Abstract:
A boiler wall tube tool has a first clamp member positioned about one side of the boiler wall and a second clamp member positioned about the opposite side of the boiler wall. The first clamp member has recess or recesses for receiving the tube therein. The second clamp member has a radius or radiuses abutting against the opposite side of the tube. Thus, the tube is impinged between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. Means secure the first clamp member and the second clamp member to one another about the tube or tubes, with means inserted through slots formed in the first clamp member and the second clamp member and penetrating through openings formed in the boiler wall.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a tool for use in securing the ends of a boiler tubes along a boiler wall in aligned relation so that the ends of the tubes may be joined via welding. Specifically, this invention relates to a modified boiler wall tube tool in which boiler tubes in the form of a wall can be clampingly secured to retain adjacent ends of the boiler tubes forming the wall in aligned relation when connection the ends of the boiler wall tubes by welding.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Tools for clamping and aligning boiler tubes when connecting the ends of the boiler tubes by welding are known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,493,139, 4,579,272 and 4,722,468. The devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patents include structures for securing boiler tube ends in aligned and adjacent relation and function effectively when the boiler tubes are in spaced relation. However, in boiler wall tubes, the boiler tubes are positioned in closely spaced relation and are interconnected by webs to form a continuous boiler tube sheet or wall. The tools disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are not especially adapted for use with boiler tubes forming a boiler wall.  
         [0004]     In addition, and considered relevant to the present invention, are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,846,391 and 4,936,500, both issued to Gary McClure, disclosing various embodiments of boiler wall tube tools that clampingly engage the respective tubes to facilitate welding in the repair of a wall tube or tubes. The &#39;391 patent discloses a boiler wall tube tool having a pair of opposed clamp members that includes a pair of recesses to engage adjacent ends of a pair of boiler wall tubes on opposite sides of a juncture between adjacent ends. The tool includes means for moving the clamps toward one another, thereby generating a secure clamp engagement between the clamps onto the respective tube or tubes. Moving means is described as a handle and a mounting bar that is inserted through each of the clamps. The &#39;500 patent is a variation of the &#39;391 patent is some respects, and specifically discloses a boiler wall tube tool that is bolted directly onto the boiler tube wall as opposed to utilizing a handle and mounting bar combination disclosed in &#39;391. However, neither of the Gary McClure patents demonstrate an ability to provide versatility to the user in accommodating varying sizes beyond the dimensions of the recesses provided in the &#39;391 and &#39;500 disclosures. The present invention overcomes this deficiency by providing the user with the ability to use the present invention on variously sized/dimensioned tubes. The present invention also allows for greater access to the weld site, increasing the ease and efficiency of welding of boiler tubes in the field.  
         [0005]     Other prior art considered relevant to the present invention includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,793 (also issued to Gary McClure), U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,821 (issued to Skay), U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,029 (issued to Barringer et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,372 (issued to Polutnik), U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,075 (issued to Brennan et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,294 (issued to Bowman et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,921 (issued to Borzucki), and the group of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,893,209, 5,974,642, 6,182,354 and 6,385,841 (all issued to Weeks).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a boiler wall tube tool comprises a first clamp member having a pair of recesses engaging a pair of boiler wall tubes and a pair of recesses formed in the sides of the first clamp member providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tubes. The tool also includes a second clamp member having a first radius opposite to a second radius, with the radiuses having different dimensions. The tool also includes means for securing the first clamp member and the second clamp member to the boiler wall tubes. The first clamp member and the second clamp member each have a slot formed for receiving means therethrough for securing the first clamp member and the second clamp member to the boiler wall tubes. Means is envisioned as including a threaded bolt, and may also include a free or floating nut secured to the free end of the bolt.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment of the present invention, a boiler wall tube tool comprises a first clamp member having a front and a rear. A first pair of recesses are formed at the front and a second pair of recesses are formed at the rear, wherein one pair of the recesses engages a pair of boiler wall tubes, while the opposing pair of recesses are exposed and facing outwardly. The tool also includes a pair of recesses formed in the sides of the first clamp member providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tubes. The tool further includes a second clamp member, and means for securing the first clamp member and the second clamp member to the boiler wall tubes. The first clamp member and the second clamp member each have a slot formed for receiving means therethrough for securing the first clamp member and the second clamp member to the boiler wall tubes. Means is envisioned as including a threaded bolt, and may also include a free or floating nut secured to the free end of the bolt. The first clamp member is reversible so as to take advantage of the one pair of recesses having varied dimensions relative to the other pair of recesses, and thus expand the versatility of the first clamp member. The second clamp member is also reversible for similar reasons.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the boiler wall tube tool comprises a first clamp member having a recess engaging a boiler wall tube, and a pair of recesses formed in the sides of the first clamp member providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tubes. The tool also includes a second clamp member and a third clamp member. Second clamp member and third clamp member each have a first radius opposite to a second radius, with the radiuses having different dimensions. Both the second clamp member and the third clamp member are separately reversible to accommodate variously sized tubes. The tool also includes means for securing the first clamp member to one side of the boiler wall tubes and securing the second clamp member and the third clamp member to the opposite side of the boiler wall tubes. Means is envisioned as including a threaded bolt, and may also include a free or floating nut secured to the free end of the bolt.  
