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US 4,936,013 AGranted
Mechanical heat exchanger punch tool and method
AssigneeChevron Research Company
InventorMaeen N. Sahawneh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A punch tool is disclosed for creating an aperture in the wall of a heat exchanger tube. The punch tool comprises a cylindrical stem and bit means which is inserted into the tube from the tube sheet. The stem is retracted while the bit is forced upright by a rigid rod and punctures the tube.
Claims5
A tube punch comprising:
- rod backer means having a circular bore
- a cylindrical stem having a first and second end movably positioned in said circular bore, a recessed cavity with a radial surface formed adjacent the first end of said cylindrical stem
- bit means having a cutting point and a swivel end pivotably connected to he cylindrical stem in the recessed cavity thereof and having a recessed position and an upright position
- and rod means unconnected to said rod backer for forcing said bit from said recessed position to said upright position stem access.
1 more element
A tube punch comprising:
- a cylindrical stem having a first and second end, the first end having a recessed cavity with a radial surface;
- bit means having a cutting point and a swivel end, the swivel and radially mated with the stem in the recessed cavity;
- rod backer means having a circular bore where the stem is slidably located;
- means for forcing the stem to move along the stem access through the rod backer in a direction of the second stem end;
- means for urging the bit upright into a position substantially perpendicular to the length of the stem when the stem is forced in the direction of the second stem and relative to the rod backer means.
2 more elements
A method for evacuating fluid from a tube in a heat exchanger, without severing the tube, prior to plugging the tube at the tube sheet, comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting a tool punch having a stem with a bit into the tube at the tube sheet;
- (b) forcing the stem to move in a direction away from the tube sheet;
- (c) puncturing without severing the tube with a bit as the bit is uprighted to a position substantially perpendicular to the stem as a result of the forcing step;
- (d) plugging off the tube at the tube sheet.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.