Patent ID: 8683678

Claim:
An apparatus ( 300 ) for passing a purging fluid through a plurality of tubes of a heat exchanger, the apparatus comprising: a plate ( 308 ) having a plurality of orifices ( 320 ) formed therethrough so as to align with ends of said plurality of tubes of said heat exchanger; a fixture ( 302 ) arranged for clamping said heat exchanger against said plate; a plurality of hollow rods ( 340 ) disposed at said orifices, each of said rods including an opening thereon and arranged so as to be coaxially movable within an associated one of said plurality of tubes; a collection manifold ( 332 ) coupled to said plate ( 308 ) for collecting an effluent of said purging fluid; and a plurality of apertures ( 322 ) formed in said collection manifold ( 332 ) so as to align with said plurality of orifices ( 320 ) and said ends of said plurality of tubes whereby said plurality of rods ( 340 ) pass through said plurality of apertures; whereby a purging fluid is passed through said plurality of rods into said plurality of tubes.