Patent Abstract:
In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to drain tools, and more specifically, to tools used in draining fluids from chambers and/or conduits. 
     Various fluid systems include conduits and/or chambers used to store and deliver a variety of fluids. For example, gasification systems may include a plurality of pipes useful for heat transfer, such as the pipes included in a syngas cooler. The fluid may need to be removed and/or replaced for maintenance, cold weather conditions, or a variety of other reasons. Unfortunately, the fluid may be under pressure, thereby complicating and increasing the time required to drain the fluid. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. 
     In a first embodiment, a system includes a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug. 
     In a second embodiment, a system includes a plug removal kit. The plug removal kit further includes a plug removal tool configured to remove a plug retaining a fluid volume. The plug removal kit additionally includes a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield includes a mount configured to hold the plug removal shield relative to the plug. The plug removal shield is configured to shield an operator of the plug removal tool from fluid drainage after removal of the plug by the plug removal tool. 
     In a third embodiment, a system includes a fitting removal kit. The fitting removal kit further includes a fitting removal shield. The fitting removal shield comprises a tube configured to surround a threaded fitting coupled to a fluid-based system. The tube includes a tube port. The fitting removal tool also includes a shaft extending through the tool port in the tube, a handle disposed external to the tube, and a head disposed inside the tube. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-section side view illustrating an embodiment of a gasification system having a syngas cooler coupled to a gasifier; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-section bottom view illustrating an embodiment of the syngas cooler of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-section side view illustrating an embodiment of a drain plug removal kit for the syngas cooler of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-section side view illustrating an embodiment of the drain plug removal kit of  FIG. 3  attached to a drain tube; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of a viewing window taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of a tool port taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of a flange taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view illustrating another embodiment of a flange taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-section side view illustrating an embodiment of a drain plug removal kit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     A variety of fluid systems include fluid chambers and/or fluid conduits, which may occasionally require drainage. For example, various heat exchangers, boilers, combustion systems, and reactors may include fluid chambers and/or conduits that carry high temperature and/or high pressure fluids. In particular, gasification systems include coolant systems, which remove heat associated with production of syngas. A gasification system may convert a carbonaceous fuel, such as coal, into a fuel such as syngas. A gasifier may include a radiant syngas cooler (RSC) having a plurality of platens (e.g., chambers) and fluid conduits (e.g., pipes). The platens, along with a plurality of fluid conduits, may be used as a heat exchanger to absorb heat from a hot syngas path and convert the fluid from a liquid phase into a gas phase (e.g., steam). The recovered heat may be used to improve thermal efficiency of a gasification plant, for example, by driving a steam turbine. In some cases, the platens may include longitudinal lengths of approximately 5 to 15 meters, 10 to 20 meters, 10 to 30 meters, a width of approximately 0.5, to 5 meters, 1 to 10 meters wide and a depth of approximately 5 to 10 centimeters, 5 to 40 centimeters. The platens may be filled with a fluid, such as a liquid (e.g., water), useful in heat exchange operations. Accordingly, a large fluid column may be contained inside each platen. 
     In certain circumstances, such as during maintenance operations of the gasifier, it may be desirable to drain the fluid columns inside the platens. Accordingly, the platens may include a draining mechanism, such as a drain conduit or drain tube, having a drain plug useful in evacuating the water column. For example, the drain plug may be removed, and the water column may be allowed to evacuate through the drain tube, aided by gravity. However, the size of the water column may result in the water exiting the drain plug at high pressures (e.g., approximately 2 to 5 bar, 4 to 10 bar, 2 to 15 bar). Accordingly, the present embodiments include tools and techniques useful in draining fluids, including fluids at higher pressures. Further, the present embodiments may be used to evacuate or drain fluids that may include hazardous substances, such as flammable fluids, acids, oxidizers, and so forth. Additionally, the embodiments disclosed herein are suitable for the evacuation of high temperature fluids (e.g., approximately upwards of 50° C.). Moreover, the present embodiments enable the drainage of fluids from difficult to access locations, such as locations under piping or fluid conduits. 
