US 4,239,713 AGranted

Method and machine for expanding tubes in a tube wall

OwnerViktor M. Brif, Leonid M. Brifinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method of assembling tubular heat exchangers and particularly of expanding tubes in the tube walls of various heat exchangers and steam generators in the petrochemical, gas-processing, chemical, power, metallurgical and shipbuilding industries including the manufacture of nuclear power plants for ships, of nuclear power stations and related products. According to the method the measuring of a force parameter or variable is effected simultaneously with the measuring of a linear parameter or variable of the expanding successively at three areas, viz. the area of elastic deformation of the tube, the area of plastic deformation of the tube up to the engagement of the tube with the surface of the opening in the tube wall, and the area of elastic deformation of the tube wall.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of expanding tubes in a tube wall, comprising the steps of:

acting upon the tube with a roller-type rolling tool to expand the tube, measuring simultaneously a variable effort and a linear displacement variable, as caused by said acting, which variables define the magnitudes of stresses and deformations occurring during expanding, said measuring being conducted successively at three operationwise stages, viz. the stage of elastic deformation of the tube, the stage of plastic deformation of the tube until the moment of the engagement of the external surface thereof with the surface of the opening in the tube wall, and the stage of elastic deformation of the tube wall, and optimizing the control over the expanding operation by the variable effort and the linear displacement variable to obtain maximum strength and fluid-tightness of the assembly of the tube in the tube wall, in accordance with the geometric dimensions and the mechanical properties of the respective materials of the tube and of the tube wall.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.