US3691609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube plugging tool
Assignee: Hydro Vel Services Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-25
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A lance for positioning a plug comprised of a deformable sleeve disposed around a tapered cone at the remote end of a small diameter tube of a heat exchanger or the like is disclosed. A hydraulic actuator forces the sleeve around the tapered member to expand the sleeve into sealing engagement with the tube. In one general embodiment, a small hydraulic actuator is located at the end of the lance adjacent the plug and hydraulic fluid is supplied through the lance. In another general embodiment, the hydraulic actuator is disposed outside the tube, and the sleeve is forced around the tapered member by a tubular sleeve disposed around the lance. In each embodiment, the lance is disconnectable from the plug after the plug has been set. Several specific embodiments are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles O Ice Jr
- 👤 Lanny G Ice
- 👤 Walter S Frazer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:52
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/06; B21D53/00; B21D53/02; B21D53/06; B24; B24C; B24C9/00; B25; B25B; B25B27/00; B25B27/02; B25B27/026; F; F28; F28F; F28F11/00; F28F11/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53796; Y10T29/5383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator means coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed, and disconnectable coupling means for mechanically coupling one of said means to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure whereby said one means may be disconnected from the source of hydraulic pressure after the plug means has been set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator means coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed, and disconnectable coupling means for mechanically coupling one of said means to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure whereby said one means may be disconnected from the source of hydraulic pressure after the plug means has been set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The tool of claim 1 further characterized by: lance means for positioning the plug means at a remotely located position within the tube, and wherein said coupling means includes tensionable coupling means connecting the lance to one of the plug members, said tensionable coupling means being remotely disconnectable after the plug has been set in a remotely located position within the tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tool of claim 2 wherein the lance means is connected to the tapered member by said coupling means, and the piston member and cylinder member are formed around the lance means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tool of claim 3 wherein the piston member and cylinder member are disposed around a portion of the lance means that is inserted in the tube, and the lance means is arranged to conduct hYdraulic fluid to the interior of the cylinder member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tool of claim 3 wherein the cylinder member is disposed around a portion of the lance means that is not inserted in the tube and the piston member is disposed around the lance means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tool of claim 5 wherein the lance means is comprised of a plurality of rod sections interconnected by tensionable couplings and the piston is comprised of tubular sections disposed around the interconnected rod sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein the piston member is coupled to the tapered member by a remotely disconnectable coupling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The tool of claim 2 wherein the lance means is comprised of a plurality of tubular members interconnected by couplings adapted to transmit torque in at least one direction, and the tensionable coupling means is a threaded coupling which is disconnected by rotation of the lance means in said one direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means comprising first and second interfitting members at least one of which expands into a fluid sealing engagement with the tube in which the plug means is located when the members are forced together, lance means comprised of a plurality of sections interconnected by couplings adapted to transmit torque in at least one direction, coupling means connecting the lance to one of the members of the plug means that is disconnectable by torque applied to the lance in said at least one direction after the plug means has been set, and means for forcing the other of the members of the plug means against said one member of the plug means to set the plug means in the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means comprising first and second interfitting members at least one of which expands into a fluid sealing engagement with the tube in which the plug means is located when the members are forced together, lance means comprised of a plurality of sections interconnected by couplings adapted to transmit torque in at least one direction, coupling means connecting the lance to one of the members of the plug means that is disconnectable by torque applied to the lance in said at least one direction after the plug means has been set, and means for forcing the other of the members of the plug means against said one member of the plug means to set the plug means in the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tool of claim 9 wherein said last mentioned means includes a tubular means disposed around the lance means for engaging said other of the members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tool of claim 10 wherein the tubular means is comprised of a plurality of sections and is generally coextensive with the lance means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tool of claim 10 wherein the tubular means is a piston disposed in an annular hydraulic cylinder, and said annular hydraulic cylinder is adapted to be inserted in the tube being plugged.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed, and means associated with one of said members of said plug means for disconnecting the plug means from the hydraulic actuator means after the plug means has been set in the tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed, and means associated with one of said members of said plug means for disconnecting the plug means from the hydraulic actuator means after the plug means has been set in the tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, and a hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member adapted to be inserted in the tube with the plug means, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tool for plugging a heat exchanger tube which comprises: plug means including a tapered member and an expandable sleeve member having a continuous wall disposed around the tapered member, and a hydraulic actuator means having a piston member and a cylinder member adapted to be inserted in the tube with the plug means, each of the members of the hydraulic actuator coacting with one of the members of the plug means to force the sleeve member over the tapered member to expand the sleeve member into fluid sealing contact with the tube in which the plug means is disposed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |