US2420721A - Condenser tube packing - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1947. s. PENNELLA 2,420,721

I CONDENSER TUBE PACKING 7 Filed Jan. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5027706/ Pen/7 e/M INVENTOR ATTORNEY May'20, 1947. s. PENNELLA 2,420,721

7 CONDENSER TUBE PACKING Filed Jan. 7, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Samue/ Fennel/a INVENTOR A TTORNE Y May 20, 1947. s. PENNELLA ,4 ,7

' CONDENSER TUBE PACKING Filed Jan. '1, 1944 s SheetsQSheet sv Samue/ Pennefla INVENTOR ATTQRNEY Patented May 20, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDENSER TUBE PACKING Samuel Pennella, East Orange, N. J.

Application January 7, 1944, Serial No. 517,316

- 18 Claims.

1 This invention relates to surface condensers or heat exchangers of the surface type embodying tubes through which one of the fluids to be brought in heat exchange relationship flows, and more particularly to sealing means or packing for forming a fluidtight seal between the ends of the tubes and the tube sheets of such an apparatus.

The packing or sealing means forming the present invention is particularly adaptable for use in surface condensers or heat exchange device such as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,298,154, issued October 6, 1942, although it is adaptable for use with any approved type of condenser or heat exchange apparatus of the surface type; and the present invention constitutes an improvement over the packing or sealing means shown in said Letters Patent. Also the packing or sealing means of the present application constitutes an improvement over the analogous means disclosed in my companion application Serial No, 479,831.

An object of the present invention is to provide packing for the tubes of heat exchangers of the surface type which may be marketed as a complete assembled unit for packing one end of a tube, and which may be driven, as a unit, into the tube receiving bore of a tube head of the tube ,sheet by the use of an ordinary hammer and a simple mandrel, eliminating the use of special tools, wrenches, or the like, and also Very materially reducing the time and labor required for packing a tube.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packing structure as specified which, owing to its particular construction and the material of which it is constructed, may be made in complete units in standard sizes, such standard sizes being effective to seal tube and tube sheets within predetermined ranges such as in the event that the countersinks in the tube heads or tube sheets are over size or under size, thereby eliminating the manufacture of many odd sizes of packing.

In tube packings of the type disclosed in my companion application, Serial No. 479,831, embodying a fiber member swellable on wetting, a short interval of time will elapse after water is first passed through the tubes before the fiber will swell sufliciently to form a fluid-tight seal, thus permitting leakage of the water or coolant from the tubes into the interior of the heat exchange device for a short period of tim following the initial starting up of the apparatus. This is particularly undesirable in instances where the condenser is connected in a power system and replacement tubes are being installed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a packing for condenser or heat exchange tubes which will instantly form a fluid-tight seal, upon its'installation, between the packing and tube head and between the tube and packing, thus eliminating the short period of leakage above referred to, and a packing structure which will, through distortion of the swellable fabric sleeve, prevent displacement of the packing structure during the interval between its insertion between the tube sheet and its swelling to a sufiicient extent to cause it to be tightly sealed in place.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tube packing as specified which employed in surface condensers of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,298,154 will eifectively form fluid seals about the tubes and permit the tubes to be driven through the packing structure without disrupting the fluid seals or fluid-tight joints between the tube packing and the tube heads.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser tube packing of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in fragmentary longitudinal section showing the improved packin structures for use on the inlet and outlet ends of tubes in a surface condenser or heat exchange apparatus.

Figure 2 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of the packing structure employed at the inlet ends of the tubes, prior to its insertion into a tube sheet and showing it as it is assembled for marketing.

Figure 3 is an end View of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation through the improved type of packing employed at the inlet ends of the tubes showing how a part of this packing is distorted to form a seal and to hold the packing in place immediately after it has been driven into a tube head.

Figure 5 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of the improved packing such as i employed at the outlet end of the tubes.

Figure 6 is an end view of the packing shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view partly in longitudinal section 3 and partly in elevation showing the packing structure employed at the outlet end of the tubes immediately before it has been driven into position and distorted.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the packing such as employed at the inlet ends of the tubes.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the modified form of packing shown in Figure 8 illustrating it imposition in a tube sheet.

