Hydraulic expander assembly and control system for sleeving heat exchanger tubes
US5606792A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53122
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydraulic expander assembly for installing a tube repair sleeve in a tube at a selected location relative to a tube defect or a tube support. The apparatus includes a hydraulic expander having at least one expandable bladder and adapted to receive the sleeve thereon. The expander includes a stud having at least one conduit formed therein and a plurality of slidable expandable bladders mounted on the stud for radial expansion, each of the bladders in fluid communication with the conduit. A detector is mounted on the expander and responsive to tube supports and defects in the tube. Finally, a control system is electrically connected with the detector and operative to control the expansion of the bladder in response to signals received from the detector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.