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Title: Tube cutter tool and method of use for coupon removal

Abstract

It is well known in the art that metal tubes used in heat transfer devices are susceptible to wear, erosion and other degradations which may create weaknesses or other potential failure points. One typical prior art method to determine the cause of damage to a tube involves making a circumferential cut on the tube wall and removing the entire section of the tube having a damaged portion thereon. This method is useful where a straight length portion of the tube has been affected. However, access to more constricted areas and removal of relatively large sections of tubing is limited where the cutting procedure is performed from the interior of the tube. A tube cutter tool is insertable into a tube for cutting a coupon from a damaged site on the exterior of the tube. Prior to using the tool, the damaged site is first located from the interior of the tube using a multi-coil pancake eddy current test probe. The damage site is then marked. A fiber optic probe is used to monitor the subsequent cutting procedure which is performed using a hole saw mounted on the tube cutter tool. Prior to completion of the cutting procedure, a drill inmore » the center of the hole saw is drilled into the coupon to hold it in place.« less

Inventors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
KAPL, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
555462
Patent Number(s):
PATENTS-US-A8376150
Application Number:
ON: DE97009536; PAN: 8-376,150; TRN: AHC29802%%87
Assignee:
US Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC12-76SN00052
Resource Type:
Patent Application
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; HEAT EXCHANGERS; CUTTING TOOLS; SAMPLE PREPARATION; MATERIALS TESTING; EDDY CURRENT TESTING; DAMAGE

Citation Formats

Nachbar, H D, Etten, Jr, M P, and Kurowski, P A. Tube cutter tool and method of use for coupon removal. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Nachbar, H D, Etten, Jr, M P, & Kurowski, P A. Tube cutter tool and method of use for coupon removal. United States.
Nachbar, H D, Etten, Jr, M P, and Kurowski, P A. 1995. "Tube cutter tool and method of use for coupon removal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/555462.
@article{osti_555462,
title = {Tube cutter tool and method of use for coupon removal},
author = {Nachbar, H D and Etten, Jr, M P and Kurowski, P A},
abstractNote = {It is well known in the art that metal tubes used in heat transfer devices are susceptible to wear, erosion and other degradations which may create weaknesses or other potential failure points. One typical prior art method to determine the cause of damage to a tube involves making a circumferential cut on the tube wall and removing the entire section of the tube having a damaged portion thereon. This method is useful where a straight length portion of the tube has been affected. However, access to more constricted areas and removal of relatively large sections of tubing is limited where the cutting procedure is performed from the interior of the tube. A tube cutter tool is insertable into a tube for cutting a coupon from a damaged site on the exterior of the tube. Prior to using the tool, the damaged site is first located from the interior of the tube using a multi-coil pancake eddy current test probe. The damage site is then marked. A fiber optic probe is used to monitor the subsequent cutting procedure which is performed using a hole saw mounted on the tube cutter tool. Prior to completion of the cutting procedure, a drill in the center of the hole saw is drilled into the coupon to hold it in place.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/555462}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}