Figure 101s an end view of an expanding ring employed in the modified form of packing shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the packing such as is used at the outlet ends of the tubes.

Figure 12 is an end view of the modified form of the packing shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional View through a further modified form of the improved packing structure showing it in place in a tube et- Figure 14' is a longitudinal'sectio-n'through the modifiedformof the improved packing structure showing'it prior to its insertion in place in a tube sheet.

Figure 15 isanendview of the modified form of packing;

Figure 16is a longitudinal section'through the fiber sleeve" employed in the modified form of packing:

Referringmoreparticularly to the drawings, a tube suclras is used in surface condenser or analogous heatexchange'apparatusis shown at l and the 'ends'of this tube, as' is usualin the construction" of such apparatus, extend through the tube heads. or tube sheets 2 and 3 'which are positioned a't'the' inlet andoutlet ends of'the-tubes, respectively; The packing structure which in combination-with the manner of forming the countersinks in the tube heads or tube sheets 2 or 3 constitute the present invention are shown in section at the inlet and outlet ends of the tubes. In other particulars the packin'g employed at the outlet ends of the tubes is similar to that employed about the inlet ends efthet'ubes although the two structures differsomewhat in detail.

The packing structure employed at the inlet ends f the tubesi'sillustrated specifically in-Figures 2 to 4 ofthe drawings-and it comprises a cylindrical coil 4 of soft collapsiblepacking which may be corset lacing or any other approvedmaterialand which carries'a lubricant-so as to permit 'not only a firm sealing engagement with the outer surface of the tubes, but to provide sufficient lubrication to permit the tubes to be driven through the packing orsealing structures without disrupting the fluid-tight seal when the packing structures are employed in acondenser or heat exchange apparatus embodying the principles disclosed and claimed-in my Patent No. 2,298,154.

Fiber washers or rings 5 and 6 are placed at the opposite ends of the cylinder of soft collapsible packing, and a ferrule i which is preferably made of metal abuts against the outer end of the outer fiber'ring 5;- and it has an annular flange 8 on its outerend-which serves as a contact surface for limiting the insertion of the packing. into the countersunk bore or countersink 9 of the tube head 2-. And-it further provides an impact surface for facilitating'the driving of' the packing into'position in the countersink 9.

Fiber rings-5 and 6; the cylinder of soft collapsible packing 4, and the main body of the ferrule 1 are-all enclo's'edin'a' relatively thin cylinder: [9

4 which is made of fiber of any suitable composition which will swell when wetted.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the wall of the countersink 9 is corrugated or roughened as shown at H, and such roughening may be spiral grooves, screw threads, or any other suitable type of roughening desired so long as it provides alternate recesses and raised portions.

It will be noted by particular reference to the drawings; that the packing structure is so constructed that the entire unit for sealing the inlet end of each tube in a surface condenser or heat exchange apparatus is assembled and may be marketed as a complete unit so that it may be slipped and driven into the countersink about the inlet end of a tube in its unitary structure thereby eliminating much time, labor and consequent expensesuch' as is caused when threaded ferrules are employed to hold in place various types of packing structure which are inserted into the countersinks of the tube heads independently of the ferrules as has been the practice heretofore.

When the packing structure as a complete unit is driven into the countersink 9, after its inner end'engages the shoulder I2 formed by the inner end of the countersink, the packing is further driven inwardly by impact from an ordinaryhammer, or if's'o desired by an air hammer sufficiently to cause a rupture of' the relatively thin fiber enclosing sleeve Ii]? This rupture invariably occurs in the part of the sleeve which surrounds the soft collapsible packing, as clearly shown in Figures land 4 of the drawings causing the sleeveto be forced outwardly as indicated at M, engaging in certain of the recesses of the roughened inner surface ll of the countersink- 9, acting as a temporary immediate liquid seal to preventleakage o'f'liquid until such time as the fiber enclosing sleeve 1 0 and the fiber rings 5 and 6- swell through wetting to form thefirm, secure fiuid seal. This disruption of the fiber-containing sleeve lilalso prevents displacement of the packing until such time as it swells sufficiently to be thoroughly anchored in the countersink. The rupture of the fiber-containing sleeve it! caused by the compressing of the ring of the fiber sleeve also will cause the soft collapsible packing to'be forced into fluid-tight engagement Withthe tube I to maintain a-seal independently, until such time as-thefiber rings-5 and E-swell to cooperate with the soft flexible packing to form the-per-ma nent fiuid seal.

