Apparatus for force application

Claim 2

Means for placement and extraction of an element engaged within a shell and longitudinally slidably therefrom, the means comprising: an elongated frame having side members and having spaced apart transverse members spanning the side members; a skid, including plate means slidably engaged on the side members above the transverse members; block means on the transverse members; cylinder means, including a fixed actuating tube on the plate and a rod extendible and retractable from the tube, the rod being connected to the elements; two sets of dog means secured to the plate on the skid, the sets being individually movable from storage positions to use positions, each set being engageable with the block means when in its use positions; and means securing the frame to the shell whereby extension of the rod causes movement of the skid and the attached element outwardly from the shell when a first selected set of dogs is in use position, and causes movement of the elements into the shell when the other set of dogs is in use position.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein: the dogs contact the block means in end-to-end sequence.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, wherein: the means securing the frame to the shell comprises clamping plates and hydraulic cylinder means controlling the clamping plates.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, and: leveling rods extending upwardly from the frame and secured to the shell.

Claim 6

Apparatus for removal and replacement of tube bundles in heat exchange assemblies, the tube bundles having a projecting portion and the assembly including a shell section, the apparatus comprising: a base frame structure including elongated side support beams, and intermediate support beams, and transverse structural meMbers interconnecting the side support beams and the intermediate support beam; the side support beam occupying a horizontal plane elevated with respect to a horizontal plane occupied by the intermediate support beam; block means on the transverse structural members; a skid assembly, including a plate member spanning the frame structure and having side rollers engaged on the side support beams, the plate member having an assembly depending therefrom to straddle the intermediate support beams; retractable and extendible dog means on the assembly, extending from the plate member, engageable with the block means when in extended position to prevent movement of the skid assembly in direction; extendible and retractable cylinder means having a fixed portion secured on the plate member and having a rod portion operatively connected thereto, the rod portion having means on one end for connection to the projecting portion of the bundle; clamping means securing the base frame structure to the shell section of the heat exchange assembly; movable roller means interposed between the bundle and the base frame structure; and a supporting framework for the base frame structure.

Claim 7

Apparatus for removal and replacement of tube bundles in heat exchange assemblies, the tube bundles having a projecting portion and the assembly including a shell section, the apparatus comprising: a base frame structure including elongated side support beams, and intermediate support beams, and transverse structural meMbers interconnecting the side support beams and the intermediate support beam; the side support beam occupying a horizontal plane elevated with respect to a horizontal plane occupied by the intermediate support beam; block means on the transverse structural members; a skid assembly, including a plate member spanning the frame structure and having side rollers engaged on the side support beams, the plate member having an assembly depending therefrom to straddle the intermediate support beams; retractable and extendible dog means on the assembly, extending from the plate member, engageable with the block means when in extended position to prevent movement of the skid assembly in direction; extendible and retractable cylinder means having a fixed portion secured on the plate member and having a rod portion operatively connected thereto, the rod portion having means on one end for connection to the projecting portion of the bundle; clamping means securing the base frame structure to the shell section of the heat exchange assembly; movable roller means interposed between the bundle and the base frame structure; and a supporting framework for the base frame structure.

Claim 8

Force application apparatus for movement of a first article with respect to a second article, the apparatus comprising: a frame having leading and trailing ends and being secured to the second article adjacent the leading end; movable skid means on the frame, having depending dog means thereon, the skid means being connected to the first article; the frame having a series of members thereon engaged by the dog means of the skid to prevent movement of the skid means in one direction; means for application of force to the skid means to institute movement of the skid means in a direction opposite to that restrained by the engagement of the dog means on the members of the series; the frame being elongated and including side members and transverse members; said series of members being located on the transverse members; the skid means being engaged on the side members; and the series of members being engaged in end-to-end sequence by the dog means.

Claim 9

Force application apparatus for movement of a first article with respect to a second article, the apparatus comprising: a frame having leading and trailing ends and being secured to the second article adjacent the leading end; movable skid means on the frame, having depending dog means thereon, the skid means being connected to the first article; the frame having a series of members thereon engaged by the dog means of the skid to prevent movement of the skid means in one direction; means for application of force to the skid means to institute movement of the skid means in a direction opposite to that restrained by the engagement of the dog means on the members of the series; the frame being elongated and including side members and transverse members; said series of members being located on the transverse members; the skid means being engaged on the side members; and the series of members being engaged in end-to-end sequence by the dog means.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6, and: manual control means for the dog means to place the dog means in operating and nonoperating positions.