     In certain embodiments, a drain plug or fitting removal kit is provided that includes a plug or fitting removal tool and a plug or fitting removal shield. The plug or fitting removal tool may include a nut removal tool, such as a ratchet or socket wrench, pliers, and the like, suitable for removing the drainage plug or a threaded fitting. The plug removal shield may include a tube useful in surrounding the plug and in capturing the fluid draining from the plug. Indeed, the plug removal shield may redirect the draining fluid while shielding an operator from exposure to the fluid. A hose may be coupled to the plug removal shield&#39;s tube, so as to redirect the drained fluid into a suitable storage location or drainage conduit (e.g., sewer system). The plug removal shield may further include a mount suitable for mounting or otherwise securing the plug removal shield in place. In certain embodiments, the mount may include a flexible mount, such as a chain, cable, or strap made of metal, fabric, plastic, or any combination thereof. The flexible mount may be disposed circumferentially around a pipe or tube, such as the RSC&#39;s drain tube, thus securing the mount to the drain tube. In other embodiments, the mount may include a non-flexible mount, such as a rigid U-clamp, a bent rod, a square rod, or other similar device suitable for securing the plug removal shield to the drain tube. In this way, the plug removal shield may be securely attached to a variety of locations, even locations that may be otherwise difficult to access. 
     The plug removal shield&#39;s tube may further include an opening or slot suitable for enabling the entry of the plug removal tool into the tube. The opening may be advantageously sealed by a grommet (e.g., a resilient seal with at least one opening or slit), useful in minimizing or eliminating leakage of the drained fluid. In certain embodiments, the plug removal shield&#39;s tube may be manufactured out of a transparent or translucent material that enables a view of the drain plug, useful in positioning the plug removal and removing the drain plug by using the plug removal tool. In other embodiments, the plug removal shield&#39;s tube may include one or more transparent or translucent viewing windows that enable a view into the tube, useful in removing the drain plug. In another embodiment, the plug removal shield&#39;s tube may be manufactured out of a non-transparent or non-translucent material. 
     The operator may mount the plug removal shield so that the plug removal shield&#39;s tube is disposed, for example, under the drain plug. The operator may then insert the plug removal tool into the plug removal shield&#39;s tube, engage the drain plug, and remove the drain plug. The drained fluid may then flow through the plug removal shield&#39;s tube, and be redirected by the hose into a containment vessel or a drainage conduit. Indeed, the operator need not come in contact with the fluid, thus enabling for a safer, more efficient drainage of fluid, including hazardous material (i.e., hazmat) fluids, and high temperature fluids. Further, plug removal shield, including mount, tube, and attached hose, enable drainage of higher pressure flows, including pressures upwards of 15 bar. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-section side view of an embodiment of gasification system  10 , including a gasifier  12  and a syngas cooler  14 , such as a radiant syngas cooler (RSC). The figure further illustrates a user with a plug or fitting removal kit  42 , the kit  42  further described below with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The gasification system  10  may be included in a gasification plant and/or power plant, such as an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant. The gasification system  10  may partially oxidize a carbonaceous fuel, such as coal, biomass, and the like, and convert the fuel into a synthetic gas (i.e., syngas). For example, the gasifier  12  may subject the fuel to a controlled amount of any moderator and limited oxygen  15  at elevated pressures (e.g., from approximately 40 bar-90 bar) and elevated temperatures (e.g., approximately 1200° C.-1500° C.), depending on the type of fuel used. The resulting partial oxidation reaction may convert the fuel into the syngas, e.g., a combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. 
     The gasification system  10  may include the depicted RSC  14 , useful in heat exchange operations. As mentioned above, the gasifier  12  may be operating at temperatures of approximately between 1200° C.-1500° C. Accordingly, the RSC  14  may be useful in cooling the syngas prior to transmission of the syngas to other processes (e.g., water-gas shift reaction). Moreover, the RSC  14  may also be useful in separating a slag from the syngas. The RSC  14  may also include a vessel  16 . The vessel  16  may act as an enclosure for the RSC  14 . The vessel  16  may also house cooling tubing  18  and platens  20 . The cooling tubing  18  may include a plurality of conduits extending parallel with the vessel  16  relative to the axial axis  24 , and spaced side by side relative to a radial axis  22 . A coolant, such as water or another liquid, may flow through the tubing  18  and/or platens  20 . Thus, the tubing  18  and/or platens  20  may act as a heat exchanger within the RSC  14 , and may circulate the coolant for removal of heat, for example, from syngas and slag. The syngas generated in the gasifier  10  may generally flow in a downward manner parallel to the tubing  18  as indicated by arrows  26 . In operation, fuel from a fuel source  28  may be mixed with the oxygen  15  and partially oxidized by the gasifier  12  to generate syngas. 
