US3638684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of repairing tube structures
Assignee: Arthur G McKee and Co
•
Filing: 1970-03-16
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for repairing tubes that, during use, develop on the tube surfaces contaminating layers that prevent joining of new tube sections, as in fluid circulating heat transfer installations for chemical reactors. At least two surrounding protective sleeves are initially joined as by welding, to a tube at spaced locations on the tube to protect underlying portions of the tube from development of such layers. If a defect occurs between the sleeves, the defective tube may be removed by cutting through the sleeves and the tube underneath, removing the cut tube section, removing the remaining cut sleeve portions from the adjacent tube ends, and then joining a replacement tube section to the portions of the unremoved tube that were protected by the sleeves, preferably with new sleeves fixed in place over the resulting joints.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley J Pavilon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L58/00; F16L13/00; F16L13/02; F28; F28F; F28F19/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49352; Y10T29/49718; Y10T29/49732; Y10T29/49734; Y10T29/49737
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of repairing a tube structure having a defect in a portion of a tube thereof and having the exterior surface of the tube coated with a material that inhibits fusion joining, said tube having two sleeves of fusion-joinable material positioned thereon at locations spaced along the tube on opposite sides of the defect, each sleeve being fusion joined to the exterior surface of said tube by joints that are spaced along the tube so the surface portion of the tube covered by said sleeve is uncoated by said material that inhibits fusion joining, the steps of: making a transverse cut between said joints of each sleeve through the sleeve and tube beneath the sleeve to separate said portion of the tube containing the defect from the remaining tube, removing the separated tube portion, removing remaining sleeve portions from the remaining tube to expose the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube that was beneath each sleeve, and fusion joining a replacement tube portion having a surface uncoated by said material to said uncoated exterior surfaces of said remaining tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of repairing a tube structure having a defect in a portion of a tube thereof and having the exterior surface of the tube coated with a material that inhibits fusion joining, said tube having two sleeves of fusion-joinable material positioned thereon at locations spaced along the tube on opposite sides of the defect, each sleeve being fusion joined to the exterior surface of said tube by joints that are spaced along the tube so the surface portion of the tube covered by said sleeve is uncoated by said material that inhibits fusion joining, the steps of: making a transverse cut between said joints of each sleeve through the sleeve and tube beneath the sleeve to separate said portion of the tube containing the defect from the remaining tube, removing the separated tube portion, removing remaining sleeve portions from the remaining tube to expose the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube that was beneath each sleeve, and fusion joining a replacement tube portion having a surface uncoated by said material to said uncoated exterior surfaces of said remaining tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 including placing a sleeve of fusion-joinable material over each of the new joints between the replacement tube portion and the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube, and fusion joining each of said sleeves by spaced joints to the underlying uncoated exterior surfaces of said replacement tube portion, and remaining tube.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of making, using and repairing an apparatus embodying a tube structure that may be repaired after use by the removal of a section of tube thereof and fusion joining of a replacement section despite the fact that the tube strength is subjected to an environment that causes coating of the tube with a material that prevents fusion joining, which method comprises placing a sleeve of fusion-joinable material around a tube forming a part of said tube structure and fusion joining said sleeve to the exterior surface of said tube at spaced locations along said tube to seal from the environment that can cause coating of said tube in said apparatus the exterior surface of said tube covered by said sleeve, installing said tube structure in said apparatus, exposing the tube structure to an environment in said apparatus that causes formation of a coating on the tube that will inhibit attachment for repair of a tube length thereto by fusion joining, locating a defect in the tube, making a transverse cut between said joints of the sleeve through the sleeve and tube beneath the sleeve to separate said portion of the tube containing said defect from the remaining tube, removing the separated tube portion, removing a remaining sleeve portion from the remaining tube portion to expose the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube that was beneath the sleeve, and fusion joining a replacement tube portion having a surface uncoated by said material to said remaining tube.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of making, using and repairing an apparatus embodying a tube structure that may be repaired after use by the removal of a section of tube thereof and fusion joining of a replacement section despite the fact that the tube strength is subjected to an environment that causes coating of the tube with a material that prevents fusion joining, which method comprises placing a sleeve of fusion-joinable material around a tube forming a part of said tube structure and fusion joining said sleeve to the exterior surface of said tube at spaced locations along said tube to seal from the environment that can cause coating of said tube in said apparatus the exterior surface of said tube covered by said sleeve, installing said tube structure in said apparatus, exposing the tube structure to an environment in said apparatus that causes formation of a coating on the tube that will inhibit attachment for repair of a tube length thereto by fusion joining, locating a defect in the tube, making a transverse cut between said joints of the sleeve through the sleeve and tube beneath the sleeve to separate said portion of the tube containing said defect from the remaining tube, removing the separated tube portion, removing a remaining sleeve portion from the remaining tube portion to expose the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube that was beneath the sleeve, and fusion joining a replacement tube portion having a surface uncoated by said material to said remaining tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 3 in which two of said sleeves are placed around and fusion joined to said tube, transverse cuts are made through both of said sleeves and the tube beneath to separate the tube portion containing the defect from the remaining defect, and the separated tube portion is severed, and a replacement tube portion is fusion joined at its ends to the remaining tube at its uncoated exterior surfaces that were beneath the sleeves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3 including placing a sleeve of fusion-joinable material over the new joint between the replacement tube portion and the uncoated exterior surface of the remaining tube, and fusion joining said sleeve by spaced joints to the underlying uncoated exterior surfaces of said replacement tube portion and remaining tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2688651A
Cited
US2858114A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |