Replacement tube plug for heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10168111-B2
Application number	US-201514824286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A replacement tube plug for sealing the threaded junction between a tube plug and a bore in a plugsheet, the tube plug including a body part having proximal and distal ends, an outer threaded surface, a central bore open at the proximal end and at least one branch bore extending from and in fluid communication with the central bore and extending radially to the outer surface of the body part, and a method for delivering fluid sealant via the central and branches to the threaded junction of the tube plug and the plugsheet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tube plug for sealing a threaded plug-to-plugsheet junction with fluid sealant from a source external of said tube plug, said tube plug comprising:
a. a body part having length between proximal and distal ends and a threaded outer surface,
b. a main internal passageway having an entranced opening having an internal thread in said proximal end in said body part and extending generally axially from the threaded opening in said proximal end distally a distance less than the length of said body part,
c. at least one branch passageway in said body part in fluid communication with said main passageway and extending outwardly to and through said outer threaded surface, thereby defining a continuous open and unobstructed passageway open at said proximal end entrance to said body part and open at said threaded outer surface of said body part, and
d. a cap having an outer thread cooperating with said internal thread of said entrance opening to close said entrance opening of said main passageway after said fluid sealant has been injected into and through said main passageway.

2. The tube plug according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one branch passageway comprises a plurality of branch passageways that are axially spaced apart relative to each other lengthwise of said body part.

3. The tube plug according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one branch passageway comprises a plurality of branch passageways which extend from said main internal passageway in different outward directions circumferentially spaced from each other.

4. The tube plug according to claim 1 , wherein said body part has a maximum outer diameter D 1 along its length, and further comprises a head part integral with said proximal end of said body part and having diameter D 2 greater than said diameter D 1 .

5. A method of converting a standard solid externally threaded tube plug having a body part with proximal and distal ends and an outer surface between said ends and configured to be a replacement tube plug configured to allow delivery of fluid sealant to flow into the region of mating threads between said tube plug threaded into a plugsheet, comprising the steps of:
a. in said body part, forming a central bore hole axially through said proximal end in the distal direction a distance less than the length of said solid tube plug,
b. forming at least one branch duct radially inward from said outer surface threaded region to intersect said central bore hole, thereby defining a continuous open passageway open at said proximal end of said body part and open at said threaded outer surface, and
c. providing a closure structure to close and seal said proximal end of said central bore hole, wherein providing the closure structure comprises forming threads at said proximal end of said central bore hole to receive a threaded cap to close and seal aid open proximal end of aid central bore hole.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein forming said at least one branch duct comprises forming three branch passageways axially spaced apart lengthwise of said tube plug body part and circumferentially spaced apart each from the others and extending inwardly from said outer surface to intersect said central bore hole.

7. A method of directing fluid sealant to the region of mating threads between a tube plug screwed into a threaded bore of a plugsheet, the method comprising the steps of:
a. screwing said tube plug into the bore of the plugsheet, the tube plug including (i) a body part having length between proximal and distal ends and (ii) a threaded outer surface, said proximal end being open for receiving fluid sealant, (iii) thus defining a main internal passageway extending generally axially from said proximal end distally a distance less than the length of said body part, (iv) at least one branch passageway in fluid communication with said main passageway and extending outward to and through said threaded outer surface as an outlet, (v) thereby defining a continuous open passageway open at said proximal end of said body part and open at said threaded outer surface of said body part, and (vi) a cap positionable to close said proximal end opening of said main passageway,
b. injecting a fluid sealant into said open proximal end of said body part and through said main internal passageway and through said at least one branch passageway to said region of mating threads between said tube plug and the threaded bore of said plug sheet, and
c. closing said main passageway at the open proximal end thereof, wherein said closing of said main passageway at the open proximal end comprises forming internal screw threads in said proximal end and screwing a cap screw into said internal screw threads in the proximal end of said main passageway after the injection of the fluid sealant.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said forming of the at least one branch duct comprises drilling said at least one branch duct radially inward from said outer surface threaded region to intersect said central bore hole.

9. The tube plug according to claim 1 , wherein said main internal passageway has a generally uniform diameter along its length.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said main internal passageway has a generally uniform diameter bore along its length.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Otaibi Dhawi A

Classifications

• F28F11/00 Primary

  Arrangements for sealing leaky tubes and conduits (stopping flow from or in pipes in general F16L55/10) · CPC title

• F16L55/11

  Plugs {(F16L55/128 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F28F11/02 Primary

  using obturating elements, e.g. washers, inserted and operated independently of each other (F28F11/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• F28F2220/00

  Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits · CPC title