Flange removal tool assembly
AssigneeKidde Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEdwin Ray Winslow, Sammy H. Creech, Paul Gustav Kirchheimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flange removal tool assembly includes a cutting tool actuator, vise, annular cutting tool, and center support and accurately removes a weld and a flange of a device, while the device is attached to a fitting in a pressure vessel. Once the weld and the flange are removed, the device can be removed from the fitting and replaced. The assembly allows the operator to quickly inspect the flange of the device during the removal process and reduces the probability of damaging a flange of the fitting.
Claims20
A flange removal tool assembly comprising:
- a cutting tool actuator that includes a housing, a motor, a lever, and a spindle, wherein the lever is disposed on the housing and interfaces with the spindle that extends from the housing;
- an annular cutting tool secured to the spindle;
- a vise disposed below the cutting tool actuator, the vise being configured to grip a neck of a fitting located on a pressure vessel;
- and
- a fixture disposed below the vise, wherein the fixture includes a center support axially aligned with an axis of rotation of the spindle, the center support configured to support the pressure vessel;
- wherein the annular cutting tool is configured to remove a flange of a device installed in the fitting located on the pressure vessel and preserve a flange of the fitting;
- and
- wherein the flange of the fitting circumferentially extends around a top of the fitting, the flange of the fitting being configured to mate with the flange on the device, and the fitting includes a first weld that secures the fitting to the pressure vessel and a second weld that secures the device to the fitting.
A method of removing a weld and a flange of a device, with the device secured to a fitting on a pressure vessel, the method comprising:
- securing a pressure vessel to a flange removal tool assembly, the flange removal tool assembly comprising:
- a cutting tool actuator that includes a housing, a motor, a lever, and a spindle, an annular cutting tool attached to the spindle, a vise, and a fixture that includes a center support;
- lowering the non-rotating annular cutting tool with the lever onto a top surface of the flange of the device connected to the fitting on the pressure vessel;
- recording a relative location of the top surface of the flange of the device using the cutting tool actuator controls;
- activating the cutting tool actuator to rotate the annular cutting tool attached to the spindle;
- and
- lowering, with the annular cutting tool contacting the top surface of the flange of the device, the annular cutting tool with the lever an amount that corresponds to a thickness of the flange of the device, thereby removing a weld and the flange of the device without removing a flange of the fitting, and allowing the device to be removed from the fitting.
A flange removal tool assembly comprising:
- a cutting tool actuator that includes a housing, a motor, a lever, and a spindle, wherein the lever is disposed on the housing and interfaces with the spindle that extends from the housing;
- an annular cutting tool secured to the spindle;
- a vise disposed below the cutting tool actuator, the vise includes a stationary jaw and a moving jaw with the moving jaw being coupled to a main body of the vise, the vise being configured to grip a neck of a fitting located on a pressure vessel;
- and
- a fixture disposed below the vise, wherein the fixture includes a center support axially aligned with an axis of rotation of the spindle, the center support configured to support the pressure vessel;
- wherein the annular cutting tool is configured to remove a flange of a device installed in the fitting located on the pressure vessel and preserve a flange of the fitting;
- and
- wherein the stationary jaw includes a concave tip that is configured to extend around the neck of the fitting and the moving jaw includes a flat tip that is configured to press against an opposite side of the neck from the stationary jaw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.