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US 4,382,329 AGranted
Tube insertion machine
AssigneeKobe Steel, Ltd.
InventorsNobuo Takaoka, Kosei Ageta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a tube insertion machine, and more particularly to a machine which efficiently inserts heat exchange tubes into holes in opposed end plates and middle plates of shell and tube type heat exchangers.
Claims7
A tube insertion machine comprising:
- an elevator;
- a plurality of guides mounted on said elevator, and mutually spaced by a predetermined distance, for supporting and guiding tubes for movement in a horizontal first direction, at least some of said guides being rotatable about an axis in a second vertical direction transverse to said first direction and shaped to lock said tubes against movement in said second direction when said guides are in a rotated position;
- and
- a pusher movable on said elevator in at least said first direction, said pusher including a plurality of pawls adapted to engage said tubes for moving said tubes in said first direction, whereby said tubes may be accurately inserted in a plate spaced from said tubes in said first direction.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.