PIPE SUPPORT INSTALLATION ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A tube holder mounting assembly includes a press assembly having a housing and an upper block configured to flatten the fins on a first surface of a finned tube; a pressure arm can be operated to move the upper block vertically relative to the housing; a lower block is configured to flatten the fins on a second surface of the finned tube when the pressure arm rotates and moves the upper block downward; a tube holder clamping assembly includes a clamping housing configured to receive a tube holder having top, bottom, rear, and front walls, the tube holder being configured to receive a flattened portion of the finned tube; a clamping arm is connected by connecting arms to a clamping block, the clamping block being configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the tube holder.

Description

PIPE SUPPORT INSTALLATION ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION The aspects of this invention relate generally to an assembly for installing tube supports on a finned heat exchanger tube and, in particular, to an assembly that flattens a portion of fins on a heat exchanger tube and installs a tube support on the flattened portion. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The cores of heat exchangers may contain a plurality of finned tubes through which the heated fluid passes to be cooled. When these finned tubes are long, they may swing within the heat exchanger core frame and sometimes interlock with one another. Tube supports may be installed on the finned tubes to provide support along their length and help prevent the fins of each tube from contacting or catching on the fins of adjacent tubes or from contacting the structure. It would be desirable to provide an assembly and method for easily installing tube supports on finned tubes of a heat exchanger core. The particular objects and advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art, i.e., those with knowledge or experience in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and the detailed description of certain embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the present invention can be used to advantageously provide an assembly for installing a tube support on a finned tube of a heat exchanger core, and a method for installing such a support. According to a first aspect, a tube support assembly includes a blade strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube. A press assembly includes a housing having an opening through which the alignment bar extends. An upper block is movably mounted in the housing and extends downward toward the alignment bar and is configured to flatten a first set of fins onto a first surface of a portion of the finned tube. A pressure arm is rotatably mounted on the upper block and can be operated to move the upper block vertically relative to the housing.A lower block extends upward from the alignment bar and is configured to flatten a second set of fins onto a second, opposite surface of a finned tube portion when the pressure arm rotates and moves the upper block downward. A tube support clamping assembly includes a clamping housing with a recess configured to receive a bracket having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall. The bracket is configured to receive the finned tube portion. A clamping arm is connected by a pair of connecting arms to a clamping block pivotally connected to the clamping housing. The clamping block is configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the bracket when the clamping arm is rotated. According to another aspect, a tube support mounting assembly includes a blade strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube. A stop block is loosely secured to the alignment bar. A press assembly includes a housing through which the alignment bar extends. An upper block is movably mounted in the housing and extends downward toward the alignment bar and is configured to flatten a first set of fins on a first surface of a portion of the finned tube. A pressure arm is rotatably mounted on the upper block and can be operated to move the upper block vertically relative to the housing.A lower block extends upward from the alignment bar and is configured to flatten a second set of fins onto a second, opposite surface of a finned tube portion when the pressure arm rotates and moves the upper block downward. A tube support clamping assembly includes a clamping housing with a recess configured to receive a bracket having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall. The bracket is configured to receive the finned tube portion. A clamping arm is connected by a pair of connecting arms to a clamping block pivotally connected to the clamping housing. The clamping block is configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the bracket when the clamping arm is rotated.A gauge assembly is configured to receive a flattened portion of the finned tube to determine if the support can receive the flattened portion. According to additional aspects, a tube support mounting assembly includes a clamping strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube. A stop block is loosely secured to the alignment bar. A press assembly includes a housing having an opening through which the alignment bar extends. A top block is movably mounted in the housing and extends downward toward the alignment bar and is configured to compress a plurality of fins onto a first surface of a portion of the finned tube. An arm is rotatably mounted on the top block and can be operated to move the top block vertically with respect to the housing. A stop restricts the downward movement of the top block.A lower block extends upward from the alignment bar and is configured to compress a plurality of fins against a second, opposing surface of a finned tube portion when the arm rotates and moves the upper block downward. A tube support clamping assembly includes a clamping housing with a throat configured to receive a support having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall. The support is configured to receive the finned tube portion. A clamping arm is connected by a pair of connecting arms to a rotating block. The rotating block is configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the support.A gauge assembly includes a first plate, a second plate spaced vertically