     The generated syngas may engage the tubing  18  and/or platens  20  of the RSC  14 , with the coolant flowing through the tubing  18  and/or platens  20 , thereby cooling the syngas as it travels through the RSC  14 . One result of this cooling process may be the generation of steam in the tubing  18 , which may then be transmitted from the RSC  14 , for example, for further use by a steam turbine. The RSC  14  may also include a conduit  30  that may aid in directing the slag out of the RSC  14 . For example, as the slag exits the conduit  30 , the slag may flow in a generally downward direction  32  to exit the RSC  14  via a RSC bottom cone  34  containing water to cool the slag. In this, way, the RSC  14  may aid in cooling the syngas and in separating slag from the syngas. During maintenance operations, it may be beneficial to drain the RSC  14 . Accordingly, the platens  20  and tubing  18  may include one or more drain tubes and drain plugs, as described below with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section bottom view of an embodiment of multiple drain tubes  36  and drain plugs  38  of the RSC  14 , useful in draining the platens  20  and tubing  18  shown in  FIG. 1 . The drain tubes  36  may be fluidly connected to the platens  20  and tubing  18 , and may encircle the vessel  16  of the RSC  14 . Accordingly, the removal of the drain plugs  38  may enable the draining of fluid inside of the platens  20  and tubing  18 , for example, by gravity. In one embodiment, the drain plug  38  may be a threaded drain plug  38  suitable for securely occluding or blocking a drain hole  40 . Removal of the drain plug  38  may thus result in the fluid columns contained inside the platens  20  and tubes  18  to drain out through the drain hole  40 . However, the size of the water columns may result in the water exiting the drain hole  40  at high pressures (e.g., approximately 2 to 15 bar). Accordingly, a plug removal or fitting removal kit is provided that may enable the drainage of the high pressure water columns, hazardous fluids, and/or high temperature fluids, as described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-section side view illustrating an embodiment of a drain plug or fitting removal kit  42  and the drain tube  36 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plug removal kit  42  includes a plug or fitting removal shield  44  and a plug or fitting removal tool  46 . The plug removal tool  46  includes a ratchet or socket wrench  48  and a socket  50 , such as a magnetic socket  50 . The ratchet wrench  48  further includes a head  51  that may be used to couple the socket  50  to the ratchet wrench  48 . The plug removal shield  44  may also include a mount  52  suitable for mounting the plug removal shield  44  onto the drain tube  36  having the drain plug  38 , such as a hexagonal bolt drain plug  38 . In certain embodiments, the mount  52  is a flexible mount  52 , such as a metal, plastic, or fabric strap (e.g., a rope, a chain, a wire, a cable, a metal tape, a Velcro™ strap, a plastic tie, and so forth). Accordingly, the mount  52  may be more easily positioned around walls  56  of the tube  36 , as illustrated. In other embodiments, the mount  52  is a rigid mount, such as a U-clamp, a bent rod, a square rod, or other similar device suitable for attaching the plug removal shield  44  to the drain tube  36 . It is to be understood that multiple mounts  52  may be used, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 mounts  52 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the flexible mount  52  may be positioned so as to circumferentially surround the wall  56  of the drain tube  36 . The mount  52  may then be inserted through openings  58  in a flange  60  of the plug removal shield  44 , and fastened to the plug removal shield  44  by using fasteners  62 . The fasteners  62  may include stop or fastening sleeves, cable crimps, and the like, that may “slide” longitudinally onto the mount  52 . The fasteners  62  may then be crimped or otherwise secured in place onto the mount  52 . Once attached to the mount  52 , the fasteners  62  may securely fasten the plug removal shield  44  to the drain tube  36 . Indeed, the fasteners  62  may retain the plug removal shield  44  securely in place, thus enabling a flow of high pressure fluid to drain through the plug removal shield  44 , while the plug removal shield  44  remains at approximately the same position relative to the drain hole  40 . In other embodiments, the mount  52  may be fastened to bars rather than being inserted though the openings  58 , as described in more detail in  FIG. 8 . 
