Tube Saport PDF

United States Patent [191
[111
Jocsak
[451 Oct. 29,1974
[54] CONDENSER TUBE SUPPORT PLATE

INSERT
[.75] Inventor: William Jocsak, Easton, Pa.
[73] Assignee: lngersoll-Rand Company, Woodcliff

Lake, NJ.
June 21, 1972
[22] Filed:
' [21]
3,844,588
2,664,458
12/1953
2,897,533
8/1959
Rapata .......................... .. 174/153 G
2,956,468
3,090,115
3,552,754
10/1960
5/1963
1/1971
3,559,730
2/1971
Denjean . . . . . . .
. . , , ..
248/56 X
3,562,847
2/1971
Jemison . . . . . . .
. . . . ..
248/56 X
3,572,770
3/1971
Kagi .................................. .. 285/158
Bull et al. . . . . . . . .
. . . . .. 248/56 X
Macy ........................... .. 16/2

Carr ............... ..
174/153 G
Bow ........... ..
285/192 X
Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier
Appl. No.: 264,737
[52]
U.S. Cl .................. .. 285/162, 248/56, 285/192,

'
285/Dl'G. 22, 403/197
[51]
Int. Cl. ............................................. .. F161 5/02
Field of Search ....... .. 248/56, 68 R; 174/152 G,
Assistant ExaminerRodney H. Bonck

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank S. Troidl
[57]
ABSTRACT
Apparatus for facilitating assembly of and protecting
174/153 G; 138/112; 165/69, 162, 173; 16/2; - condenser tubes in tube support plates. The apparatus
is a ?exible insert placed into the support plate holes
285/138, 158, 192, 162, DIG. 22; 277/178;
prior to assembly of the condenser tubes, including a
339/103 B; 122/235 G; 403/197
[56]
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS

684,909
10/1901
Cole .............................. .. 174/153 G
2,542,442
2/1951
Weber ............................. .. 248/68 R
?ange and projection adapted to prevent axial move

ment of the insert relative to the support plate and di
mensioned to minimize transverse movement of con
denser tubes within the support plate hole. '
4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures
3,844,588
1 .
CONDENSER TUBE SUPPORT PLATE INSERT
axial movement. Condenser. tubes 10 having the con

ventional assembly points for ease of insertion, are
pushed through the inserts 13 from the ?ange end caus
ing the bodies 14 to expand suf?ciently to provide a
snug ?t.
As noted, the projections may be one or a plurality
of discrete bumps shown as 18 in FIG. 1, an annular ex
pansion of the diameter as indicated at 20 in FIG. 2, or
an annular prominence like that of 20' in FIG. 3. If a
less ?exible or compressible material is selected, the
insert can be made more resilient and accommodating
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ?exible inserts for use with
steam condenser tube support plates and is particularly

concerned with a sleeve that facilitates assembly of
condenser tubes in the plates and protect them after as
sembly.
The typical steam condenser for industrial applica
tions has large numbers of tubes supported by plates.
The holes in the tube support plates which accommo
date the tubes require close tolerances and a deburring
operation. The close tolerances are necessary to reduce
the tendency of tubes to vibrate during condenser oper
of installation by the provision of one or more of the
priorly described cuts 22 (FIG. 3). Thus, when projec

tion 20' (or 18 or 20) is forced radially inwardly by the
ation. Burrs from the drilling operation, shot peening or
hole 11, the cut, 22 will accommodate the contraction

of the material until theprojection clears the hole and
butter?ying (which is a rust removal from the hole
is able to spring back.
by a'rotating wire brush) must be removed as they

make the assembly of tubes difficult and create
When a condenser tube 10 is pushed through an in

sertlined hole 11 in a support plate 12 the ?ange l6
scratches on the. tubes which serve as corrosion sites 20 prevents dislodging of the insert 13. Anygreverse move
that contribute to early failure of the tubes.

The object of this invention is to eliminate the need
ment of the tube 10 during assembly will not remove

the insert 13 from the hole 11 because the projections
fordeburring or chamfering the holes in the support

plates. Another object is to'eliminate the need for re
ances of support plate holes 11 are no'longer necessary
working of holesdue to damagefrom shot-peening or

similar operations. Another object of this invention is
inhibit axial movement in that direction. Close toler

25
to eliminate the butter?ying operation which is often

done in the ?eld. A further object is to facilitate faster
drilling and permit rougher ?nishes and greater toler
because slightly smaller holes will be expansible

through the plasticity of the insert material, and slightly
larger holes will substantially close upon the tube due
tothe resilience of the insert. Irregularities of the holes,
such as burrs due to drilling or shot peening operations
will no longer damage the tubes as they are protected
ances in the drilling of holes. Another objective is to re

duce the vibration of tubes which leads to wear and
by the inserts. The easier tolerances and the protection
eventual rupture. Still another object is to eliminate

scratching of tubes during assembly. These objects are
of the insert further permit elimination of the butter

?ying" operation which is a rust removal from the holes
all served by providing a soft insert of ?exible material
by insertion of a revolving wire brush. In addition,
in each hole of every support plate. These inserts can 35 many plastic materials available for making the inserts
be quickly and inexpensively placed, and accommo
feature low coef?cients of friction, thereby making
date the irregularities that heretofore have required ex
tube assembly easier.
pensive finishing operations.
The invention as well as its advantages may be fur
In view of the above it will be seen that the several

objects of the invention are achieved and other advan
ther understood by reference to the following detailed

description and drawings in which:
tageous results obtained. As various changes could be

made in the above constructions such as changes in
shape and location of projections or cut-out portions
without departing from the scope of the invention it is
FIG. 1 is a partial section of a condenser tube support
plate showing two tubes and inserts positioned therein;
intended that all matter contained in the above descrip
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of a modi?cation 45 tion or shown in the accompaning drawings shall be in
of the insert in place in a support plate; and
terpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
FIG. 3 is another modi?cation of the insert shown in
I claim:
section. Like parts throughout the various drawings are

