# US 9,435,481 B2 · Steam generator heating tube repair device and repair method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,481 B2 - Document ID: US9435481B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/717,629 - Filed: 2012-12-17 - Published: 2013-08-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bienentreu; Nicolas Jeanvoine - Inventors: Robert Bienentreu; Nicolas Jeanvoine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435481B2 ## CPC - F16L 55/18: Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) - F22B 37/107: {Protection of water tubes} - F28F 11/02: using obturating elements, e.g. washers, inserted and operated independently of each other (F28F11/06 takes precedence) - B21D 39/06: of tubes in openings, e.g. rolling-in - B23P 6/04: Repairing fractures or cracked metal parts or products, e.g. castings - B23P 15/26: heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} - F16L 55/163: a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe - F16L 55/1653: {and being pressed into contact with the pipe by a tool which moves inside along the pipe} - F22B 37/002: {specially adapted for nuclear steam generators, e.g. maintenance, repairing or inspecting equipment not otherwise provided for} - Y10T 29/49352: Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging - Y10T 29/49361: Tube inside tube - Y10T 29/49375: including conduit expansion or inflation - Y10T 29/49737: Metallurgically attaching preform - Y10T 29/53987: Tube, sleeve or ferrule - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A steam generator heating tube repair sleeve has an encircling flange, conical region, and a straight region. The encircling flange merges into a conical region that tapers on the outside in the direction of the other sleeve end and which is adjoined to the straight region. A steam generator heating tube repair method is used to repair a steam generator heating tube that is installed in a steam generator having a defective tube end. The method includes conical milling out of the defective tube end, inserting a steam generator heating tube repair sleeve into the conically milled-out defective tube end, rolling in the steam generator heating tube repair sleeve, and welding the flange region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steam generator heating tube repair method for a steam generator heating tube installed in a steam generator and having a defective tube end and further having a multiplicity of steam generator heating tubes passing through respective tube plates, said tube plates being welded to a cladding, the method which comprises: conical milling out of the defective tube end and milling a depression into the cladding around the defective tube end, said conical milling out defining an inner contour of the defective tube end; inserting a steam generator heating tube repair sleeve into said conically milled-out defective tube end; said steam generator heating tube repair sleeve including a conical region, an encircling flange, and a straight region, said conical region having two ends and being tapered on an outside of said conical region toward a first of said two ends, said conical region having an outer contour, said conical region having a wall thickness, said encircling flange merging into said conical region, said encircling flange being disposed on a second of said two ends of said conical region, said straight region being adjoined to said first of said two ends of said conical region, said straight region having a wall thickness; and said wall thickness of said conical region being greater than said wall thickness of said straight region; said outer contour of said conical region matching said inner contour of said milled-out defective tube end; rolling in the steam generator heating tube repair sleeve in at least one of said straight region and said conical region; and welding said encircling flange of said rolled-in steam generator heating tube repair sleeve to said cladding to form a sealing seam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steam generator heating tube repair method according to claim 1, wherein said welding is carried out by a tungsten-inert-gas welding method. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steam generator heating tube repair method according to claim 1, wherein said welding of the inserted steam generator heating tube repair sleeve is performed before rolling in the steam generator heating tube repair sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steam generator heating tube repair method according to claim 1, wherein said steam generator heating tube repair sleeve is rolled in in a plurality of processing steps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steam generator heating tube repair method according to claim 1, wherein said steam generator is radioactively contaminated.