The. packingstructure employed for the discharge or outlet ends of the tubes l is, in its major respects, similar to the packing structure just described for use on the inlet ends of thetubes; however, it is slightly more simple in'construction.

The packing structure which is shown at the right hand side of'Figure 1 and Figuresfi; 6', and? comprises a fiber sleeve 29; the outer end of which is relatively thick in comparison with'themajor portion of the sleeve, as shown at 2'!) providing an annular shoulder 22' against which one end of the cylinder 23 of soft collapsible packing abuts. The soft collapsible packing 23 may be the same'as the softcollapsible packing 4 heretofo're described, and the'inner end of the cylinder of softcollap'sible packing engages against a 'fiber' washer 24'which'is inserted'into' the inner end-'of the reduced-portion 25 of the'sleeve 20'. The sleeve Zl'forrns a containing sleeve similar t'o'the containing sleeve I0, and the' portion o'f this sleeve extending inwar dly from the relativelyfthick' outer end? portion 2ithreof; is comparatively thin 50 that when the packingis driven into the counter:

A A s sink '23 in the tube sheet 3 this sleeve will be distorted'as shown at 2] and forced outwardly into some recesses of the roughened surface 28 of the countersink 26 as is clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the packing structure is driven into the countersinks. It is first inserted into the countersink 26, since its outer diameter is such that it may be easily inserted by hand, and a mandrel 29 is then employed, the small cylindrical body 33 of which fits into the tube I while the head 35 of the mandrel engages the outer end of the sleeve 21. The packing is then driven or forced inwardly in the countersink by hammer blows against the head 3| causing the outward disruption of the thin enclosing portion 25 "of the sleeve 23 and causing the soft pliable packing 23 to be forced into sealing engagement with the outer surface of the tube I.

Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings show slight modifications in the packing structures for the inlet and outlet ends of the tubes of a condenser or analogous heat exchanger. And Figures 8 to inclusive show the modified construction of the packing for use about the inlet ends of the tubes.

This modified construction of the packing comprises a cylinder of soft collapsible packing-33 which may be of any suitable type of soft collapsible packing such as referred to in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. This packing is surrounded or enclosed within a fiber-containing sleeve 34 which is constructed of fibrous material which will swell when wetted, and which may be distorted by impact a slight distance radially without breaking. The containing sleeve 34 a clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings projects beyond each end of the cylinder 33 of soft collapsible packing, and a fiber washer 33 abuts against the outer end of the cylinder 33, while a second fiber washer 38 abuts against the inner end of the sleeve 33. These fiber washers 35 and 36 are made of material swellable when wetted and are preferably made of the same material as a relatively thin containing sleeve 34. As shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, the sleeve 36 in the inner end of the packing is tapered, gradually increasing in diameter as it extends outwardly from the inner end of the sleeve 34, and prior to the packing being driven in place within a tube sheet, this sleeve 36 projects a short distance beyond the inner end of the containing sleeve 34. A metal ferrule 37 which is similar in its construction and functions to the ferrule 1 is provided, and this ferrule extends into the outer end of the relatively thin fiber-containing sleeve 34. The ferrule 31 differs from the ferrule 'I however, in that its outer surface is tapered, gradually increasing in diameter from its inner end to its outer end on which the annular flange 38 is formed.

When this modified form of packing is driven into the countersink 39 in the tube sheet 4!], additional blows imparted thereto after the inner end of the sleeve 36 engages the shoulder 4| formed at the inner end of the countersink will drive the tapered sleeve 33 into the inner end of the containing sleeve 34 causing radially outward disruption of the sleeve, as indicated at 42 in Figure 9 of the drawings, and forcing such outward radial disrupted portion into recesses in the roughened inner surface of the countersink 3-9 forming a seal between the sleeve 34 and the tube sheet. Also-during such continued blows,

,the ferrule 31 will be driven into the outer end of the sleeve 34'causing radially outward disruptionof the outer end portions of the sleeve 34 which radial outward disruptions will engage in certain of the recesses of the roughened inner surface of the countersink 39, as shown at 43 of Figure 9 of the drawings. Such additional impact blows will also cause the outward radial disruption of the sleeve 34 at the part which surrounds the soft collapsible packing 33, as shown at 44, thereby providing instantaneous fluid seals between the packing and tube sheet and between the packing and tube which will temporarily prevent leakage until the swelling of the fiber-containing sleeve 34 and fiber rings 35 and 36 complete the permanent seal.

