Method of inserting tubes into heat exchangers and apparatus therefor

A method of inserting tubes into a heat exchanger comprising, frictionally engaging the tube with at least one air inflated endless drive member, selecting and maintaining the air pressure in said drive member for maintaining a predetermined amount of frictional force between the tube and the endless drive member to drive the tube and simultaneously continuously rotate the tube about the axis of the tube until an obstruction is encountered, and permitting the endless drive member to slip on the tube when resistance to movement of the tube exceeds the frictional drive provided by the endless drive member thereby reducing damage to the tube.

A method of inserting tubes into a heat exchanger comprising engaging the tube with drive means for advancing the tube into the heat exchanger, temporarily mounting a hole cleaner on a leading end of the tube and advancing the tube with the drive means while the hole cleaner is mounted on the leading end of the tube, and removing the hole cleaner from the leading end of the tube after the tube is thus inserted into the heat exchanger.

A method of inserting tubes into a heat exchanger comprising engaging the tube with at least one power driven drive member for advancing the tube longitudinally into the heat exchanger, mounting a stock setter at the rear end of the tube, said stock setter including stop member projecting forwardly from the rear end of the tube a predetermined distance and allowing said stop member to strike a fixed object to establish the extension of the rear end of the tube from the heat exchanger.

A method of inserting tubes into a heat exchange device having a multiplicity of tube openings into which tubes are to be placed comprising, supporting the tube between at least a pair of cooperating and opposed air inflated drive elements engaging the tube on opposite sides thereof, controlling the frictional engagement between the tube and the drive elements by regulating air pressure therein, turning the drive elements to advance the tube in a given feed direction and simultaneously rotating the tube on its own axis to twist the tube into the heat exchanger so as to balance out the dynamic drag forces on the tube as the tube passes into the heat exchange device and thereby reduce bending or distortion of the tube.

A method of inserting tubes into a heat exchanger comprising introducing one end of said tube into an opening in the heat exchanger, engaging the tube with at least one drive member having a motor and which drive member has a resilient friction surface for forcing the tube axially into the opening, the resilient friction surface allowing slippage between the drive member and the tube, energizing the motor to drive the tube into the heat exchanger, and allowing the tube to slip relative to the drive member when forward motion of the tube is retarded to avoid damage to the tube while the motor continues to exert a driving force on the tube in a forward direction to facilitate the clearing of an obstruction in the heat exchanger.

An apparatus for inserting a tube into a heat exchanger comprising at least one drive means having a support surface positioned below and being engagable with a tube to be inserted for advancing such tube axially into the heat exchanger and through a plurality of baffles that exert a drag on such tube, and means operatively associated with the drive means for substantially continuously rotating such tube on its own axis as it is advanced successively through baffles in a heat exchanger to help equalize stresses within a tube being inserted into such heat exchanger and avoid damage to such tube.

A tube insertion apparatus for inserting tubing into a heat exchanger comprising a supporting framework, a pair of opposed cooperating air inflated tires rotatable about central axes and adapted to receive the tube therebetween and to engage the tube on opposite sides thereof, a drive motor connected to at least one of the tires for imparting motion thereto, selectively operable adjustment means for canting the central axis of at least one air inflated tire at an oblique angle, other than perpendicular, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube, to thereby provide force tending to move such tube axially, and simultaneously and substantially continuously to tend to rotate the tube about its axis.

A tube inserting apparatus for a heat exchanger having an endless drive member frictionally engaging the tube to advance the tube into the heat exchanger through openings in support members for the tube, a motor connected to the drive means, and a removable pilot adapted to be temporarily installed in a leading end of the tube, said pilot having a tapered leading end, and a brush mounted at the leading end thereof and leading the pilot for removal of obstructions in the openings in the support members for the tube prior to insertion of the pilot into such opening.

An apparatus for inserting tubes into a heat exchanger comprising a supporting framework, drive means operatively connected to the supporting framework for engaging the tube and for advancing the tube into the heat exchanger and a stock setter adapted to be attached to a rearward end of said tube, said stock setter including a stop means extending forwardly from the rear end of the tube by a predetermined distance and being adapted to engage a fixed object when the tube is inserted thereby allowing a predetermined amount of the tube to extend out from the end of the heat exchanger for flaring and/or sealing to the heat exchanger.

An apparatus for inserting a tube into a heat exchanger through tube receiving openings in a support member in the heat exchanger comprising, means for engaging the tube to force the tube into an opening in the heat exchanger and a pilot removably mounted on a leading end of the tube and having a cleaning brush at its forward end of size to brush obstructions in the openings prior to the time the pilot and tube enter the openings.

An apparatus for inserting a tube into a heat exchanger comprising, means for engaging the tube and advancing the tube into an opening in the heat exchanger, a tail stock projection control member releasably mountable on a trailing end of the tube and including a rod section adapted to be engaged by the apparatus after most of the tube has been inserted into the heat exchanger, and a stop on the control member adapted to strike a fixed object to control the distance the tube extends from the heat exchanger, said stop comprising a tubular section on a forward end of the control member slideable over the tube and projecting toward the heat exchanger a predetermined selected distance to strike the heat exchanger as the tube is being inserted during operation and thereby determine the distance the tube projects therefrom.