Boiler plug

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for quickly and inexpensively plugging leaks in the tubing of low pressure steam boilers. The invention uses a cap containing a gasket channel of the same diameter as the edge of the tube. The underside cylindrical wall of the cap contains an aperture in common with that of the top of the cap. A threaded rod is passed through the cap and connected to an identical plug on the other end of the tube. Simultaneously tightening hex nuts on the two rods seals the tubing ends.

1 . A plug for sealing leaking boiler heat exchanger tubes comprising: a circular steel concave cap having a top and under side; an aperture through the top center of the cap, a major circumference greater than the circumference of the tube; a channel within the major circumference of the cap on the cap under side wherein the circumference of the channel is the same as the circumference of the tube; an elongated steel cylindrical wall proceeding from the under side of the cap and having a minor circumference less than the circumference of the channel, said cylinder wall having an aperture through the length of the cylinder continuous with the aperture at the top side of the cap; 
 a gasket contained in the channel;    a rod through the cap and wall apertures, said rod containing a gasket means to seal the top of the cap aperture; and    means to compress and seal the plug onto the tube.    
   
   
       2 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein said cap wall has a frustum shape.  
   
   
       3 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the tube is three inches.  
   
   
       4 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein the channel is a rectangular cross section channel on the under side of the cap.  
   
   
       5 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein the channel gasket has a rectangular cross section  
   
   
       6 . The plug of  claim 1  wherein the gasket is prepared from asbestos  
   
   
       7 . The plug of  claim 1  where said rod is a full threaded rod longer than the leaky tubes  
   
   
       8 . The rod of  claim 8  placed through the cap and cylinder apertures and having a plastic gasket, steel washer and hex nut on the rod above the cap  
   
   
       9 . The rod of  claim 9  placed through the cap and cylinder apertures and having a plastic gasket, steel washer and hex nut on the rod above the cap  
   
   
       10 . A method for seating and sealing plugs to cap leaking boiler heat exchanger tubes comprising: 
 preparing two plugs according to  claim 1  containing threaded rods;    inserting the two plugs on opposing ends of a tube with the tube ends in contact with the two channel gaskets;    adding gasket, washer and hex nuts to the ends of the rods;    tightening the hex nuts to force the tube ends into the channel gasket