Methods and apparatus for retrofitting compressible flanges
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJames Terrell Nickell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bend die assembly retrofits compressible flanges to permit the flanges to be reinstalled around tubes to form a sealing contact. The bend die assembly includes a base and a bend die. The base includes a first body portion that couples to a second body portion to define a cavity. The bend die includes a base portion, a body portion, and a head portion, and is received within the base cavity. The bend die head portion receives the compressible flange and includes a plurality of expandable segments contoured to substantially conform to a contour of the compressible seal.
Claims19
A method for retrofitting a compressible flange using a bend die assembly, the bend die assembly including a base and a bend die, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling the bend die to the base, wherein the bend die includes at least one expandable segment including a backstop and a contoured outer surface that includes at least one shoulder;
- inserting the bend-die through an opening defined by an inner surface of the compressible seal, such that the stop limits a relative position of the bend-die with respect to each compressible seal;
- and
- expanding the bend-die to retrofit the compressible flange.
An assembly for retrofitting compressible flanges comprising:
- a base comprising an opening extending therethrough;
- and
- a bend die sub-assembly extending through said base opening, said bend die subassembly comprising a bend die comprising a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween, said bend die body comprising an outer surface and a plurality of segments configured to extend radially outward from said bend die body outer surface, each said segment comprising at least one shoulder and a backstop, said shoulder contoured to conform to an inner surface of the compressible flange, said backstop for limiting a relative position of said bend die sub-assembly with respect to each flange.
A bend die assembly configured for use with retrofitting compressible flanges, each compressible flange having an inner width, said bend die assembly comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a bend die coupled to said base and having a width smaller than the compressible flange inner width, said bend die comprising at least one expandable segment comprising a shoulder and a stop, said shoulder contoured to match a contour of each compressible flange, said backstop configured to position the compressible flange with respect to the bend die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.