         [0009]     As discussed above, the method and device of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in prior art methods and devices. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this invention is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0011]     Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate the primary features of the preferred embodiment and numerous alternative embodiments.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the tool in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1  taken along line II-II;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the first clamp member of the tool depicted in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rear of the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the tool;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the first clamp member of the tool depicted in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the tool;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the tool;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the tool;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the first clamp member of the tool depicted in  FIG. 10 .; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention depicting the unobstructed access the user has to the boiler tubes. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     The detailed description below is for preferred embodiments and is intended to explain the current invention. It is to be understood that a variety of other arrangements are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , a boiler wall tube tool  10  (hereinafter “tool”) is depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The tool  10  generally comprises a first clamp member  12 , a second clamp member  14  and means for securing the first clamp member  12  and the second clamp member to the boiler wall tubes “T”. In particular, the tool  10  comprises a first clamp member  12  having a pair of recesses  20  engaging a pair of boiler wall tubes “T” and a pair of recesses  22  formed in the sides of the first clamp member  12  providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tubes “T”. The tool  10  also includes a second clamp member  14  having a first radius  30  opposite to a second radius  32 , the radiuses  30  and  32  having different dimensions. The tool  10  also includes means  16  for securing the first clamp member  12  and the second clamp member  14  to the boiler wall tubes on opposite sides thereof. Means  16  penetrates through an opening  200  formed in between adjacent tubes along the boiler wall, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The opening  200  is used and implied to exist throughout the description of this and the other embodiments described below, especially in relation to means  56  and means  108 , respectively, as described in greater detail below.  
         [0027]     Specifically, the first clamp member  12  has a length (longitudinal) longer than the width (lateral). Along the front or face of the first clamp member  12 , the recesses  20  are oriented parallel to the length of the first clamp member  12 , with the recesses  20  present along the length of the first clamp member  12  except for the interruption due to the presence of the pair of recesses  22  formed in the side of the first clamp member  12 . As such, and at these positions, only a portion of the recesses  20  are present, that being the inner inclined surface of the recesses  20 . A flat frontal surface  21  is formed and disposed intermediately to the inner inclined surface  24  of the recesses  20 , the flat frontal surface  21  operating as a ridge or rib separating the respective recesses  20 . The flat frontal surface  21  is parallel to a flat rear surface  23 . The surfaces  21  and  23  are separated by the thickness of the first clamp member  12 . Each recess  20  comprises an inner inclined surface  24 , an outer inclined surface  25  and a flat surface  26  intermediately disposed to surfaces  24  and  25 .  
         [0028]     Substantially opposite to the recesses  20  formed at the front of the first clamp member  12 , outer inclined surfaces  27  extend from the flat rear surface  23  to the margins of the first clamp member  12 . In cross section and looking from above or below the first clamp member  12 , the first clamp member  12  has an appearance similar to the shape of a modified version of the capital letter “E”. If the first clamp member  12  is rotated, so that one is viewing the rear of the member  12 , as the outer inclined surfaces  27  are oriented substantially similar to the recesses  20 , the outer inclined surfaces  27  are also interrupted by the recesses  22  formed in the side of the first clamp member  12 .  
