US3962767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for repairing a heat exchanger tube
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1974-08-13
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1994-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A method of repairing a tube in a heat exchanger by severing the tube and welding a sleeve inside the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilbur M. Byerley
- 👤 Raymond H. Glatthorn
- 👤 Emil P. Lock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:35
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F11/00; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49352; Y10T29/49718; Y10T29/49732; Y10T29/49734; Y10T29/49737
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for repairing a defective portion of a tube disposed in a tube sheet in a heat exchanger, said method comprising the steps of: removing scale and oxidation products from the inner surface of at least a portion of said tube, severing said tube so as to form a gap therein, with the tube sheet as a reference point inserting a sleeve into said tube so that the leading edge of said sleeve is disposed beyond the area where said tube was severed and beyond the defective portion, expanding at least a portion of said sleeve into engagement with said tube, flooding at least the portion of said tube containing said sleeve with a gas suitable for welding said sleeve to said tube, welding the leading edge of said sleeve to said tube and, forming the sleeve from material suitable as a filler metal when welding two tubes together forming the sleeve so as to be sufficiently long and locating the sleeve so that it covers the defective portion of the tube and the gap, and welding the trailing end of the sleeve to the tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for repairing a defective portion of a tube disposed in a tube sheet in a heat exchanger, said method comprising the steps of: removing scale and oxidation products from the inner surface of at least a portion of said tube, severing said tube so as to form a gap therein, with the tube sheet as a reference point inserting a sleeve into said tube so that the leading edge of said sleeve is disposed beyond the area where said tube was severed and beyond the defective portion, expanding at least a portion of said sleeve into engagement with said tube, flooding at least the portion of said tube containing said sleeve with a gas suitable for welding said sleeve to said tube, welding the leading edge of said sleeve to said tube and, forming the sleeve from material suitable as a filler metal when welding two tubes together forming the sleeve so as to be sufficiently long and locating the sleeve so that it covers the defective portion of the tube and the gap, and welding the trailing end of the sleeve to the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of forming the sleeve includes forming the sleeve so that the ends thereof are beveled so as to slope inwardly toward the ends.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for repairing a defective portion of a tube disposed in a tube sheet in a heat exchanger, said method comprising the steps of: removing scale and oxidation products from the inner surface of at least a portion of said tube, severing said tube so as to form a gap therein, with the tube sheet as a reference inserting a sleeve into said tube so that the leading edge of said sleeve is disposed beyond the area where said tube was severed and beyond the defective portion, expanding at least a portion of said sleeve into engagement with said tube, flooding at least the portion of said tube containing said sleeve with a gas suitable for welding said sleeve to said tube, welding the leading edge of said sleeve to said tube, removing the severed portion which contains the defective portion of said tube from said heat exchanger, replacing the removed portion of said tube with tubing, welding said sleeve to said tubing, and expanding said tubing into engagement with said tube sheet to form a seal therebetween.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for repairing a defective portion of a tube disposed in a tube sheet in a heat exchanger, said method comprising the steps of: removing scale and oxidation products from the inner surface of at least a portion of said tube, severing said tube so as to form a gap therein, with the tube sheet as a reference inserting a sleeve into said tube so that the leading edge of said sleeve is disposed beyond the area where said tube was severed and beyond the defective portion, expanding at least a portion of said sleeve into engagement with said tube, flooding at least the portion of said tube containing said sleeve with a gas suitable for welding said sleeve to said tube, welding the leading edge of said sleeve to said tube, removing the severed portion which contains the defective portion of said tube from said heat exchanger, replacing the removed portion of said tube with tubing, welding said sleeve to said tubing, and expanding said tubing into engagement with said tube sheet to form a seal therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 3 and further comprising the step of forming the sleeve so that it has a raised girth band generally the same outer diameter as the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising the step of welding the tubing to the tube sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of forming the sleeve includes forming the sleeve so that the ends thereof are beveled so as to slope inwardly toward the ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of forming the sleeve includes the step of forming the sleeve so that the ends thereof are beveled to slope outwardly toward the ends.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |