Method for cutting tube-walls

A method of cutting out a panel of predetermined dimensions from a boiler tube-wall of a power generating station comprised of a plurality of generally parallel, vertical tubes welded together lengthwise, said method employing a guide having at least one guide rod interposed between a pair of securement means for selectively, removably securing said guide to said tube-wall and actuatable cutting means slidably mounted for movement along said guide rod between said securement means for selectively cutting through said tube-wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) removably securing said guide to a first location on one vertical surface of said tube-wall by cooperation of only said securement means and said one vertical surface, said location being defined by a first line of cut to be made in said tube-wall;
• (b) actuating said cutting means;
• (c) moving said cutting means along said guide rod between said securement means and along said first line of cut to cut through said tube-wall and any of said tubes therealong;
• (d) deactuating said cutting means;
• (e) removing said guide from said tube-wall surface;
• (f) repeating each of said steps (a) through (e) for each subsequent line of cut wherein said first and subsequent lines of cut substantially define therebetween said panel.

A method of cutting a section of predetermined dimensions from a boiler tube-wall of a power generating station to receive therein a new tube-wall panel of approximately the same said predetermined dimensions, the tube-wall and new panel each comprised of a plurality of generally parallel tubes welded together lengthwise, said tube-wall tubes being generally vertical, said method employing a guide having at least one guide rod interposed between a pair of securement means for selectively, removably securing said guide to said tube-wall and further including slidable mounting means adapted to removably receive a tool therein for moving said tool along said guide rod between said securement means, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) removably securing to said mounting means a first tool having actuatably cutting means for selectively cutting through said tube-wall;
• (b) removably securing said guide to a first location on one vertical surface of said tube-wall by cooperation of only said securement means and said one vertical surface, said first location being defined by a first line of cut to be made in said tube-wall;
• (c) actuating said cutting means;
• (d) moving said cutting means along said guide rod between said securement means and along said first line of cut to cut through said tube-wall and any of said tubes theralong.

A method of cutting out a panel of predetermined dimensions from a boiler tube-wall of a power generating station comprised of a plurality of generally parallel, vertical metal tubes welded together lengthwise, said method employing a guide having at least one guide rod interposed between a pair of electromagnetizable securement means for selectively, removably, electromagnetically securing said guide to said tube-wall and actuatable cutting means slidably mounted for movement along said guide rod for selectively cutting through said tube-wall, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) removably, electromagnetically securing said guide to a first location on one vertical surface of said tube-wall by cooperation of only said securement means and said one vertical surface, said location being defined by a first line of cut to be made in said tube-wall;
• (b) actuating said cutting means;
• (c) moving said cutting means along said guide rod between said securement means and along said first line of cut to cut through said tube-wall and any of said tubes therealong;
• (d) deactuating said cutting means;
• (e) removing said guide from said tube-wall surface;
• (f) repeating each of said steps(a) through(e) for each subsequent line of cut wherein said first and subsequent lines of cut substantially define therebetween said panel.

A method of cutting a section of predetermined dimensions from a boiler tube-wall of a power generating station to receive therein a new tube-wall panel of approximately the same said predetermined dimensions, the tube-wall and new panel each comprised of a plurality of generally parallel metal tubes welded together lengthwise, said tube-wall tubes being generally vertical, said method employing a guide having at least one guide rod interposed between a pair of electomagnetic securement means for selectively, removably, electromagnetically securing said guide to said tube-wall and further including slidably mounting means adapted to removably receive a tool thereon for moving said tool along said guide rod between said securement means, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) removably securing to said mounting means a first tool having actuatable cutting means for selectively cutting through said tube-wall;
• (b) removably, electromagnetically securing said guide to a first location on one vertical surface of said tube-wall by cooperation of only said securement means and said one vertical surface, said first location being defined by first line of cut to be made in said tube-wall;
• (c) actuating said cutting means;
• (d) moving said cutting means along said guide rod between said securement means and along said first line of cut to cut through said tube-wall and any of said tubes therealong.