In Figure 11 ofthe drawings, a modification of the packing structure for the discharge or outlet ends of the tubes is shown which modification corresponds to the modification of the packing for the inlet ends of the tubes such as is shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive. The packing structure shown in Figure 11 differs from the packing structures in Figures 5 to 7 only in that the sleeve 45 which engages the inner end of the cylinder 43 of soft collapsible packing has its outer surface tapered as shown at 41 so that when the packing is driven into the countersink in a tube sheet, the inner end of the relatively thin containing portion 48 of the fiber sleeve 49 will be forced outwardly into engagement in some of the recesses formed in the roughened inner surface of the countersink so as to provide a temporary seal such as is formed by the sleeve 36 being driven into the sleeve 34.

The provision of the swellable fiber-containing sleeves, which may be disrupted to form temporary, instantaneous fluid seals and to hold the packing in place when it is initially driven into the countersinks, provides a very distinctive advantage in packings of this type in that it eliminates the need of a very high degree of accuracy in the outer diameter of the packing such as is required when merely fiber sleeves are employed because such disruption action not only serves to hold the fiber packing in place until it swells upon wetting, but it provides'a temporary seal against leakage all of which are not provided by single fiber sleeves even in the event that such sleeves are made to the exact dimensions to fit tightly about the tubes and in the countersinks. If the single fiber sleeves are made to fit tightly as to maintain them in place before swelling they will, upon swelling, cause a constriction in the 7 tubes themselves, often resulting in eddies in the fiuid flow through the tubes causing excessive pitting or erosion of the tubes.

Figures 13 to 16 inclusive of the drawings show a still further modified form of the packing which embodies substantially the same essential features of the types of packing shown in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, differing therefrom primarily in the manner in which the soft, pliable packing or corset lacing is held in position prior to the insertion of the packing in a tube sheet.

This modified form of the'packing comprises a fiber sleeve 59 which has an annular flange 51 formed on its inner surface, against the outer end of which flange 5| the inner end of the metal ferrule 52 abuts. A cylindrical coil of soft, 001- lapsible packing which may be corset lacing or any other approved material and which carries a lubricant so as to permit not only a firm sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of the tube, but to provide sufficient lubrication to permit the tubes; to be -;dr v.en throu h the machine. or-sealingstructure hunt disrupt n the flu ht, seal is inse ted I Q?the,j, :sl eve with i s inner end abuttin yth outer shoulder donnedbythe eflan e Bil. illhe cylin r cal coil of suit. collapsible packin is firm y h ld bs t c within the fibersleeve fill-by the crimp ne'cf-i h c ter-end of the sieeveas tshownaatili ll thus the pac ing mpl yed-may e assembled ain,t o-;a.:c om- Dlete unit rea y fo use; as show n erection Fi u e of th drawin wh n i p aced on the market, audit mayb quickly in erted i to the counte si hifo edinan t pe of tubes e t 56 about the tube receiving opening #51. thepaekin struct re is d ive ;in b.theccun e sink 55 and the inner c in ped end ofthe sleeve, .59 eneae sthe inne end 15. of. he qun e ts h further drivi inw rdly :of th packing w ll c us an o tward disruption- :Qff. the slee e,v a hown at '59 soas to provide ani' ltialseal about the tub nd t h l the pack n plac .It will be un e s od t at z hejinvent ohno to be l mited to the specific onst u t on o a rang me t of pa t -.shown-but that theyma wid l modified w thin the inv nt cn .defined by hecla ms.