     The plug removal shield  44  may further include an O-ring  64  disposed on a circumference of inner surface  66  of a shield tube  68 , approximately near an opening  67  of the shield tube  68 . The O-ring  64  may sealingly contact outside walls of a grooved protrusion  70  (e.g., annular protrusion) of the drain tube  36 . In the depicted embodiment, the drain plug  38  is illustrated as occluding or otherwise blocking any fluid from draining through the grooved protrusion  70 . Indeed, a threaded portion  72  of the drain plug  38  may be securely fastened to mating threads of the grooved protrusion  70  of the drain tube  36 , so as securely fasten the drain plug  38  to the drain tube  36 . In other embodiments, the grooved protrusion  70  may be disposed inside of the drain tube  36  rather than protruding externally from the drain tube  36 . It is also to be noted that, in other embodiments, more than one O-ring  64  may be used. 
     The plug removal shield tube  68  may further include a port  74  suitable for enabling the insertion of the plug removal tool  46 . The socket  50  included in the plug removal tool  46  may be inserted through the port  74 , or through an opening  76  in the tube  68 . The socket  50  may be suitably sized so as to engage a tool head (e.g., hexagonal head  78 ) of the drain plug  38  to enable removal of the drain plug  38 . Indeed, the socket  58  may be used to unscrew or otherwise unfasten the drain plug  38  from the drain tube  36 . 
     A viewing window  80  may also be provided, suitable for enabling a view of the drain plug  38  and the plug removal tool  46 . Accordingly, an operator may more easily insert the socket  50  and socket wrench  48 , and maneuver the socket  50  and the socket wrench  48  so as to engage the hexagonal head  78  of the drain plug  38 . In the depicted embodiment, a mesh  82  may be included in the plug removal kit  42  and may be used to capture or otherwise catch the drain plug  38 , for example, in circumstances where the socket  50  is non-magnetic, or in circumstances where the magnetic socket  50  undesirably drops the drain plug  38 . 
     A hose  84  may be attached to the shield tube  68 . In one embodiment, the hose  84  includes inner threads  86  suitable for interfacing with external threads  88  circumferentially disposed about the shield tube  68 . Alternatively or additionally, the hose  84  may be further secured to the shield tube  68  by using a hose clamp, such as a worm-drive hose clamp depicted in  FIG. 4 . Once the hose  84  is secured to the shield tube  68 , the ratchet wrench  48  may be used to remove the drain plug  38 . In certain embodiments, the ratchet wrench  48  may be a powered wrench, such as a wrench using electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power. In another embodiment, the ratchet wrench  48  may be manually powered. For example, the operator may use a handle  89  disposed on a shaft  90  of the ratchet wrench  48  to apply a manual force suitable in disengaging or otherwise removing the drain plug  38 . The plug removal tool  46  (and magnetically attached drain plug  38 ), may then be removed, and fluid may drain through the drain opening  40 , through the shield tube  68 . The drained fluid may then be directed by the hose  84  into, for example, a storage tank or a drainage conduit. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of the plug removal shield  42  fastened to the drain tube  38 . Because the depicted  FIG. 4  includes elements found in  FIG. 3 , these elements are denoted using like reference numbers. The depicted embodiment is also illustrative of the plug removal tool  46  fastened to the drain plug  38 . As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the mount  52  may be inserted through the openings  58  of the flange  60 . The mount  52  may then be securely fastened to the plug removal shield  44  by using the fasteners  62 , such as fastening sleeves or cable crimps. The hose  84  is also depicted as securely fastened to the shield tube  68  by using the internal threads  86  and external threads  88 , as well as by using a worm-drive hose clamp  92 . The worm-drive hose clamp  92  may include a band  94  with a screw thread pattern cut or pressed into the band  94 . One end of the band  94  may contain a captive or self-contained screw  96 . Accordingly, turning the captive screw  96  may enable a secure tightening of the band  94  around, for example, the shield tube  68 . It is to be noted that, in other embodiments, other hose clamps such as wire clamps, ear clamps, spring clamps, and the like, may be used additional or alternative to the worm drive hose clamp  92 . 
