Patent ID: 9470414
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: F22B

Claim Text:
1. A method of delivering a tool through a channel head plenum and into a heat transfer tube of a heat exchanger comprising the steps of: inserting a delivery conduit into the channel head plenum of the heat exchanger, with one end of the delivery conduit in fluid communication with one end of the heat transfer tube and a second end of the delivery conduit outside of the channel head plenum; inserting the tool into the second end of the delivery conduit; inserting a flexible shaft into the second end of the delivery conduit in back of the tool so that the tool is between the flexible shaft and the heat transfer tube; pushing the flexible shaft and the tool through the delivery conduit and into the heat transfer tube; slidably sealing the flexible shaft around an inner circumference of an inner wall of the heat transfer tube with a first seal to form a substantially fluid tight seal while enabling the flexible shaft to move within the heat transfer tube; slidably sealing the flexible shaft to an interior wall of the delivery conduit with a second stationary seal so that an interior of the delivery conduit and the interior of the heat transfer tube between the first seal and the second seal becomes a substantially fluid tight chamber; and forcing a fluid into the one end of the heat transfer tube to move the tool through a portion of the interior of the heat transfer tube.