What is claimed-is:

1. Ina h at ex h n tu she ts fluid ci ulatin t b s. said tube ;.sheets. pr vided with pe n s o r c iv th ends of said tubes and w th ount r inks a ou said open n s mult na 111g in int rnal annular shoulders, the walls o aid :coun-ter inks being r u hened. backing o forming a fluidtight seal between the 'tl-lbesand tube sheets, ea h tu packing including at in be c nfining s e ve swellabl when watt whichsleev is distorte lad a lycutwa d y int he rec es of th roughened portion of th coun -ersinkswhendriven ther into- In a hea xchaneenztube sheets, ui ulating tub s. sai tu e sheets pr v w th op nin s to re ve th ends bf said tub s and with coun rsinhs abou said openin s t m na ing in i ernal annula sho ld r the wa11s o said count rsinhs be n rou h ned, backin fo formin a flui -ti ht seal bet een th tubes an tub sheets each :tub packing inc d n a cy inder of soft col apsi le packi a thin fiber confining sleeve, swellable when W ttediabQu -sfild s f lapsible p ckinaandm ans en a ing th ends of saidcylinder ofsofi: ;cqllapsibl e pa cking for confining itin said sleeve.

3. In a heat exchanger, tube. sheets, fluidaclrculating .tubes, said tube sheets provided with openings to receive the endsuofisaid .tubes and with countersinks about said openings terminating in internal annular shoulders, thewalls .of said countersinks being roughened, packing for forming a fiuid-tight-seal between thetubes and tube sheets, each tube packing including .a lcylinder of soft collapsible packing, a thin "fiber confining sleeve swellable when l etted about said soft collapsible packing, and .means engaging the ends ofsaid cylinder of softcollapsible packing for confining it in said sleeve, said thin fiber sleeve being of such .thicknessand composition. that upondriving in. av countersink will become radially outwardly distorted into;certain of the recesses of theroughened portion .of the countersink.

4. *In a heat exchanger, tube sheets, :fillid circulating tubes, said :tube sheets provided with openings to receive the ends .of said tubes and with countersinksabout said openings terminate ing in internal annular shoulders, the walls of aid countersinks bein rou hened. pack for forminea-flu d-t eh seal b t en the tubes and tube sheets, each :tube packing including-a cylinder of soft collapsible packing, fiber washers at each end of said soft collapsible packing and a thin ifiber confiningsleeve swellable when 'wetted about said soft collapsible packing and said fiber Washers, said thin fiber sleeve bein of Such thickness and composition that upon driving in a countersink it will become radially outwardly distorted into. certain of the recesses of'theroughene d portion of the countersink.

radieat iexphanger, tube sheets, fluid circulating tubes, said tube sheets provided with op n ng t re e ve t end of said tub s and withoountersinks about said openings terminating internal annular shoulders, the walls of ai untersihks bein r u he ed, pa in fqr form n a ifl d-tieht eal between the tubes a d tube sheets, each tube packing including a cylinder of so collapsi le pa kin fiber wash at each end Qfi-said o t co lapsible pa king and a thin fibe cqnfininesle ve swe able when we ted about saidsoft collapsible packing and said fi er washers sa d thin fi r sle v ein of such thickness and composition that upon driving in a countersink it will become radially outwardly distorted into certainof therecesses-of the roughened portion of .the countersink, and a ferrule extending into the outer end of said thin fiber sleeve, said ferrule having an annular driving fiangeonits outer-end.

