Apparatus for removing residual stresses produced in a tube by seating the tube in a bore in a tube plate, the tube having one end flush with one face of the tube and extending from the other face and being seated in the plate by expanding and rolling the tube at the level of the plate up to a transition zone in the region of emergence of the tube from the other face of the plate, the apparatus comprising an elongate tubular element having a cage at one end provided with longitudinal recesses housing radially movable wheels and a control rod which is axially movable in the element to cause the wheels to project radially from the cage and rotatable to rotate the wheels, the portion of the rod in contact with the wheels being conical and the axes of the wheels being inclined to the axis of the tubular element, an adjustable stop for precisely positioning the wheel cage at the level of the transition zone of the tube, and control means for causing axial movement of the rod to bring the wheels into contact with the tube in the transition zone, for then causing a preset number of revolutions of the rod, and for then stopping axial and angular movement of the rod.
展开▼
