Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for electropolishing the inner surface of U-shaped heat exchanger tubes

US4645581A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
3References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 16, 1985
Grant dateFeb 24, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 16, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG21F9/004
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Method for electropolishing the inner surface of an U-shaped heat exchanger tube with an electrode connected to a negative pole of a d-c voltage source, the electrode being slidable into the heat exchanger tube and withdrawable out of the tube by a pulling member, and with a pump connected to an electrolyte tank for feeding electrolyte into the heat exchanger tube, which comprises inserting into two chambers, respectively, formed in a bottom hemispherical shell of a heat exchanger, respective manipulators formed with jibs for positioning tube probes by remote control into end openings of U-shaped heat exchanger tubes disposed in the heat exchanger and opening into the chambers; pressing by the manipulators respective adapters, which are connected to hose connectors and are carried at respective free ends of the manipulator jibs, to the end openings of the heat exchanger tubes through the intermediary of respective seals so as to align in each of the chambers the end opening of one of the U-shaped heat exchanger tubes with respective hoses connected thereto by the hose connectors; inserting an electrode by a thrust cable through one of the hoses and into the respective heat exchange…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.