6. In a heat exchanger, tube sheets, fluid circulating tubes, said tube sheets provided with opening to receive the ends of said tubes, and with countersinks about said. openings terminatingin internal annular shoulders, the walls of said countersinks being roughened, packing for forming a fluid-tight seal between the tubes and tube sheets, veach tube packing including a cylinder of soft collapsible packing, a thinfiber confining sleeve swellable when wetted about said sorft collapsible packing, a fiber ring extending into theinner end of said-sleeve and being tapered whereb when the (packing is driven into posi- :tiQh in acountersink the inner end of said sleeve will be expanded into recesses of the roughened surfaced-th r nk- 7. In a heat exchanger, tube sheets, fluid circulating tubes, said tube sheets provided with openings to receive the ends of said tubes and with ountersink-s about said op i gs t rm a ing in internal annular shoulders, the Walls of said countersinks be n u h ned b k n for .fo rmingafluid-tight seal between the tubes and tube. sheets, each tube ra n includin a y nder of-sott collainsiblena k h -thih fibe fining sleeveswellable when-wettedabout said soft o laps bl packing a fib r r n t ndin int he-inn;er end 'Q said lee e and bein a ere where y when th b cki g i dri e nt it on in a countersink the inner, end of said sleeve will b expanded int e sses of t roug en ace of th coun sinkkand au .in llte end :of said th n :fibe sleeve and be n tapered w erebywh n. th packin .is driven int po on in acountersihkrsa hinsfi e sleev wi e pandedint recesses of the ro hened sur ac of th ounters nk- 8.. n a :heat ex h nge tub sheets lu d b .culating :tubes, said tube sheets provided. with penings .to receive the ends o said ubesiand with. countersink about said oneuiues term na ing .in internal ,annularwshoulder h wa l ,Q said .countersinks being rou ened, ackin for forming a fluid-tight seal between the tubes and tube sheets, each tube packing including a, cylinder of soft collapsible packing, a thin fiber confining sleeve swellable when wetted about said soft collapsible packing, a ferrule extending into the outer end of said sleeve and having its outer surface tapered whereby when the packing is driven into position in a countersink the outer end of said sleeve will be expanded into recesses of the roughened surface of the countersink.

9. A packing for heat exchanger tubes comprising, a thin fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve and adapted to engage a tube when in packing association therewith, and means within the sleeve and engaging said packing for retaining the packing within the sleeve.

10. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve and adapted to engage a tube when in packing association therewith, and means formed upon said sleeve and engaging said soft collapsible packing for retaining it within the sleeve.

11. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve, a portion of said sleeve surrounding said collapsible packing being thinner than some other portions of the sleeve, whereby when the packing is driven into an opening and in endwise engagement with an abutment the thin portion of the sleeve surrounding a collapsible packing will be distorted outwardly.

12. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve, a portion of said sleeve surrounding said collapsible packing being thinner than some other portions of the sleeve, whereby when the packing is driven into an opening and in endwise engagement with an abutment the thin portion of the sleeve surrounding the collapsible packing will be distorted outwardly, and means within said sleeve and engaging said packing for retaining it within the sleeve.

13. A packing for heat exchanger tubes comprising, a thin fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve, means within the sleeve and engaging said packing for retaining the packing within the sleeve, and said packing retaining means serving to reinforce the portions of the sleeve on each side of the packing whereby when the packing is driven into an opening and in endwise engagement with an abutment the portion of the sleeve surrounding the collapsible packing will be distorted outwardly.

14. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve, and means for reinforcing said fiber sleeve at each end of said collapsible packing whereby when the 10 packing is driven into an opening and in endwise engagement with an abutment a portion of the sleeve surrounding the collapsible packing will be distorted outwardly.

15. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve and adapted to engage a heat exchange tube when in packing association therewith, one end of said fiber sleeve being inturned to form an annular flange for confining said soft collapsible packing in the sleeve.

16. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing in said sleeve and adapted to engage a heat exchange tube when in packing association therewith, a tapered sleeve extending partly into one end of said fiber sleeve whereby when the tapered sleeve is driven into the fiber sleeve the latter will be disrupted radially outwardly.

17. A packing for heat exchange tubes, comprising a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing in said sleeve and adapted to engage a heat exchange tube when in packing association therewith, a tapered sleeve extending partly into one end of said fiber sleeve whereby when the tapered sleeve is driven into the fiber sleeve the latter will be disrupted radially outwardly, and said soft collapsible packing will be compressed and distorted radially inwardly towards its axis.

18. A packing for heat exchange tubes comprising, a fiber sleeve swellable when wetted, soft collapsible packing within said fiber sleeve and adapted to engage a heat exchange tube when in packing association therewith, a portion of said sleeve surrounding said collapsible packing ing thinner than some other portions of the sleeve, whereby when the packing is driven into an opening and in endwise engagement with an abutment the thin portion of the sleeve surrounding a collapsible packing will be distorted outwardly, and said soft collapsible packing will be compressed and distorted radially inwardly towards its axis.

SAMUEL PENNELLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,298,154; Pennella Oct. 6, 1942 1,683,393 Morgan Sept. 4, 1928 1,714,703 Walton May 28, 1929 Re. 6,661 Lighthall Sept. 28, 1875 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,824 Great Britain June 1905

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