Regis R Vollmer

US Patent:

42165695, Aug 12, 1980

Filed:

Nov 30, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/965016

Inventors:

Richard L. Stiller - St. Louis County MO
Robert Shaffer - Swissvale PA
Edward H. Smith - Plum Borough PA
Regis R. Vollmer - Trafford PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23P 1700

US Classification:

291573C

Abstract:

A method for inserting a tube through a tubesheet aperture and expanding it into contact with the aperture's wall. A tube guide-expander device is assembled in an open end of a tube with a portion of the device protruding from the tube. The guide-expander includes a distally protruding tip portion tapered to diverge in a direction toward the tube so as to facilitate insertion of the guide-expander and engaged tube through apertures in spatially separated tube supports and tubesheet. The guide-expander and tube engaged therewith are axially displaced relative to the tubesheet until the desired relative configuration is obtained. Expansion of the tube results from expanding the assembled tube guide-expander and driving the housing tube in the radial direction against the tubesheet aperture's wall. Such guide-expander expansion obtains from relatively axially displacing two structural components and compressing an interposed, radially expansible structure.