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US 4,227,854 AGranted
Apparatus for removing heat exchanger tube bundles
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorWilliam A. Coffey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for moving a tube bundle out of or into a heat exchanger shell consists of an elongated frame structure including a pair of parallel spaced beams, a mobile carriage to support the tube bundle and mounted on the parallel beams for movement along them, clamps to connect and lock the elongated frame structure to the shell of the heat exchanger, a mobile sub-frame carrying a hydraulically-operated force-exerting mechanism to be connected to the tube bundle to move it out of the shell, and laterally positioned stops along the length of the frame structure to provide opposing thrust surfaces to the thrust exerted by the force-exerting mechanism so as to effect movement of the tube bundle along the frame structure.
Claims11
Apparatus for moving a tube bundle out of or into a heat exchanger shell, comprising
- an elongated frame structure including a pair of parallel spaced beams;
- a mobile carriage, for supporting the tube bundle, mounted on said beams for movement therealong;
- means for connecting and locking said elongated frame structure to the shell of the heat exchanger;
- a frame movable along the length of said elongated frame structure including a cross-bar extending across said elongated frame structure between said beams, and said frame having means for interconnection to the tube bundle;
- means for exerting a force on said frame for moving said frame along said elongated frame structure toward and away from the heat exchanger shell, said means comprising:
- a single main linear force exerting structure;
- means for mounting said main linear force exerting structure to said frame so that by applying a linear pushing force away from the heat exchanger shell said frame, and the tube bundle connected thereto, will move away from the heat exchanger shell;
- a plurality of auxiliary force exerting structures;
- means for mounting each of said auxiliary force exerting structures directly to said means for mounting said main force exerting structure, and to said cross-bar, so that said auxiliary structures are directed opposite to said main structure;
- and
- a plurality of lateral thrust surfaces spaced apart along the length of said elongated frame structure to present opposing thrust surfaces to said auxiliary force exerting structures, and having a first mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame away from the heat exchanger shell is allowed, but movement toward the heat exchanger shell is prevented, and a second mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame toward the heat exchanger shell is allowed but movement away from the heat exchanger shell is prevented.
8 more elements
Apparatus for moving a tube bundle out of or into a heat exchanger, comprising
- an elongated frame structure including a pair of parallel spaced beams;
- a mobile carriage, for supporting the tube bundle, mounted on said beams for movement therealong;
- means for connecting and locking said elongated frame structure to the shell of the heat exchangers;
- a frame movable along the length of said elongated frame structure, including a cross-bar extending across said elongated frame structure between said beams, and said frame having means for interconnection to the tube bundle;
- means for exerting a force on said frame for moving said frame along said elongated frame structure toward and away from the heat exchanger shell, said means comprising at least one linear force exerting structure;
- and
- a plurality of lateral thrust surfaces along each of said parallel beams and mounted for cooperation with the ends of said cross-bar, to present opposing thrust surfaces to said at least one linear force exerting structure, and having a first mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame away from the heat exchanger shell is prevented, and a second mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame toward the heat exchanger shell is allowed but movement away from the heat exchanger shell is prevented;
- said cross-bar having a linear cam formed on each end thereof, each linear cam having one rounded end and one flat end, and mounted so that it is movable from a position wherein the rounded end faces away from the heat exchanger shell, to a position wherein the rounded end faces the heat exchanger shell;
- and wherein each said thrust surface comprises a chamfered stop rigidly attached to a said beam;
- the two different modes of operation of said thrust surfaces being provided by movement of each of said linear cams to the two different positions thereof.
7 more elements
Apparatus for moving a tube bundle out of or into a heat exchanger, comprising
- an elongated frame structure including a pair of parallel spaced beams;
- a mobile carriage, for supporting the tube bundle, mounted on said beams for movement therealong;
- means for connecting and locking said elongated frame structure to the shell of the heat exchangers;
- a frame movable along the length of said elongated frame structure, including a cross-bar extending across said elongated frame structure between said beams, and said frame having means for interconnection to the tube bundle;
- means for exerting a force on said frame for moving said frame along said elongated frame structure toward and away from the heat exchanger shell, said means comprising at least one linear force exerting structure;
- and
- a plurality of lateral thrust surfaces along each of said parallel beams and mounted for cooperation with the ends of said cross-bar, to present opposing thrust surfaces to said at least one linear force exerting structure, and having a first mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame away from the heat exchanger shell is allowed, but movement toward the heat exchanger shell is prevented, and a second mode of operation in which linear movement of said frame toward the heat exchanger shell is allowed but movement away from the heat exchanger shell is prevented;
- each of said lateral thrust surfaces comprising a stop pivotally mounted to a said beam for rotation about an axis parallel to said cross-bar, and means for receiving a weight formed in said stop on opposite sides of the pivot thereof;
- the two different modes of operation of said thrust surfaces being provided by inserting a weight in one of said means for receiving a weight in said stop while removing a weight from the other of said weight-receiving means in said stop, and vice-versa.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.