Method for replacing tubes in a header or drum
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsRalph E. Spada, Thomas Shilot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for replacing tubes in a drum or header without removing the whole tube entirely is disclosed. According to the method, the old tube is cut off level with the header-member; a recess coterminous with the diameter of the tube is machined into the header creating a seat for a new tube; the recessed old tube end is beveled and the old tube is welded into the header-member along the bevel; and a new tube is inserted into the seat and welded to the exterior of the header-member. In a preferred embodiment, a countersink is machined in the surface of the header-member to create a greater surface for welding of the new tube.
Claims8
A method of repairing an old tube that penetrates beyond the wall thickness of a wall of a header-member comprising:
- (a) severing the old tube to form a cut end proximate the header-member;
- (b) machining the cut end of the old tube to form a recess and recessed tube end within the wall thickness of the header-member;
- (c) welding the recessed old tube end within the wall thickness to the header-member;
- (d) inserting an end of a new tube into the recess within the header-member proximate the recessed old tube end;
- and
- (e) welding the new tube to the header-member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.