Tube extractor

Claim 2

A tube extractor for extracting expanded tube ends from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger which comprises an outer housing having a forward extension for engagement with the tube sheet and having a cylinder therein, a piston within said cylinder, expansible broach means secured to said piston and having cutting teeth for insertion into one of said tube ends, a mandrel actuated by said piston for intermittent movement thereof, said mandrel having a forwardly converging end portion for engagement with interior portions of said broach means, a fluid pressure supply connected to said cylinder for moving said piston to expand said broach means into cutting engagement with a tube end, and clutch means actuated by longitudinal movement of said piston for first rigidly locking and then upon further movement releasing said mandrel to move with said broach member for tube extraction.

Claim 3

A tube extractor as defined in claim 1, in which a resilient return member is provided between said clutch means and said housing for positioning said clutch means.

Claim 4

A tube extractor as defined in claim 1 in which a resilient return member is provided between said clutch means and said piston for positioning said piston in a starting position.

Claim 5

A tube extractor as defined in claim 1 in which said mandrel has said forwardly converging end for advance therealong of said broach means in a fixed position of said mandrel to advance said cutting teeth into combined radial and axial cutting engagement in the tube end.

Claim 6

A tube extractor as defined in claim 3 in which said resilient member in compressed condition urges said piston and said broach means from engagement with said mandrel thereby permitting said broach means to collapse radially and release the tube.

Claim 7

A tube extractor as defined in claim 1 in which said clutch means includes an inner clutch sleeve and an outer clutch sleeve with a clutch cage and connecting balls therebetween, said outer sleeve being stationary and having grooves for said balls in one position of said piston with respect to said cage for locking said cage from movement, and said inner clutch sleeve being axially movable with said piston and having grooves for reception of said balls in another position of said piston with respect to said clutch cage for movement of said cage and said mandrel simultaneously with said piston.

Claim 8

A tube extractor as defined in claim 6 in which a resilient return member is provided between said cage and said piston for positioning said piston and said broach means.

Claim 9

A tube extractor as defined in claim 6 in which a resilient return member is provided between said clutch cage and an end of said housing for positioning said clutch cage.

Claim 10

A tube extractor having in combination an outer housing, a cylinder in said housing having a fluid supply connection, a piston movable in said cylinder upon the application of fluid pressure thereagainst, broach means connected to said piston for engagement with and extraction of a tube, clutch means including an inner clutch sleeve, an outer clutch sleeve and a clutch cage and connecting balls between said clutch sleeves and said cage, said clutch cage being intermittently movable with said piston and having a resilient element interposed therebetween, said outer sleeve being stationary and having grooves for reception of said balls in one position of said piston with respect to said cage, said inner clutch sleeve being longitudinally movable with said piston and having grooves for the reception of said balls in another position of said piston with respect to said clutch cage.

Claim 11

A tube extractor having in combination an outer housing, a cylinder in said housing having a fluid supply connection, a piston movable in said cylinder upon the application of fluid pressure thereagainst, broach means connected to said piston for engagement with and extraction of a tube, clutch means including an inner clutch sleeve, an outer clutch sleeve and a clutch cage and connecting balls between said clutch sleeves and said cage, said clutch cage being intermittently movable with said piston and having a resilient element interposed therebetween, said outer sleeve being stationary and having grooves for reception of said balls in one position of said piston with respect to said cage, said inner clutch sleeve being longitudinally movable with said piston and having grooves for the reception of said balls in another position of said piston with respect to said clutch cage.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 9 in which a resilient return member is provided between said clutch cage and an end of said housing for positioning said clutch cage.