         [0029]     The radiuses  30  and  32  of the second clamp member  14  are arranged so that radius  30  has a larger dimension than radius  32 . It is envisioned that the normal positioning of the second clamp member  14  is such that the radius  30  engages the boiler wall tube and radius  32  is exposed. In this arrangement, it is envisioned that radius  30  has the larger dimension compared to radius  32 . The second clamp member  14  may be specifically described as having a radius  30 , a radius  32  and a length, distance or width  31  intermediately disposed between the radiuses  30  and  32 , respectively. This arrangement provides maximum exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. However, it is also envisioned that the second clamp member  14  is reversible so that radius  32  engages the boiler wall tube and the radius  30  is expose, and thus, the larger radius  30  is exposed and minimizing the area of exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. Alternatively, such an arrangement may be necessary to accommodate boiler wall tubes “T” having a smaller diameter or for imperfections that may render using the larger radius  30  ineffective or impracticable.  
         [0030]     Means  16  is envisioned as comprising a threaded bolt  40  inserted through a slot  42  formed in the first clamp member  12  and a slot  44  formed in the second clamp member  14 . The slots  42  and  44  are substantially aligned concentric about an imaginary axis C-C. As depicted and envisioned in one embodiment, the slots  42  and  44  are formed approximately in the center of each respective clamp member  12  and  14 . In particular, the slot  42  formed on the first clamp member  12  is positioned universally center of the recesses  22  formed on the sides of the first clamp member  12 . It is also envisioned that the diameter of the slots  42  and  44 , respectively, are greater than the diameter of the threaded bolt  40 . The additional dimension of the slots  42  and  44  allows for the slight offset of one slot  42  relative to the other slot  44  (or vice versa) so that the threaded bolt  40  does not have to align perpendicular to the boiler wall tubes “T”, thereby allowing for imperfections in the boiler wall tubes “T” or variations in dimension from one wall tube to another wall tube. The threaded bolt  40  may be secured by corresponding threads placed into the slots  42  and/or  44 . Likewise, the threaded bolt  40  may be secured by the placement of a floating or stationary nut  46  at the end of the bolt  40 .  
         [0031]     In another embodiment of the present invention, and specifically referring to  FIG. 5  through  FIG. 7 , the tool  50  generally comprises a reversible first clamp member  52 , having recesses on its front and rear, a second clamp member  54 , and means  56  for securing the clamp members  52  and  54  to the boiler wall tubes “T”. In particular, the tool  50  comprises a first clamp member  52  having a front  60  and a rear  62 . A first pair of recesses  64  is formed at the front  60  and a second pair of recesses  66  is formed at the rear  66 . The first clamp member  52  is arranged and oriented so that one pair of the recesses  64  or  66  engage a pair of boiler wall tubes “T”, while the other opposing pair of the recesses  64  or  66  is oriented so as to face away from the boiler wall tubes “T”. The tool  50  also includes a pair of recesses  70  formed in the sides of the first clamp member  52  providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tubes “T”. The tool  50  has a second clamp member  54 . The tool  50  also includes means  56  for securing the first clamp member  52  and the second clamp member  54  to the boiler wall tubes “T”.  
         [0032]     The first clamp member  52  has a front  60  side and a rear  62  side. A first pair of recesses  64  is formed at the front  60  side having substantially the same appearance and configuration as that described above in relation to the recesses  20  of the first clamp member  12 . On the opposing side, the rear  62  side, a second pair of recesses  66  is formed having a similar appearance as the recesses  64  formed at the front  60  side. However, the recesses  64  are different in dimension from the recesses  66 , so that recesses  64  accommodate a range of diameters for a boiler wall tube, and the recesses  66  accommodate a larger or smaller range of diameters for a boiler wall tube “T”. Thus, the first clamp member  52  is reversible so as accommodate a variety of boiler wall tube diameters.  