above the first plate and defining a first groove between the first and second plates having a first height, and a third plate spaced vertically above the second plate and defining a second groove between the second and third plates having a second height that is less than the first height. According to other aspects, one method for installing a support on a finned heat exchanger tube includes placing a sword strip inside a tube portion of a finned tube; inserting the sword strip into a first open end of the finned tube; passing the finned heat exchanger tube through an opening in a housing of a press assembly and along an alignment bar extending through the opening, the press assembly including a lower block extending upwards from the alignment bar, an upper block movably mounted in the housing and extending downwards to the alignment bar, and a pressure arm rotatably mounted on the upper block;rotating the pressure arm to move the upper block downwards so that the upper block compresses a plurality of fins on a first surface of a finned tube portion and a plurality of fins on a second opposite surface of the finned tube portion to form a flattened portion of the finned tube; positioning a bracket having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall in a groove of a clamping housing of a tube bracket clamping assembly, the tube bracket clamping assembly including a clamping arm connected by a pair of link arms to a block pivotally connected to the housing; positioning the flattened portion of the finned tube in the bracket; and moving the clamping arm so that the block engages and forces the front wall to snap into place with the top wall of the bracket. Based on the foregoing disclosure, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art—that is, those with knowledge or experience in this area of ​​technology—that the preferred arrangements for installing a bracket on a finned tube of a heat exchanger core can represent a significant technological advancement in improving bracket installation. These and other features and advantages will be further clarified by the following detailed description of certain preferred arrangements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table-mounted tube support installation assembly. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a finned tube before passing through a press assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a finned tube passing through a press assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a finned tube placed next to a stop block of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a press assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1, shown with a finned tube before compression of the fins onto the finned tube. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a press assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1, shown with a finned tube during the flattening of the fins on the finned tube. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower blocks of a press assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1, shown after the blocks have flattened the fins of the finned tube. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a finned tube after a portion of the tube has had its fins flattened by the pressure assembly of the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a gauge assembly of the pipe support installation assembly of Figure 1. Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the gauge assembly of Figure 9, shown with a flattened portion of a finned tube inserted into a first space of the gauge assembly. Figure 11 is a perspective view of a tube support clamping assembly from the tube support installation assembly of Figure 1, shown with a bracket inserted into a recess in the tube support clamping assembly housing and a finned tube before its insertion into the bracket. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the tube support clamping assembly of Figure 11, shown with a flattened portion of a finned tube previously inserted into the support. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the clamping assembly of the tube support in Figure 11, shown with a clamping block that attaches to a front wall of the support and forces it to snap into a top wall of the support. Figure 14 is a perspective view of the tube support clamping assembly of Figure 11, shown with the support fitted around a flattened portion of the finned tube. The figures referred to above are not necessarily drawn to scale and should be understood as providing a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the pipe support installation assembly shown in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others for ease of explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. The pipe support installation assemblies, as disclosed herein, would have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and the environment in which they are used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention can be implemented in various ways. One embodiment of a pipe support mounting assembly 10 is shown in Figure 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the components of the pipe support mounting assembly 10 are mounted on top of a table 12. It should be noted that it is not necessary to mount all the components of the pipe support mounting assembly 10 on a single table 12, and that one or more components of the pipe support mounting assembly 10 could be positioned remotely from the rest of the pipe support mounting assembly 10. For convenience, the terms upper and lower and top and bottom are used here to differentiate between the upper and lower ends of the 10 pipe support installation assembly and particular components of the assembly. It should be noted that upper and lower and top and bottom are used only to facilitate description and understanding and are not intended to limit the possible spatial orientations of the pipe support installation assembly or its components during assembly or use. The term "substantially," as used herein, means mostly, or nearly the same, within the constraints of objectives, costs, manufacturing tolerances, and commercially sensitive engineering capabilities in the field of pipe support installation. Similarly, the term "approximately," as used herein, means close to, or around, a particular value, within the constraints of