US 8,387,252 B1Granted

Boiler tube clamp and method of using same

AssigneeNational Boiler Service, Inc.

InventorsKurt Johnson, Robert Hunter, David Duplissey

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Abstract

A boiler tube clamp including a first portion having a first substantially U-shaped midsection with a first inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against one side of a boiler tube, a first hinge member arranged on one end of the first midsection, and a threaded bolt hingedly attached to the other end of the first midsection, and a second portion having a second substantially U-shaped midsection with a second inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against the other side of the boiler tube. The clamp further includes a second hinge member arranged on one end of the second midsection and hingedly connected to the first hinge member so that the first inner surface and the second inner surface close toward one another. An open slot is arranged at the other end of the second midsection configured for detachably receiving the threaded bolt. A lip extends radially out from an outer surface of the second midsection and arranged adjacent to an edge thereof. A jackscrew extends through the lip for adjusting the distance a boiler tube contained by the clamp extends into a boiler through a boiler header.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A method of installing a single boiler tube in a boiler header comprising,

detachably securing a boiler tube clamp to a predetermined location on a lower end of the single boiler tube,
arranging the single boiler tube vertically,
extending the lower end of the single boiler tube through a topside the boiler header and a distance beyond a bottom side of the boiler header,
supporting the boiler tube clamp on the topside of the boiler header,
pivoting a first portion and a second portion of the clamp into an opened position, pivoting the first portion and the second portion into a closed position around the predetermined location, pivoting a threaded bolt of the first portion into an open slot in the second portion, tightening a nut on the threaded bolt, and detachably securing the first portion and the second against the single boiler tube,
adjusting the distance the lower end of the single boiler tube extends beyond the bottom side of the boiler header by adjusting an adjustment member integral with the clamp, and
rotating the adjustment member within an outwardly extending radial lip of the boiler clamp in a first direction to increase the distance and rotating the adjustment member in a second direction to decrease the distance.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/575,227Filed 7 Oct 2009
Granted: 5 Mar 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

F22B 37/104
Water tubes; Accessories therefor: connection of tubes one with the other or with collectors, drums or distributors
B21D 53/06
Heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers: of metal tubes
B23P 15/26
Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass: heat exchangers or the like
B25B 27/02
Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise…: for…