1. In combination: a condenser support plate having
referred to by like numbers.
at least one condenser tube support hole formed
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 50 through the condenser support plate;
condenser tubes 10 are located in holes 11 in support
a ?exible, axially extending insert positioned in the
plate 12 but do not contact the plate because of the in
condenser tube support hole and in contact with
terpositioning of ?exible insert 13 having a body 14, a
the wall of said support hole; and having an axially
?ange 16 at one end, and a plurality of projections 18 55
extending hole having the same diameter through
near the other end. In the modi?cation shown in FIG.
out its length formed therethrough; a condenser
2 the projection 20 is an annular expansion of the in
tube inserted through the insert, and in contact
sert. FIG. 3 depicts a further modification in which the
with the wall of said axially extending hole
body 14' of the insert has an axial cut 22 progressing
said insert having the same outside diameter along
from the end having the projections 20'.

In operation the inserts ,13 are placed into loosely
toleranced holes 11 in the support plates 12. Although
60
the outside diameter of the inserts at the projection 18

(or 20) is greater than inside diameter of the holes, the
?exibility of the insert material permits compression of

the insert until the projection clears the hole and
springs outwardly. The body 14 ?ts loosely in the hole,

but projections 18 and ?ange l6 prevent signi?cant
65
substantially its entire length and also having first

and second end portions, relative the axis thereof,
for projection thereof from opposite sides of. the
support plate, and an intermediate portion posi
tioned in the tube support hole, the length of the
intermediate portion of the insert being more than
the length of the condenser tube support hole, and
the outside diameter of the intermediate portion
being such that the insert ?tted loosely in the tube
3,844,588
support hole when the insert was inserted in the
diameter of the intermediate portion before and

after the insertion of the insert into the support
hole, and the diameter of the axially extending bore

in the insert and the ?exibility of the insert being
plate hole.
such that the intermediate portion was expanded

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the convex
along its entire length to provide a snug fit in the 5 bump comprises
support plate hole when the condenser tube was
inserted in the insert;
a ?ange integral with said first end portion; and at
least one convex bump on said second end portion
an annular section integral with the second end por

tion.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein there are
a plurality of discrete convex bumps circumferen
tially spaced equi-distant from said flange.
adapted to be compressed to permit the insertion

of the flexible insert into the support plate hole and
4. The combination of claim 1 further comprising

an axially extending slot throughout the second end
portion of the insert.
thereafter inhibit the axial movement of said insert

relative to the support plate, the convex bump hav
ing an external diameter greater than the external
it
20
25
35
40
45
55
60
65
=0:
a:

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United States Patent [191

[451 Oct. 29,1974

[54] CONDENSER TUBE SUPPORT PLATE

[.75] Inventor: William Jocsak, Easton, Pa.

[73] Assignee: lngersoll-Rand Company, Woodcliff

Rapata .......................... .. 174/153 G

Kagi .................................. .. 285/158

Macy ........................... .. 16/2

Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier

Appl. No.: 264,737

U.S. Cl .................. .. 285/162, 248/56, 285/192,

Int. Cl. ............................................. .. F161 5/02

Field of Search ....... .. 248/56, 68 R; 174/152 G,

Assistant ExaminerRodney H. Bonck

Apparatus for facilitating assembly of and protecting

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Cole .............................. .. 174/153 G

Weber ............................. .. 248/68 R

?ange and projection adapted to prevent axial move

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures

CONDENSER TUBE SUPPORT PLATE INSERT

axial movement. Condenser. tubes 10 having the con

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

steam condenser tube support plates and is particularly

of installation by the provision of one or more of the

priorly described cuts 22 (FIG. 3). Thus, when projec

ation. Burrs from the drilling operation, shot peening or

hole 11, the cut, 22 will accommodate the contraction

butter?ying (which is a rust removal from the hole

is able to spring back.

by a'rotating wire brush) must be removed as they

When a condenser tube 10 is pushed through an in

that contribute to early failure of the tubes.

ment of the tube 10 during assembly will not remove

fordeburring or chamfering the holes in the support

ances of support plate holes 11 are no'longer necessary

working of holesdue to damagefrom shot-peening or

inhibit axial movement in that direction. Close toler

to eliminate the butter?ying operation which is often

drilling and permit rougher ?nishes and greater toler

because slightly smaller holes will be expansible

ances in the drilling of holes. Another objective is to re

by the inserts. The easier tolerances and the protection

eventual rupture. Still another object is to eliminate

of the insert further permit elimination of the butter

pensive finishing operations.

The invention as well as its advantages may be fur

In view of the above it will be seen that the several

ther understood by reference to the following detailed

tageous results obtained. As various changes could be

FIG. 1 is a partial section of a condenser tube support

plate showing two tubes and inserts positioned therein;

intended that all matter contained in the above descrip

section. Like parts throughout the various drawings are

from the end having the projections 20'.

the outside diameter of the inserts at the projection 18

?exibility of the insert material permits compression of

springs outwardly. The body 14 ?ts loosely in the hole,