         [0033]     In greater detail, the recesses  64  are oriented parallel along the length of the first clamp member  52  except for the interruption due to the presence of the pair of recesses  70  formed in the side of the first clamp member  52 . As such, and at these positions, only a portion of the recesses  64  are present, that being the inner inclined surface of the recesses  64 . A flat frontal surface  71  is formed and disposed intermediately to the inner inclined surfaces  73  of the recesses  64 , the flat frontal surface  71  operating as a ridge or rib separating the respective recesses  64 . The flat frontal surface  71  is parallel to a flat rear surface  72 , which is formed substantially similar to that of the flat frontal surface  71 . The flat frontal surface  71  and the flat rear surface  72  differ only in length as determined by the respective dimensions of the recesses  64  along the front  60  and the recesses  66  along the rear  62 . The surfaces  71  and  72  are separated by the thickness of the first clamp member  52 . Each recess  64  comprises an inner inclined surface  73 , an outer inclined surface  74  and a flat surface  75  intermediately disposed to surfaces  73  and  74 . Likewise, each recess  66  comprises an inner inclined surface  76 , an outer,inclined surface  77  and a flat surface  78  intermediately disposed to surfaces  76  and  77 . As depicted in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the recesses  64  each have a smaller dimension than the recesses  66 , and results in the length of flat frontal surface  71 being slightly longer than the flat rear surface  72 .  
         [0034]     In this embodiment, the second clamp member  54  may have a variety of shapes and forms, including those depicted in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , respectively. In  FIG. 5 , the second clamp member  54  is similar to the second clamp member  14  described above relative to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 . The second clamp member  54  thus has a first radius  80  opposite to a second radius  82 , the radiuses  80  and  82  having different dimensions. The radiuses  80  and  82  of the second clamp member  14  are arranged so that radius  80  has a larger dimension than radius  82 . It is envisioned that the normal positioning of the second clamp member  54  is such that the radius  80  engages the boiler wall tube and radius  82  is exposed. The second clamp member  54  may be specifically described a shaving a radius  80 , a radius  82  and a length, distance or width  81  intermediately disposed between the radiuses  80  and  82 , respectively. This arrangement provides maximum exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. Alternatively, it is also envisioned that the second clamp member  54  is reversible so that radius  82  engages the boiler wall tube and the radius  80  is expose, and thus, the larger radius  80  is exposed and minimizing the area of exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. However, such an arrangement may be necessary to accommodate boiler wall tubes “T” having a smaller diameter or for imperfections that may render using the larger radius  80  ineffective or impracticable.  
         [0035]     In  FIG. 8 , the second clamp member  54  has a bell-shaped form having a radius  90  at one portion and a pair of indentations  91  formed at an opposite portion, with a ridge  92  separating the indentations  91 . The outer margins of the respective indentations  91  provide greater surface area in which to contact the respective boiler wall tubes “T”. It is further envisioned that the second clamp member  54  is reversible so that the radius  90  engages the boiler wall tubes “T”. Reversing the second clamp member  54  may be necessitated by boiler wall tubes “T” exceeding the effective width of the indentations  91 . Another alternate embodiment of the second clamp member  54  is depicted in  FIG. 9 , wherein the second clamp member  54  has a substantially spherical form with a continuous radius.  
         [0036]     Means  56  is envisioned as comprising a threaded bolt  94  inserted through a slot  95  formed in the first clamp member  52  and a slot  96  formed in the second clamp member  54 . The slots  95  and  96  are substantially aligned concentric about an imaginary axis C-C. As depicted and envisioned in one embodiment, the slots  95  and  96  are formed approximately in the center of each respective clamp member  52  and  54 . In particular, the slot  95  formed on the first clamp member  52  is positioned universally center of the recesses  70  formed on the sides of the first clamp member  52 . It is also envisioned that the diameter of the slots  95  and  96 , respectively, are greater than the diameter of the threaded bolt  94 . The additional dimension of the slots  95  and  96  allows for the slight offset of one slot  95  or  96  relative to the other slot  95  or  96  so that the threaded bolt  94  does not have to align perpendicular to the boiler wall tubes “T”, thereby allowing for imperfections in the boiler wall tubes “T” or variations in dimension from one wall tube to another wall tube.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment of the present invention, and specifically referring to  FIG. 10  through  FIG. 11 , the tool  100  generally comprises a first clamp member  102 , a second clamp member  104  and a third clamp member  106  of similar structure, and means  108  for securing the clamp members  102 ,  104  and  106  to the boiler wall tubes. In particular, the tool  100  comprises a first clamp member  102  having a recess  110  for engaging a boiler wall tube “T”, and a pair of recesses  112  formed in the sides of the first clamp member  102  providing access to the periphery of the boiler wall tube “T”. The tool  100  also include a second clamp member  104  and a third clamp member  106 . Each one of the clamp members (second clamp member  104  and the third clamp member  106 ) has a first radius  130  opposite to a second radius  132 , wherein the radiuses  130  and  132  have different dimensions. The tool  100  also includes means  108  for securing the first clamp member  102  to one side of the boiler wall tubes “T” and securing the second clamp member  104  and the third clamp member  106  to the opposite side of the boiler wall tubes “T”.  
