adjacent the tool on each of said pair of mechanisms. The first switch is actuated upon initial engagement of the tube end and the tool to indicate which of the opposed tube ends is first engaged, and the second switch is actuated upon proper positioning of the tube end within the tube sheet. The method of operation is such that the tube end nearest the tube sheet of the two opposed tube ends to be engaged is the first tube end to be positioned and secured within the tube sheet.

Heat exchanger tube and tube sheet location sensing device

A method for inserting a tube through a tubesheet aperture and expanding it into contact with the aperture's wall. A tube guide-expander device is assembled in an open end of a tube with a portion of the device protruding from the tube. The guide-expander includes a distally protruding tip portion tapered to diverge in a direction toward the tube so as to facilitate insertion of the guide-expander and engaged tube through apertures in spatially separated tube supports and tubesheet. The guide-expander and tube engaged therewith are axially displaced relative to the tubesheet until the desired relative configuration is obtained. Expansion of the tube results from expanding the assembled tube guide-expander and driving the housing tube in the radial direction against the tubesheet aperture's wall. Such guide-expander expansion obtains from relatively axially displacing two structural components and compressing an interposed, radially expansible structure.

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Natrona Heights, PA, United States of America

Richard L Stiller