     As illustrated, the viewing window  80  may be used by the operator to visualize the drain plug  38  and the plug removal tool  46 . Indeed, the operator may insert the plug removal tool  46  through the port  74 , and receive visual feedback to more quickly couple the plug removal tool  46  to the drain plug  38 . The operator may then drive the wrench  48 , for example, by using the handle  89 , and subsequently remove the drain plug  38 . By securely fastening the plug removal shield  44  to the drain tube  36 , and by providing visual feedback of plug removal operations, the systems disclosed herein enable a more efficient and safer drainage of fluid. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the viewing window  80  included in the shield tube  68  of  FIG. 4  taken within line  5 - 5 . Indeed, the systems described herein may allow the operator to more easily receive feedback, such as visual feedback, of certain tasks, such as coupling the socket  50  to the drain plug  38 . The viewing window  80  may include a transparent or translucent substrate  98  such as tempered glass, plastic, acrylic, mineral glass, synthetic sapphire, and the like, suitable for providing a transparent or translucent shield. In the depicted embodiment, the socket  50  is illustrated as moving in a direction  100  so as to engage the hexagonal portion  78  of the drain plug  38 . The viewing window  80  enables the operator to visually ascertain a desired placement of the socket  50  onto the drain plug  38  prior to actuation of the socket wrench  48  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Once the desired placement is visually verified, the operator may drive the socket wrench  48  to remove the drain plug  38 . It is to be noted that, in other embodiments, more viewing windows  80  may be included in the shield tube  68 . In yet another embodiment, the viewing window  80  may be replaced with a transparent or translucent shield tube  68 . That is, the tube  68  may be manufactured out of a transparent or translucent material suitable for visually inspecting the contents disposed inside the tube  68 . In yet another embodiment, the tube  68  may be manufactured out of a material (e.g., stainless steel, titanium) that may completely occlude views of the interior of the tube  68 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the port  74  and the shaft  90  of the wrench  48  of  FIG. 4  taken along line  6 - 6 . In the illustrated embodiment, the wrench  48  is positioned inside the tube  68  to engage the drain plug  38  shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The port  74  may include a slot  100  in a substrate  102  to enable insertion of the wrench  48 , while substantially shielding the operator from any fluid flowing through the port  74 . That is, the slot  100  may minimize or eliminating any leaks exiting though the substrate  102  in the port  74 , even when the shaft  90  is protruding from the slot  100 , as illustrated. For example, the slot  100  may disposed approximately in the center of the substrate  102 . In certain embodiments, the substrate  102  may be a rubber substrate, a neoprene substrate, a silicone substrate, or a plastic substrate. Accordingly, the substrate or wall  102  may include an elastic, resilient, or flexible property that enables the substrate  102  to be biased toward a closed position that substantially seals the slot  100 , even when the shaft  90  protrudes through the slot  100 . The slot  100  may be positioned approximately in the center of the substrate  102 , as depicted, to more easily enable the insertion of the wrench  48  and/or socket  50 . Once the wrench  48  is inserted, the substrate  102  may be biased inwardly to enclose the shaft  90  of the wrench  48 , thus minimizing or eliminating leaks. Indeed, the substrate  102  embodiments described herein enable a more leak-proof and efficient draining of fluids. In another embodiment, a grommet or an eyelet (e.g., annular seal) may be used in lieu of the substrate  102  having a slot  100 . For example, the grommet or eyelet may be manufactured out of rubber, neoprene, silicone, and/or plastic, and include a center opening having a size suitable for enabling the insertion of the wrench  48  and/or socket  50 . In this way, the plug removal tool  46  may be used to quickly and safely remove the drain plug  38 , while minimizing or eliminating leaks. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view illustrating an embodiment of the openings  58  and  67  positioned on the flange  60  of the plug removal shield  44  of  FIG. 4  taken along line  7 - 7 . As mentioned above with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the openings  58  may be used to insert the mounts  52  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , such as a metal, plastic, or fabric strap, e.g., a rope, a chain, a wire, a cable, a metal tape, a Velcro strap, a plastic tie, a U-clamp, a bent rod, or a square rod suitable for securing the plug removal shield  44  to the drain tube  36 . The opening  67  may be used to drain fluid. The mounts  52  may be circumferentially disposed about the drain tube  36  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , inserted through the openings  58 , and then secured to the flange  60 , for example, by using stop sleeves or crimps  62 . 
