Continuous tube extractor

• US 4,586,695 A
• Filed: 06/22/1984
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J.E. Miller, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Charlie D. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Charlie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US06/623,554
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 254/29 R, 254/30, 254/31, 254/105-107, 254/93 HP, 254/132, 29/252
• US Class Current: 254/30
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/022 Extracting or inserting relatively long parts
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/026 fluid driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator

Abstract

An apparatus for removing tubes from a tube sheet, wherein the tube to be removed is engaged from the side of the tube with the force for withdrawing the tube being applied against the outer peripheral surface of the tube by a tube-pulling device which, when in operative engagement with the tube to be removed, is positioned parallel to the tube and engages the outer peripheral surface thereof. A selectively actuable reciprocating hydraulic cylinder provides gripping engagement with the tube to incrementally retract the tube relative to the extracting apparatus, while continuously maintaining a positive engagement with the tube throughout the removal operation.

Claims

1. A continuous tube extractor for extracting tubes from a tube sheet comprising

a base member positionable on a tube sheet adjacent to a tube to be extracted therefrom, said base member having an opening formed in a side thereof through which a tube to be extracted is received,

fluid actuated cylinder means carried on said base member and movable relative thereto upon the application of fluid pressure for applying an axial extraction force to a tube,

gripping means carried by said fluid actuated cylinder means for movement therewith and actuable to grip a tube for extraction from a tube sheet,

said gripping means having a side opening formed therein for receiving therethrough a tube to be gripped for extracting from a tube sheet,

control means coupled to said hydraulically actuated cylinder means for actuating the axial movement thereof, and

said fluid actuated cylinder means being operatively connected to said gripping means so that axial movement of said cylinder means will actuate said gripping means to grip a tube to be extracted and apply an axially disposed extraction force thereto,

said gripping means including a pair of jaws coupled to said fluid actuated cylinder for at least limited travel axially and radially with respect thereto, and having generally cylindrical gripping faces for distributing gripping forces on said tube to be extracted over a substantial cylindrical contact area thereon,

collet means movable with said fluid actuated cylinder means for urging said jaws into engagement with said tube when said cylinder means is moved to an extended position, and

means for positively urging said pair of jaws apart and maintaining the same in an open position to permit insertion of said tube through the opening in the side of the tube extractor when said cylinder is moved to a withdrawn position.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 further including anti-retracting means carried on said base member and positioned to engage a tube passed through said opening in said base member for applying a force to the tube to prevent movement thereof except in the direction in which an extracting force is applied.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said jaws are provided as a pair of pivotally mounted extracting jaws spaced apart to receive therebetween a tube to be extracted, said collet means include an extracting collet having an opening in a side thereof through which a tube to be extracted may be received, and said extracting collet being movable into engagement with said pair of extracting jaws for closing said jaws about a tube positioned therebetween and exerting an axial extraction force thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the leading edge of each of said extracting jaws through which a tube to be extracted is received, is rounded to facilitate engagement of a tube to be extracted.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pair of pivotally mounted extracting jaws are further pivotally mounted to said cylinder means for movement into and out from engagement with a tube, and also mounted thereon for limited sliding movement in an axial direction relative to said cylinder means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including an upper switch actuator and a lower switch actuator carried, respectively, by said fluid actuated cylinder means at an upper and lower portion thereof for sequentially engaging a cycle switch, and

a cycle switch supported upon said base member for controlling the movement of said cylinder means in response to the sequential actuation of said cycle switch by said upper and lower switch actuators.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a master switch coupled with said cycle switch and actuable to terminate the cyclic opertion of said fluid actuated cylinder means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a handle secured to said fluid actuated cylinder means for positioning said apparatus on a tube sheet adjacent to a tube to be extracted, and

a quick connect hydraulic coupling in fluid communication with said cylinder means for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of jaws are each double pivoted at two respective locations for each jaw to ensure that the gripping forces on the tube are spread over said cylindrical contact area.

3. A continuous tube extractor for extracting tubes from a tube sheet comprising

a base member positionable on a tube sheet adjacent to a tube to be extracted therefrom, said base member having an opening formed in a side thereof through which a tube to be extracted is received,

fluid actuated cylinder means carried on said base member and movable relative thereto upon the application fluid pressure for applying an axial extraction force to a tube,

gripping means carried by said fluid actuated cylinder means for movement therewith and actuable to grip a tube for extraction from a tube sheet,

said gripping means having a side opening formed therein for receiving therethrough a tube to be gripped for extracting from a tube sheet,

control means coupled to said fluid actuated cylinder means for actuating the axial movement thereof,

said cylinder means being operatively connected to said gripping means so that axial movement of said cylinder means will actuate said gripping means to grip a tube to be extracted and apply an axially disposed extraction force thereto, and

anti-retracting means carried on said base member and positioned to engage a tube passed through said opening in said base member for applying a force to the tube to prevent movement thereof except in the direction in which an extracting force is applied, wherein said anti-retracting means comprise

a pair of pivotally mounted gripping jaws positioned adjacent said opening in said base with one of said gripping jaws being positioned on each side of said opening,

a spring coupled at each end to one of said gripping jaws for applying a self-tightening force to said jaws for biasing said jaws inwardly toward each other, and

adjustable stop means supported on said base member and positioned to engage said jaws to control the spacing therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each one of said pair of pivotally mounted gripping jaws includes a roller mounted thereon which is positioned at a leading edge of said jaws adjacent to the entrance of said opening in said base member to facilitate the engagement of a tube to be extracted.

8. A continuous tube extractor for extracting tubes from a tube sheet comprising;

a base member positionable on a tube sheet adjacent to a tube to be extracted therefrom, said base member having an opening formed in a side thereof through which a tube to be extracted is received,

fluid actuated cylinder means carried on said base member and movable relative thereto upon the application of fluid pressure for applying an axial extraction force to a tube,

gripping means carried by said hydraulically actuated cylinder means for movement therewith and actuable to grip a tube for extraction from a tube sheet,

said gripping means having a side opening formed therein for receiving therethrough a tube to be gripped for extracting from a tube sheet,

control means coupled to said fluid actuated cylinder means for actuating the axial movement thereof, and

said cylinder means being operatively connected to said gripping means so that axial movement of said cylinder means will actuate said gripping means to grip a tube to be extracted and apply an axially disposed extraction force thereto,

wherein said gripping means include;

a pair of pivotally mounted extracting jaws spaced apart to therebetween receive a tube to be extracted, an extracting collet having an opening in a side thereof through which a tube to be extracted may be received, and

said extracting collet being movable into engagement with said pair of extracting jaws for closing said jaws about a tube positioned therebetween and exerting an axial extraction force therethrough,

wherein said pair of pivotally mounted extracting jaws are further pivotally mounted to said fluid activated cylinder means for movement into and out from engagement with a tube, and also mounted thereon for limited sliding movement in an axial direction relative to said cylinder,

said continuous tube extractor further comprising

a cam follower portion formed on each of said extracting jaws for engaging a camming surface to effect pivotal and sliding movement of said extracting jaws relative to said fluid actuated cylinder means, and

a pair of spreader posts supported from said base member in a position to engage said cam follower portions of said extracting jaws and having an upper end forming a camming surface engageable by said cam follower portion to pivot said jaws outwardly and permit said cylinder means to move axially in a downward direction relative thereto for releasing said extracting jaws from engagement with a tube being extracted.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said extracting collet is slidably mounted between said spreader posts, and said collet means has a tapered outer surface at its lower end to prevent said spreader posts from blocking movement of said collet.