Tube support arrangement

Claim 1

AN ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF SPACED ROWS OF SUPERHEATER TUBES IN A BOILER WHICH INCLUDES A BANK OF UPWARDLY EXTENDING WATER TUBES HAVING SELECTED SUPPORT TUBES THEREIN, COMPRISING: CYLINDRICAL COLLARS SECURED AT INTERVALS ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID SELECTED SUPPORT TUBES, SAID CYLINDRICAL COLLARS EACH TIGHTLY ENCOMPASSING A SINGLE SELECTED SUPPORT TUBE AND HAVING APPROXIMATELY SEMICIRCULAR SLOTS THEREIN, AND FINGER-LIKE SUPPORT ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A Y-SHAPED YOKE PORTION REMOVABLY SEATED IN SAID SLOTS AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID SELECTED SUPPORT TUBE FOR SUPPORTING ROWS OF SUPERHEATER TUBES, SAID Y-SHAPED YOKE PORTION BEING SEMICIRCULAR IN SHAPE WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME DIMENSIONS AS SAID SLOT WHEREBY THE ENDS OF SAID SLOTS PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID FINGER-LIKE SUPPORT ELEMENTS ABOUT THE SELECTED SUPPORT TUBES IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SUPERHEATER TUBES, SAID SLOTS IN SAID COLLARS BEING DISPOSED SO THAT THE SLOT IS UPWARDLY ORIENTED WHEREBY SAID SUPPORT ELEMENTS ARE RETAINED IN PLACE AT LEAST PARTLY BY FORCE OF GRAVITY.