Tube shield assembly and method of securing same

• US 8,151,870 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southern Company
• Original Assignee: Southern Company
• Inventors: Woodson, Damon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanigan, Allen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JASON N
• Application Number:
  US11/939,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 165/134.1, 138/110, 122/511
• US Class Current: 165/134.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0092 Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 19/002 by using inserts or attachments
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2265/26 for allowing differential expansion between elements floating header box elements F28F9/0236
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2275/085 with snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 122/13 Tubes - composition and protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A tube shield assembly for protecting tubes includes a guard, a securing member and a holding tooth, wherein welding is not required to secure the guard to the tube. The guard is axially elongated and can have a semi-cylindrical cross-section to define a main body portion. The securing member includes at least one pair of fastening clips to secure the guard to the tube. The fastening clips permit radial expansion and contraction of the tube and the tube shield assembly in response to, for example, temperature fluctuations. The holding tooth is a tooth-like protrusion between the tube shield assembly and the tube to which it is secured to prevent axial slippage of the tube shield assembly up or down the length of the tube.

Claims

1. A tube shield for protecting a tube in a flow, the tube shield comprising:

a guard having a flow surface in communication with the flow, the flow surface protecting the tube and providing non-turbulent flow around the tube;

a securing member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from a first free edge of the guard, the second end extending from an opposing second free edge of the guard, wherein the first end is positioned directly opposite the second end, the securing member securing the guard to the tube; and

a holding tooth integral with the guard, wherein the holding tooth and the guard are of unitary construction, the holding tooth bitingly engaging the tube.

2. The tube shield of claim 1, the guard comprising an arcuate cross-section and having an axial, elongated shape.

3. The tube shield of claim 1, the securing member being positioned outside the flow.

8. The tube shield of claim 1, the tube shield being of unitary construction.

9. The tube shield of claim 1, wherein an inner portion of the guard is in contact with tube enabling the transfer of heat from the flow to the tube for heating media in the tube.

4. A tube shield assembly for protecting a tube in a flow, the tube shield assembly comprising:

a guard having a flow surface in communication with the flow, the flow surface protecting the tube and providing non-turbulent flow around the tube; and

a securing member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from a first free edge of the guard, the second end extending from an opposing second free edge of the guard, wherein the first end is positioned directly opposite the second end, the securing member securing the guard to the tube, the securing member further comprising at least one set of fastening clips about the guard, the at least one set of fastening clips comprising;

a first clip; and

a second clip oppositely situated to the first clip,

wherein the first clip and the second clip align and fasten to each other to engage a holding tooth, the holding tooth integral with the guard, wherein the holding tooth and the guard are of unitary construction, wherein the holding tooth is bitingly engaged against a tube to hold the guard in place.

5. The tube shield assembly of claim 4, the first and second clips fasten together using a fastener.

6. The tube shield assembly of claim 5, the first and second clips aligned and fastened to one another in contact with the tube.

7. The tube shield assembly of claim 4, the fastening clips radially adjustable for accommodating the expansion or contraction of the tube.

10. A tube shield assembly for protecting a tube in a boiler environment, the tube shield assembly comprising:

a layered metal shield body fitted around a portion of the tube;

at least one securing member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from a first free edge of the shield body, the second end extending from an opposing second free edge of the shield body, wherein the first end is directly opposite the second end, the securing member further comprising a set of fastening clips for securing the body about the tube; and

a holding tooth integral with the body, wherein the body and the holding tooth are of unitary construction, the holding tooth bitingly engaging the tube to further secure the body about the tube, the holding tooth engaging a portion of an exterior side wall of the tube.

11. The tube shield assembly of claim 10, the holding tooth preventing axial movement of the shield body about the tube.

12. The tube shield assembly of claim 10, the layered metal shield body comprising an arcuate shape to conform to the shape of the tube having a cylindrical shape.

13. A non-welding method of securing a shield assembly to a tube in boiler system for protecting the tube, the boiler system comprising a boiler gas forced around the tube for heating media contained in the tube, the method comprising:

providing a shield comprising an arcuate shape cooperatively fitted around a portion of the tube, the shield protecting the tube from the boiler gas and a plurality of particulates contained in the boiler gas;

engaging a holding tooth with a portion of an exterior wall the tube for securing the shield to the tube and for preventing axial movement of the shield, wherein the holding tooth and the shield are of unitary construction, wherein the holding tooth is bitingly engaged to the portion of the exterior wall of the tube by a securing member, the securing member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from a first free edge of the shield, the second end positioned directly opposite the first end and extending from an opposing second free edge of the shield, the securing member further comprising a pair of fastening clips; and

fastening the pair of fastening clips to one another for securing the shield to the tube.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fastening clips are fastened to one another outside the flow of boiler gas.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the fastening clips are fastened to one another outside the flow of particulates in the boiler gas.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising inserting a fastener into an aperture of the pair of fastening clips for fastening the fastening clips to one another.