objectives, costs, manufacturing tolerances, and commercially sensitive engineering capabilities in the field of pipe support installation. The tube support installation assembly 10 may include an alignment bar 14 on which a finned heat exchanger tube or finned tube 16, as seen in Figures 2 to 4, is placed. A stop block 18 may be removably secured to the alignment bar 14 and used to correctly position the finned tube 16 along the alignment bar 14. A shim strip 20 may extend along the alignment bar 14 and may be received in the finned tube 16 during at least part of the installation of a support 21 (as seen in Figures 11 to 14 below) on the finned tube 16, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. A press assembly 22 can be placed along the alignment bar 14 and can be used to flatten the fins on the finned tube 16, as described in more detail below. A gauge assembly 24 can be secured to the alignment bar 14 and can be used to measure a flattened portion of the fins on the finned tube 16. A tube support clamping assembly 26 can be placed on the table 12 and can be configured to clamp a support around the flattened portion of the fins on the finned tube 16, as described in more detail below. Each stop block 18, pressure assembly 22, gauge assembly 24, and tube support clamping assembly 26 can be configured as a separate workstation where a different stage in the installation of the support 21 on the finned tube 16 can be performed. As noted above, each of these elements or workstations can be placed on table 12; however, it should be appreciated that one or more of the workstations can be located remotely from table 12 and still perform their intended function in the installation of supports 21 on the finned tube 16. As seen in Figures 2 to 4, the finned tube 16 may include a tube portion 28 having a first open end 30 and a second open end (not shown), and a plurality of fins 32 secured to an outer surface of the tube portion 28. The first open end 30 may be substantially cylindrical while the tube portion 28 may be flatter with an oval or racetrack shape. To begin the installation of the bracket 21 on the finned tube 16, as shown in Figures 2 to 3, a first end 34 of the blade strip 20 is inserted into the first open end 30 of the finned tube 16, and then the finned tube is slid along the alignment bar 14. The finned tube 16 is then passed along the alignment bar 14 and through an opening 36 of the press assembly 32, through which the alignment bar 14 extends. The finned tube 16 can be passed along the alignment bar 14 until a selected portion of the finned tube 16 is positioned at the center of the press assembly 22, where a portion of the fins 32 can be flattened to accommodate the support 21. In certain embodiments, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the stop block 18 can be moved along the alignment bar 14 until the left edge 38 of the stop block 18 is located at the desired distance D from the center of the press assembly 22. As shown in Figure 4, a scale 39 can be positioned along the alignment bar 14, enabling the user to accurately measure the distance between the left edge 38 of the stop block 18 and the center of the press assembly 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the scale 39 has measurements in inches; however, it should be appreciated that any unit of measurement may be used. on scale 39. The stop block 18 can then be secured to the alignment bar 14 with one or more fasteners, such as bolts 40. It should be appreciated that any type of fastener can be used to releasably secure the stop block 18 to the alignment bar 14, and that other suitable fasteners will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. Once the finned tube 16 is in the correct position with respect to the press assembly 22, a first assembly 42 of fins 32 on the top or first surface 44 of the finned tube 16 and a second assembly 46 of fins 32 on the bottom or second surface 48 of the finned tube 16 can be compressed or flattened by the press assembly 22 to form a flattened portion 49 of the finned tube 16. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the press assembly 22 may include a housing 50 that defines the opening 36. A gripper 52 may be rotatably supported in the housing 50 by a shaft 54. A pinion (not visible) at one end of the shaft 54 ​​meshes with a rack 56 such that rotation of the gripper 52 about the shaft 54 ​​causes the rack 56 to move vertically. An upper block 58 of the press assembly 22 is mounted on the underside of the rack 56, and a lower block 60 of the press assembly is mounted in the housing 50 below the upper block 58. When a user grasps an upper portion 62 of the handle 52 and rotates it forward about the axis 54, the rack 56 moves downward, causing the upper block 60 to move downward in the direction of arrow A and compress or flatten the first set 42 of fins 32. Simultaneously, when the upper block 60 presses down on the first set 42 of fins 32, the second set 46 of fins 32 is pushed down and compressed or flattened by the lower block 62 to create a flattened portion 49 of the finned tube 16 that has a height F. Figure 8 illustrates the finned tube 16 with the first set 42 and the second set 46 of fins 32 in a flattened condition. A stop 64 can be mounted in the housing 50, as illustrated in Figure 5, and positioned to engage the upper block 58 and stop its downward movement in the desired position. Positioning the finning strip 20 within the tube portion 28 of the finned tube 16 can help prevent the tube portion 28 from being compressed and flattened when the upper block 60 moves downward. As shown in Figure 9, the 24-gauge assembly may include a first plate 66, which can be secured to the alignment bar 14 by means of a fastener such as a 68-gauge bolt. It should be appreciated that the first plate 66 can be attached to the alignment bar 14 by any type of fastener, and that other suitable fasteners will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the 24-gauge assembly need not be secured to the alignment bar 14 and can be located in any desired position away from the alignment bar 14. A second plate 70 can be spaced vertically above the first plate 66, defining a first space 72 between the first plate 66 and the second plate 70, which has a first height Hl. A first spacer 74 can be placed between the first plate 66 and the second plate 70.A third plate 76 may