Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs – Inflation stem type
Patent
1990-09-18
1993-10-26
Bryant, III, James E.
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
Inflation stem type
138 97, 165 71, 29890031, F16L 5510
Patent
active
052557170
ABSTRACT:
An improved, easily removable plug for plugging the open end of a heat exchanger tube in a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The plug generally comprises a cylindrical shell of Inconel.RTM. having tapered side walls, a closed end, an open end, a cork-shaped expander element disposed within the shell that radially expands the tapered side walls of the shell into sealing engagement with the inner walls of a tube when axially drawn from the closed to the open end of the shell, and a wall section in the interior of the shell between the closed end and the tapered side walls for receiving the expander element when this element is pushed back from the open end of the shell back against the closed end thereof, thereby affording clear mechanical access to the interior of the tapered side walls of the shell. The improved plug is particularly adapted for use with a plug removal system that includes an expander remover that axially pushes the expander element backward against the closed end of the shell, a TIG torch for creating axially oriented weld beads within the interior of the tapered side walls of the shell in order to contract these side walls and to relax the engagement between the plug and the heat exchanger tube, and a plug puller that pulls the plug from the tube.
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Elder George G.
Fulmer George D.
Keating Robert F.
Nelson Lawrence A.
Bryant III James E.
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
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