Sleeve to tubesheet expander tool
US4779333A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1987 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/5367
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pressurizable tool adapted for expanding a close-fitting sleeve into a tube in a tubesheet. The tool includes a housing containing an axially movable piston and a forward reduced diameter portion and having an elastic expander unit for inserting into the sleeve and tube in a tubesheet. The expander unit consists of at least two elastic rings composed of a polyurethane elastomer material and each having a chamfer provided at the outer edge of the unit forward and rear faces. By pressurizing a port at the housing front end, the piston is moved rearwardly to axially compress and expand the expander rings radially outwardly sufficiently to expand the sleeve firmly into the tube and provide a pressure tight seal therebetween. Following such expansion of the sleeve, the piston is pressurized and moved forward to release the compression on the expander unit rings, so that the tool can be easily withdrawn from the expanded sleeve and tube and inserted into another sleeve and tube for repeated usage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.