METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF TUBES FROM TUBE ARRAYS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: repair operations of heat exchange devices. SUBSTANCE: method involves separation of tube from bundle, positioning it in horizontal position, removal of tube from hole of array which has for example, two ring recesses upon application of axial force to tube end. Goal of invention is achieved by unloading hole in tube array by means of generation of chamber in tube on front side of array with depth which is greater than distance between front side of array and last ring recess in it, and by means of application of axial pressing force only to external ring surface of tube end on side which is opposite to array surface in order to cause irreversible deformation of tube material in direction of its axis within range of its length which is located above ring recess in array, and by subsequent development of irreversible deformation towards this force in order to release ring recesses of array. EFFECT: possibility to eliminate distortion of geometrical size of ring recesses in holes of tube arrays. 4 dwg