Abstract:
A furnace repair device and method therefore is accomplished by including pipe of suitable length and strength to have at least one swedged end permitting assembly in female to male relationship, which permits a proper securing of the replacement pipe in a desired position in the heat exchanger.

Description:
This invention relates to a furnace repair device and method and more particularly to a furnace repair device and method suitable for repairing the heat exchanger of a furnace to at least lengthen a useful life of the furnace rolled. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Every furnace has a useful life. Customarily, when the end of that useful life at least becomes close, that furnace must be replaced. In that case, the cost of the new furnace becomes a serious consideration. When the furnace is used on a commercial style building, the increased size of the furnace required to heat such a building greatly adds to the cost of the furnace. Thus, to replace that furnace requires that a great expense be incurred. It thus becomes a clear advantage to determine whether the furnace can be repaired efficiently or not. 
     The major problem with a furnace is the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger consists of the series of tubes, which carry air past a heating device, to form heated air and ultimately warm a desired area. The tubes of a heat exchanger are arranged in series of 180 degree arcs to save space and provide for more efficient heating. Yet it is at the arcs that corrosion and other defects are most likely to occur. Those defects require replacement of the furnace under current conditions. 
     More particularly, those defects form undesired apertures in the heat exchanger, thereby leading to at least an undesirable, if not deadly concentration of carbon monoxide or other undesired gases in areas required for human use. When such defects occur, an efficient repair is much more cost effective than a complete replacement of the furnace or heat exchanger. 
     The furnace repair device and method must also be adaptable to the size of the furnace needing repair. It is known to be difficult to find an appropriate size furnace repair device and method for a commercial furnace or a residential furnace. A commercial furnace repair system is most valuable, yet the most difficult system to achieve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which easily repairs a furnace. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which provides durability to a furnace. 
     Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which easily repairs a commercial furnace. 
     Moreover, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which easily repairs a residential furnace. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which can be manufactured in a desired size. 
     A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which can effectively replace a defect in a 180 arc of a furnace heat exchange pipe. 
     Yet a further objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which can avoid an undesirable collection of gas. 
     Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method, which can effectively replace a defect in a furnace heat exchange pipe. 
     Moreover, another objective of the present invention is the provision of a furnace repair device and method which can save time and money during the installation process. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a furnace repair device and method including a pipe of suitable length and strength to have at least one swedged end permitting assembly in a female to male relationship, which permits a proper securing of the replacement pipe in a desired position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the furnace repair device  100  of this invention in use on a repaired heat exchanger  110  for a furnace  112 . 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a heat exchanger  110  for a furnace  112  before repair. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the swedged pipe assembly  120  suitable for use in the repair of heat exchanger  110 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the swedged arced pipe  140  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a partially cross-sectioned side view of the swedged pipe assembly  120  of  FIG. 3  showing a full swedged area  122 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a partially cross-sectioned side view of the swedged pipe assembly  120  of  FIG. 3  showing a partially swedged area  124 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side view of a swedged arced pipe  140  for use in the swedged pipe assembly  120  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a side, perspective view of a double swedged arced pipe  150  for use in the swedged pipe assembly  120 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side view of a double swedged straight pipe  160  for use in the swedged pipe assembly  120 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a side view of a single swedged straight pipe  170  for use in the swedged pipe assembly  120 . 
         FIG. 11  depicts a block diagram of swedged pipe assemblyl  20 . 
     
    
    
     Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar to directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct or intermediate connections, but may also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
     With the furnace repair device and method of this invention, there is a swedged pipe used to replace a damaged section of defective pipe in a heat exchanger. By swedged is meant that the pipe has at least one expanded swedged end. Into the swedged end may fit another pipe, with swedged pipe forming the female part of female to male relation. The swedged end is of sufficient diameter to receive the pipe so securely and tightly and strongly to form an air tight joint, preferably due to welding, epoxy, clamping, physical interference whereby the two parts are mechanical seized or bonded together (friction), or any other appropriate securing system. 
     With the furnace repair device of this invention, the cost to repair the heat exchanger and make the environment safe for humans, is about one quarter of the cost of replacing the entire furnace and heat exchanger combination. The furnace and heat exchanger are sold as a single unit so if the furnace is working it must be replaced to repair the heat exchanger. Thus, the furnace repair device of this invention saves a great amount of money. 
     Furthermore, due to the size and weight of a combination of the furnace and heat exchanger, it takes at least two people and a crane to get the furnace and heat exchanger to the roof of a building and installed properly. With the subject of this invention, the replacement of pipes with damage or apertures is greatly simplified. A single technician can carry the replacement pipes on the ladder and get them to the roof of a building. Thus, the heat exchanger repair system of this invention eliminates the need for a second technician and a crane which saves the client money. 
     Moreover, due to the simplicity of the heat exchanger repair system of this invention, the time it takes to replace the unit is greatly reduced. A technician can replace the damaged pipes in about half the time it takes to replace the entire combination of a furnace and heat exchanger unit. Also, the repair can be performed while the building is still in operation. For commercial applications, the business can continue to conduct its regular duties while the heat exchanger is being repaired. The old method of changing the furnace and heat exchanger unit requires that the building be out of commission while the repair is being performed. Thus, the heat exchanger repair of this invention saves the client further money and the repair process is quicker and more efficient. 
     Finally, the heat exchanger repair system of this invention can be used on commercial, residential, or any type of structure that has a heat exchanger. Thus, the heat exchanger repair system of this invention has a broad versatility and can be used on many applications. Thus, the flexibility of the heat exchanger repair system of this invention provides great flexibility. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the furnace repair device  100  of this invention can be seen in use on a repaired heat exchanger  110  for a furnace  112 . More particularly single swedged arced pipe  140  (See  FIG. 3 ) is used to repair the heat exchanger  110 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , heat exchanger  110  for a furnace  112  needs repair due to presence of cracks  114  in original pipes  116 . Cracks  114  herein can refer to any opening, which compromises the integrity of any original pipe  116 . An appropriate length of original pipes  116  sufficient to permit insertion of swedged arced pipe  140  in place of the length, is cut from the original pipe  116  and replaced with a swedged arced pipe  140 . To complete this repair, the original pipes  116  will become removed parts  118  and replaced with a swedged arced pipe  140  (See  FIG. 3 ). 
     Considering now  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , swedged pipe assembly  120  repairs furnace  112 , by replacing cut sections of original pipe  116  of heat exchanger  110  with swedged arced pipe  140  having a length sufficient to fit there.  FIG. 3  depicts a straight plain pipe  180  and a full swedged area  122 . 
     Adding  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  to the consideration swedged arced pipe  140  has an arced end  142  (See  FIG. 5 ), preferably of 180 degrees with an enlarged or arced swedged end  144  (See  FIG. 7 ) adjacent to arced end  142 . Arced swedged end  144  is expanded so that its inside diameter  146  is sufficient to receive a plain pipe end  148  (See  FIG. 4 ), the arced swedged end  144  forming the female portion of the male-to-female relationship, with the plain pipe end  148  as the male portion. The full swedged area  122  receives straight plain pipe  180 . The fitting is tight enough to be secured by welding or other appropriate action. In  FIG. 5  full swedged area  122  with a complete insertion is shown. Swedged arced pipe  140  is the length of arced swedged end  144  longer than the removed part  118  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) of original pipe  116 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , partially swedged area  124  can be clearly seen. Partially swedged area  124  is a cut away perspective, of a full swedged area  122 , as depicted as  122  in  FIG. 5 . 
     With  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , single swedged arced pipe  140  can have either one or both ends swedged to form double swedged arced pipe  150 . So there may be an arced swedged end  144  or a straight plain end  180 , or both. Likewise both ends may be plain, so long as adjoining end is swedged. 
     With  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , double swedged straight pipe  160  and single swedged straight pipe  170  are depicted. So there may be one swedged end, two swedged ends, or two plain ends  180  (see  FIG. 3 ). Both ends may be plain, so long as an adjoining end is swedged. In  FIG. 9 , there are two straight swedged ends  128  present. In  FIG. 10 , there is one straight swedged end present. Plain pipe end  148  can be seen since there is only one straight swedged end  128  present. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , the swedge pipe assembly  120  can clearly be seen (See also  FIG. 3 ). Single swedged arced pipe  140 , double swedged arced pipe  150 , double swedged straight pipe  160 , single swedged straight pipe  170 , straight plain pipe  180  with a straight pipe end  148  (See  FIG. 10 ), and straight arced pipe  190 , are depicted. Double means two swedged ends. Single means one swedged end. Straight means no arced ends. A plain end can fit into any swedged end. Double swedged means two opposing plain ends can be received. The assembly for removed pipe  118  of heat exchanger  110  for furnace  112  can be formed in any manner by furnace repair device  100 . 
     This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this tool can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.