Segmented plate for assembly within a confined area having limited access

A segmented plate adapted for assembly within a confined area, comprising:

• (a) the plate, as assembled, having
• an exterior perimeter,
• an aperture having an inner perimeter,
• a plurality of generally rigid plate-sections, and
• extending at least partially along adjacent boundaries of said plate-sections having been adjacently arranged, is a self-lock seam;
• (b) the confined area comprises a chamber of a deaerator tank;
• (c) said self-lock seam comprises an interlocking of an U-shaped edge of each said plate-section adjacently arranged;
• (d) said generally rigid plate-sections are made of a material thermally expandable upon exposure to a range of temperatures to which the confined area may be exposed;
• and
• (e) a flexible barrier, made of a material having resiliency and adapted to produce a generally water-impermeable seal, selected from the group consisting of a gasket tape, a joint sealant, a plastic adhesive, a caulking compound, weather stripping, and a high temperature sealant, is interposed between said inner perimeter and at least a portion of a periphery of a sub-assembly having a spray nozzle.

A segmented plate assembled within a chamber of a deaerator tank having a limited access thereto, comprising:

• (a) the plate, as assembled within the chamber and secured to enclose a tray assembly, having
• an exterior perimeter,
• a plurality of generally rigid plate-sections comprising a first second, and third plate-section, and
• extending at least partially along adjacent boundaries of said plate-sections having been adjacently arranged, is a self-lock seam;
• and
• (b) each of said plate-sections sized smaller than the access to permit passage therethrough for the assembly;
• and
• (c) said adjacent boundaries comprise a third edge-boundary of said third plate-section adjacent a first edge-boundary of each of said first and second plate-sections.

A segmented plate having been assembled, within a chamber of a deaerator tank, comprising:

• (a) the plate, as assembled, having
• an exterior perimeter,
• a plurality of generally rigid plate-sections, and
• extending at least partially along adjacent boundaries of said plate-sections having been adjacently arranged, is a self-lock seam;
• (b) said exterior perimeter is of a final geometric size larger than may pass through the limited access;
• (c) said self-lock seam comprises an interlocking of an U-shaped edge of each said plate-section adjacently arranged;
• (d) said exterior perimeter is of a shape selected from the group consisting of an oval, a circle, a polygon, and an irregular shape;
• and
• (e) a flexible barrier, made of a material having resiliency and adapted to produce a generally water-impermeable seal, selected from the group consisting of a gasket tape, a joint sealant, a plastic adhesive, a caulking compound, weather stripping, and a high temperature sealant is interposed between said exterior perimeter and a tray enclosure.

A process for assembling a segmented plate within a confined area of a deaerator tank having a limited access thereto, comprising:

• (a) passing each of a plurality of generally rigid plate-sections through the limited access of the confined area of the deaerator tank;
• (b) adjacently arranging at least a first second, and third plate section of said plurality of plate-sections, by interlocking a U-shaped edge of said plate-sections generally along adjacent boundaries thereof, said step of adjacently arranging to comprise arranging a third edge-boundary of said third plate-section adjacent a first edge-boundary of each of said first and second plate-sections;
• and
• (c) so assembling the segmented plate whereby a final geometric size of an exterior perimeter thereof is larger than may pass through the limited access.

A segmented plate adapted for assembly within a confined area of a deaerator tank having a limited access thereto, comprising:

• (a) the plate, as assembled within the confined area of the deaerator tank, having an exterior perimeter, an aperture having an inner perimeter, a plurality of generally rigid plate-sections comprising a first, second, third, and fourth plate-section and interposed between and along adjacent boundaries of said plate-sections having been adjacently arranged is a flexible barrier and,
• (b) each of said plate-sections sized smaller than the access to permit passage therethrough for the assembly;
• and
• (c) said adjacent boundaries comprise a third edge-boundary of said third plate-section adjacent a first edge-boundary of each of said first and second plate-sections and a fourth edge-boundary of said fourth plate-section adjacent a second edge-boundary of each of said first and second plate-sections.