Apparatus for Withdrawing and Replacing Tubes such as are used in Steam Generators and Condensers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Withdrawing and Replacing Tubes such as are used
in Steam Generators and Condensers.
I, THOMAS CAMPBELL, of Hazelwood, Venner Road, Sydenham, in the County of
Surrey, Boiler Overseer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the specification of an application for Letters Patent filed by me dated
31st October 1888 No. 15688, there is described a method of securing the tubes of
steam boilers, and of condensers of marine and other engines by forming in the
tube plates shallow spiral grooves and expanding one or both ends of each tube into
these grooves.
The present invention relates to apparatus by which tubes so secured may be
readily withdrawn from the tube plates and when desired replaced.
Upon a rod or bar formed with a screw thread are oppositely placed tubes (herein-
after called for distinction hollow plugs) formed externally of gradually increasing
diameter and of a size adapted to partly enter and bear against the inner edges of
the ends of a tube to be withdrawn or replaced. These hollow plugs are so arranged
that they can be moved towards or from each other to grasp and hold between
them or release as required tubes of different lengths and one of them is made
removable to admit of the rod or bar being passed through the tube to be dealt
with. The other hollow plug is constructed to move along the rod or bar and is
adapted to be connected to and operated by a screw nut that works upon the other
end of the rod or bar. The connection between the two may be such that the nut
can be turned to move the hollow plug end wise into or out of the end of a tube
without turning the plug and a device such as a set screw is provided for connecting
the two rigidly together when the apparatus is applied to a tube.
The screw thread upon which the nut and plug work may be cut away on
opposite sides of the rod or bar and the hole through the plug may be of oval form
so that the plug cannot turn on the rod or bar.
To withdraw a tube the first mentioned hollow plug is removed from the rod or
bar which is then passed through the tube. The plug is then again screwed upon
the rod or bar and the secondly mentioned hollow plug is moved endwise, by the nut,
until the tube is firmly grasped or held between the two plugs. The nut is then
rigidly connected to the one hollow plug and the tube screwed or moved from the
tube plates by means of spanners applied to the nut and to the squared portion of
the shank of the first mentioned plug respectively and which should be simultaneously
turned.
· Apparatus according to this invention may also be used for withdrawing and
replacing tubes secured in other ways than that bereinbefore mentioned.
Dated this 1st day of June 1889.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: ..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Withdrawing and Replacing Tubes such as are used
in Steam Generators and Condensers.
I, THOMAS CAMPBELL, of Hazelwood, Venner Road, Sydenhain, in the County of
Surrey, Boiler Overseer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
In the specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated 31st October 1888
No. 15688, there is described a method of securing the tubes of steam boilers, and of
condensers of marine and other engines, by forming in the tube plates shallow
spiral grooves, and expanding one or both ends of each tube into these grooves.
The present invention relates to apparatus by which tubes so secured may be
readily withdrawn from the tube plates and when desired replaced.
Upon a rod or bar formed with screw threads are oppositely placed plug like
tubes (hereinafter called for distinction hollow plugs) formed externally of gradually
increasing diameter and of a size adapted to partly enter and bear against the inner
edges of the ends of a tube to be withdrawn or replaced. These hollow plugs are
so arranged that they can be moved towards or from each other to grasp and hold
between them or release as required tubes of different lengths and one of them is
made removable to admit of the rod or bar being passed through the tube to be
dealt with. The other hollow plug is constructed to move along the rod or bar and
is adapted to be connected to and operated by a screw nut that works upon the other
end of the rod or bar. The connection between the two may be such that the nut
can be turned to move the hollow plug endwise into or out of the end of a tube
without turning the plug and a device such as a set screw is provided for connecting
the two rigidly together when the apparatus is applied to a tube.
The screw thread upon which the nut and plug work may be cut away on opposite
sides of the rod or bar and the hole through the plug may be of such a form that
the plug cannot turn on the rod or bar.
Apparatus according to this invention may also be used for withdrawing and
replacing tubes secured in other ways than that hereinbefore mentioned.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section an
apparatus according to this invention for withdrawing and replacing tubes of the
kind referred to. The apparatus is shewn in position for withdrawing a tube
secured in two tube plates, which as well as the tube itself are shewn in section.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, the removable hollow plug being
shewn detached from the rest of the apparatus in order that this part of the apparatus
can be removed from the withdrawn tube, which is shewn in longitudinal section.
1 is a rod formed with screw threaded parts 1ª, 1 upon which are two hollow
plugs 2 and 3 respectively. The hollow plugs are made externally of hexagonal form
and of gradually increasing cross sectional area and of a size adapted to partly enter
and bear against the inner edges of the ends of a tube 4 that is secured into the tube
plates 4 in such a manner that it can be withdrawn from these plates by rotating
it.
The hollow plug 2 is formed with an internal screw thread by which it can be
readily engaged with and disengaged from the screw threaded end 1ª of the rod for
the purpose herein before mentioned. The hollow plug 3 is mounted so as to be
longitudinally adjustable upon the screw threaded part 1 of the rod but so as not to
rotate about this rod. To prevent rotation of the plug 3 upon the rod the screw
thread upon the part 1 is cut away on opposite sides of the rod, and the hole through
the plug is made of a form to correspond. 5 is a screw threaded nut for moving
the hollow plug 3 along the rod. It is made with a socket and arranged to work
upon the screw threaded part 1 of the rod and is connected to the plug 3 by pins 5°
that may
be of steel, carried by the nut and arranged to enter an annular groove 6
formed in the enlarged end 3* of the plug, the arrangement being such as to admit of

page_text: the rotation of the nut without rotation of the plug. 7 is a set screw by which the
nut and plug can be locked together when necessary, so that the plug will be rotated
with the nut as required to fix or withdraw a tube.
To withdraw a tube, such as 4 from the tube plates 4* with the apparatus herein before
described, the hollow plug 2 is first removed from the rod 1 which is then passed
through the tube. The plug 2 is then again screwed upon the rod along which the
hollow plug 3 is moved endwise by the nut 5 until the tube is firmly grasped or held
between the two plugs. The nut is then locked to the plug 3 by turning the set
screw 7 and the tube is unscrewed from the tube plates by means of spanners applied
to the nut and to the squared portion 2 of the shank of the plug 2 respectively
these being simultaneously turned. The mode of fixing a tube with this apparatus
will be clearly understood from the description given above, the rotation taking place
of course in the reverse direction to that for withdrawing a tube, this rotation being
effected by a spanner applied to the nut 5 only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For withdrawing and replacing tubes such as are used in steam generators and
condensers, the combination of two hollow plugs with a connecting rod or bar and
means for adjusting the distance apart of the said hollow plugs the arrangement being
such that after the rod or bar has been passed through a tube and the hollow plug
temporarily removed for that purpose has been replaced on the end passed through,
the two hollow plugs can be caused to grasp and hold between them the tube which
can then by turning the apparatus be either unscrewed for removal or screwed into
place as described.
2. The apparatus described and shewn for withdrawing and replacing tubes of the
kind referred to.
DL: 1.L
CM1 1000
T. CAMPBELL.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.