US 11,788,663 B2
Heat exchanger tube plug installation
Andrew Hall, Ottsville, PA (US); Alex Kotlyar, Jamison, PA (US); and Ka'ren Sarkissian, Langhorne, PA (US)
Assigned to EST GROUP, INC., Hatfield, PA (US)
Filed by EST Group, Inc., Hatfield, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/395,568.
Prior Publication US 2023/0040303 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 55/11 (2006.01); G06F 16/904 (2019.01); G06F 16/907 (2019.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); B21D 53/02 (2006.01); B23P 15/26 (2006.01); F28F 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/11 (2013.01) [B21D 53/02 (2013.01); B23P 15/26 (2013.01); F28F 11/02 (2013.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G06F 16/904 (2019.01); G06F 16/907 (2019.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of tube plug installation in a heat exchanger or pressure vessel, comprising the steps of:
verifying suitability of a selected tube plug with a specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel before installation of the selected tube plug;
confirming tube plug installation success or failure after installation based on at least one real-time measurement taken during installation and an analysis thereof; and
retaining plug installation data in association with host tube location within the heat exchanger or pressure vessel;
wherein said steps of verifying, confirming, and retaining are performed by a device having an app, software, or user interface and after having received entered or accessed data concerning the selected tube plug including tube plug material and lot number and data concerning the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel including tube material and host tube location relative to the specific heat exchanger or pressure vessel into which the tube plug is to be installed and operating parameters of the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel;
wherein the step of verifying includes comparing metallurgical properties of the host tube of the heat exchanger or pressure vessel and the tube plug to ensure compatibility;
wherein the tube plug includes a deformable ring and an elongated pin having a conical shape which is slidably received within the ring for expanding the ring outwardly when the pin is pulled axially relative to the ring;
wherein the real-time measurement includes installation linear pulling force; and
wherein the analysis includes analysis of travel of the pin during installation.