Device for placing a cylindrical body, especially a sleeve, in a tube of a steam generator

Claim 2

In a steam generator having a tube sheet, tubes ending in the tube sheet and a chamber adjoining the tube sheet having an access opening formed therein, the improvement comprising a device disposed in the chamber for inserting a sleeve into one of the tubes in a plurality of partial insertion strokes, said inserting device including a movable clamping device holding and moving the sleeve in axial direction of the tube in one of said partial insertion strokes, and a stationary clamping device associated with said movable clamping device holding the sleeve during a backstroke of said movable clamping device.

Claim 3

Device according to claim 1, including a mounting plate being fixed in position relative to the tube sheet, said stationary clamping device being integrated in said mounting plate.

Claim 4

Device according to claim 2, including an insert in which said stationary clamping device is disposed, and means for detachably fastening said insert to said mounting plate.

Claim 5

Device according to claim 2, wherein said mounting plate includes interchangeable centering elements for centering said mounting plate relative to the tube sheet.

Claim 6

Device according to claim 2, wherein said mounting plate includes a spreading finger for centering said mounting plate relative to the tube sheet.

Claim 7

Device according to claim 2, including at least one spreading finger extending from said mounting plate and protruding into one of said tubes for supporting said inserting device.

Claim 8

Device according to claim 2, including a cylinder supported by said mounting plate, said cylinder being actuated by a pressure medium and having a piston and a bracket protruding from said piston at the periphery of said cylinder, and means for detachably connecting said movable clamping device to said bracket.

Claim 9

Device according to claim 7, including a coupling piece engaging the surface of said cylinder, and a manipulator for testing the tubes being disposed in the chamber and attached to said coupling piece for supporting said inserting device.

Claim 10

Device according to claim 2, wherein said stationary clamping device includes clamping pieces having conically enlarged sides facing away from the tube sheet for receiving the sleeve therebetween, and resilient pressure pieces moving said clamping pieces against each other in a relieved position defining a clamping diameter between said clamping pieces being smaller than the outside diameter of the sleeve, said resilient pressure pieces exerting a spring force being weak enough to permit the sleeve to be inserted between and pushed through said clamping pieces but strong enough to support the weight of the sleeve after the termination of said strokes.

Claim 11

Device according to claim 9, wherein said mounting plate has guide slots formed therein, and said clamping pieces are shell shaped and include tabs extending from the outer periphery of said clamping pieces and protruding into said guide slots.

Claim 12

Device according to claim 9, wherein said clamping pieces have bevels formed thereon defining larger and smaller diameters, and said movable clamping device includes a housing with an upper edge and two clamping jaws being movable toward each other and toward a sleeve to be held into a contracted position and being movable away from each other in said housing, said clamping jaws including respective clamping regions having respective portions thereof disposed between said upper edge of said housing and said mounting plate, in said contracted position when the sleeve is not located in said clamping regions, said portions being spaced apart by a distance being larger than the inside diameter of one of the tubes and smaller than the larger diameter of said bevel of said clamping pieces.

Claim 13

Device according to claim 11, including means for guiding said clamping jaws during motion thereof relative to said housing.