         [0038]     The first clamp member  102  has a single recess  110  for engaging a single boiler wall tube. As with the first clamp member  12 , described above, the first clamp member  102  may be described as having a length (longitudinal) longer than the width (lateral). Along the front or face  111  of the first clamp member  102 , the recess  110  is oriented parallel to the length of the first clamp member  102 , with the recess  110  present along the length of the first clamp member  102  except for the interruption due to the presence of the pair of recesses  124  formed in the side of the first clamp member  102 . The rear  112  of the first clamp member  102  is relatively flat except for the interruption of the pair of recesses  124  formed in the sides of the first clamp member  102 .  
         [0039]     Specifically, the first clamp member  102  may be described as having a front  111  and a rear  112 , wherein the recess  110  is formed in the front  111  of the first clamp member  102 . The recess  110  comprises a flat front surface  113  intermediately disposed between a pair of inclined surfaces  114  and  115 , respectively, and with each terminating at a flat surface  116  and  117 , respectively. The flat surface  113  is opposite of and parallel to a flat rear surface  122 . The flat rear surface  122  terminates at opposing ends and forms a substantially orthogonal corner with an opposing pair of sidewall surfaces  120  and  121 , respectively. Inclined surface  118  is intermediately disposed between the flat surface  116  and the sidewall surface  120 , and the opposing inclined surface  119  is intermediately disposed between the flat surface  117  and the sidewall surface  121 .  
         [0040]     In this embodiment, the second clamp member  104  and the third clamp member  106  each may have a variety of shapes and forms. The clamp members  104  and  106  each have a first radius  130  opposite to a second radius  132 , the radiuses  130  and  132  having different dimensions. The radiuses  130  of the clamp members  104  and  106  are arranged so that radiuses  130  have a larger dimension than radiuses  132 . The radiuses  130  engage the boiler wall tube “T” and radiuses  132  are exposed. This arrangement provides maximum exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. Alternatively, it is also envisioned that either the second clamp member  104  or the third clamp member  106 , or both clamp members  104  and  106  together, is/are reversible so that radiuses  132  engage the boiler wall tube and the radiuses  130  are exposed, and thus, the larger radiuses  130  are exposed and minimize the area of exposure of the boiler wall tubes “T”. However, such an arrangement may be necessary to accommodate boiler wall tubes “T” having a smaller diameter or for imperfections that may render using the larger radius  130  ineffective or impracticable.  
         [0041]     Means  108  is envisioned as comprising a pair of threaded bolts  140  inserted through a pair of slots  142  and  144  formed in the first clamp member  102  and slots  146  and  148  formed in the second clamp member  104  and the third clamp member  106 , respectively. The slots  142  and  146  and slots  144  and  148  are substantially aligned concentric about an imaginary axes C 1 -C 1  and C 2 -C 2 , respectively. As depicted and envisioned in one embodiment, the slots are formed approximately in the center of each respective clamp member  104  and  106 . It is also envisioned that the diameter of the slots  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148 , respectively, are greater than the diameter of the threaded bolts  140 . The additional dimension of the slots allows for the slight offset of one slot relative to the other slot so that the threaded bolts  140  do not have to be aligned perpendicular to the boiler wall tubes “T”, thereby allowing for imperfections in the boiler wall tubes “T” or variations in dimension from one wall tube to another wall tube.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a perspective view of the various embodiments of the apparatus is depicted, and is useful for noting that the second clamp member  14  is configured and coupled to the first clamp member  12  in such a manner that provides maximum access to the boiler tubes “T”. In providing minimal obstruction to the user, the boiler tubes “T” may be easily accessed for repair, replacement or maintenance as required or necessary. The boiler tubes “T” are accessible along a vertically elongated path unencumbered by the second clamp member  14  along that path. As such, the present invention presents an apparatus that increases efficiency and access, and creates a better working environment for the boiler worker.