HYDRAULICALLY INSTALLED TUBE PLUG, TUBE PLUG INSTALLATION TOOLING, AND INSTALLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A hydraulically installed tube plug with or without O.D surfaceenhancements and plug installation tooling, high pressure fluid system andmethod.The invention stops leaks in tubes with a plug that utilizes controlled highpressurefluid within the plug itself to radially expand the plug in place. Other plugsandplugging systems rely on mechanical methods for setting the plugs in the tubeswithlittle or no control on the radial pressure applied to the tube. This lack ofradialpressure control can result in a tubesheet ligament being over stressed(plasticallydeformed) or not enough pressure applied to stop the leak. The plug highpressureexpansion tooling is designed with built in safety components that allow highpressurehydraulic expansion methods to be used safely in blind holes. The highpressurefluid system's design allows it to be used in hazardous environments.