     In another embodiment, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the mounts  52  may be secured by using, for example, multiple rods  104 . Indeed,  FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of the flange  60  having multiple rods  104  suitable for securing the mounts  52 . In the illustrated embodiment, the rods  104  may be fastened to the flange  60 , for example, by welding the rods  104  to the flange  60 . The mounts  52  may be fastened to the rods  104 , for example, by tying the mounts  52  to the rods  104 . Tying the mounts  52  to the rods  104  may enable a secure and fast attachment of the plug removal shield  44  to the drain tube  36  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Likewise, untying the mounts  52  from the rods  104  may enable a simpler and faster method of detaching the plug removal shield  44 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a drain plug kit  105 , including a drain plug removal shield  106  incorporating a T-junction tube  108 . Indeed, plug removal shields, such as shields  44  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and  106 , may be provided with different tube embodiments designed to operate in a variety of drain applications. In the depicted embodiment, the T-junction tube  108  may include a chamber  110  useful in capturing the drain plug  38  if the drain plug  38  disengages from the magnetic socket  50 . The shield tube  108  embodiment also includes a curved portion  112  suitable for directing fluid draining from the drain tube  36 . As mentioned above, the mount  52  may disposed circumferentially on outside surfaces  56  of the drain tube  36 . The mount  52  may then be inserted through the openings  58  on the flange  60  of the plug removal shield  106 . Fasteners  62 , such as closed sleeves or crimps may then be used to securely fasten the plug removal shield  106  to the drain tube  36 . That is, the plug removal shield  106  may be securely mounted and coupled to the drain tube  36 , so that the seal  64  sealingly contacts the grooved protrusion  70  of the drain tube  36 , thus minimizing or eliminating drainage leaks. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the plug removal tool  46  may include an extension  114  having the socket  50 . The extension  114  and the socket  50  may be pre-positioned or pre-disposed inside of the shield tube  108 . Pre-positioning the extension  114  and the socket  50  inside the shield tube  108  may enable a faster engagement of the socket  50  to the hexagonal head  78  of the drain plug  38 . Accordingly, an annular seal  116  may be positioned circumferentially around the extension  114  of the plug removal tool  46 , suitable for sealing or blocking fluid flowing through the chamber  110 . Indeed, the use of the annular seal  116  may substantially block or eliminate leaks through the bottom of the chamber  110 . The plug removal tool  46  may then be actuated in order to remove the drain plug  38 . For example, the operator may drive the wrench  48  to unscrew or otherwise disengage the drain plug  38  from the drain tube  36 . The removal of the drain plug  38  may then enable fluid drainage through the tube portion  112 . As mentioned above, the tube portion  112  may be fluidly connected to the hose  84  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Accordingly, the draining fluid may be directed through the hose  84 , for example, into a suitable containment vessel or discard conduit. 
     Technical effects of the invention include a plug removal kit suitable for removing a drain plug from a drain tube. The drain tube may include a column of water having high pressures. The plug removal kit may include a plug removal shield and a plug removal tool. The plug removal shield may be mounted onto the drain tube, including mountings on locations that may be harder to access. The plug removal tool may then be inserted in the plug removal shield, and used to unfasten the drain plug. The plug removal shield may minimize or eliminate fluid drain leaks. Accordingly, high pressure fluids and fluids that may include hazardous substances may be safely drained. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5