be spaced vertically above the second plate 70, defining a second space 78 between the second plate 70 and the third plate 76, which has a second height H2 that is less than the height H1. A second spacer 80 may be placed between the second plate 70 and the third plate 76. The first plate 66, the first spacer 74, the second plate 70, the second spacer 80, and the third plate 76 may be secured to each other by one or more fasteners, such as plate bolts 82. It should be appreciated that the first plate 66, the first spacer 74, the second plate 70, the second spacer 80, and the third plate 76 may be secured to each other by any type of fastener, and that other suitable fasteners will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. The 24-gauge assembly can be used to determine if the first set 42 and the second set 46 of fins 32 have been flattened sufficiently so that the height F of the flattened portion 49 is the correct size to receive the support 21. To use the 24-gauge assembly, as shown in Figure 10, the flattened portion 49 of the finned tube 26 can be inserted alternately into each of the first space 72 and the second space 78. The height H1 of the first space 72 and the height H2 of the second space 78 can be dimensioned to ensure that the flattened portion 49 is sized to accommodate the support 21. When the height F of the flattened portion 49 is small enough for the flattened portion 49 to slide into the first space 72, as illustrated in Figure 10, but too large to slide into the second space 78, the user can be confident that support 21 will fit into the flattened part 49. The installation of support 21 on the flattened portion 49 of the finned tube 16 with the tube support clamping assembly 26 is illustrated in Figures 11 to 14. The support 21 may include a top wall 84, a bottom wall 86, a back wall 88, and a front wall 90 having a bottom edge 92 pivotally connected to the bottom wall 86 and a free top edge 94. Initially, the support 21 may be seated in a recess 96 formed in a clamping housing 98 of the tube support clamping assembly 26. A projection 100 may be formed on the back wall 88 and received in a groove 102 formed on a back surface 104 of the recess 96 to help retain the support 21 within the recess 96. The clamping assembly of the tube support 26 may include a clamping arm 106 pivotally connected via an arm shaft 108 to the clamping housing 98. A pair of link arms 110 may be pivotally connected at their first ends 112 to a first arm shaft 114 supported by a clamping arm 106, and at their second ends 116 to a second arm shaft 118 supported by a clamping block 120. The clamping block 120 may be pivotally connected via a block shaft 122 to the clamping housing 98. To install the bracket 21 on the finned tube 16, as illustrated in Figure 12, the flattened portion 49 of the finned tube 16 is inserted into the bracket 21 between the upper wall 84 and the lower wall 86, with the front wall angled forward away from the lower wall 86. When the flattened portion 49 is properly seated within the bracket 21, the clamping arm 106 can pivot backward about the axis of arm 108, causing the linking arms 110 to pull the clamping block 120 and pivot it backward about the axis of block 122. As the clamping block 120 pivots backward, it engages with the front wall 90 of the bracket 21 and forces the front wall backward such that a lip 124 on the free upper edge 94 of the front wall is pressed into a groove 126 formed in the upper wall 84 (seen in Figure 11), thus closing the support 21 over the flattened part 49 of the finned tube 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the support clamping assembly is seated and mounted on table 12. It should be noted that the clamping assembly of the tube support 24 need not be seated or secured to table 12, and may be located in any desired position away from table 12. This document describes several embodiments of a pipe support installation assembly, which include various components and features. In other embodiments, the pipe support installation assembly may be provided with any combination of these components and features. It is also understood that in other embodiments, the various devices, components, and features of the pipe support installation assembly described herein may be constructed from similar structural and functional elements having different configurations, including different ornamental appearances. Skilled practitioners, with the knowledge gained from this disclosure, will recognize that various modifications to the disclosed apparatus and methods can be made to achieve these and other advantages without departing from the scope of this disclosure. As such, it should be understood that the features described herein are subject to modification, alteration, change, or substitution. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of these elements and / or steps that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same manner, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the embodiments described herein. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully provided for and contemplated. The specific embodiments illustrated and described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the claims made in the appended assertions.Other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that the foregoing description is provided for clarity only and is merely an example. The spirit and scope of this disclosure are not limited to the foregoing examples, but are included in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tube support mounting assembly comprising: a blade strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube; a press assembly comprising: a housing having an opening through which the alignment bar extends; an upper block movably mounted in the housing and extending downwards towards the alignment bar and configured to flatten a first set of fins on a first surface of a portion of the finned tube; a pressure arm rotatably mounted on the upper block and operable to move the upper block vertically with respect to the housing; and a lower block extending upwards from the alignment bar and configured to flatten a second set of fins on a second opposite surface of a portion of the finned tube when the pressure arm rotates and moves the upper block downwards;and a tube support clamping assembly comprising: a clamping housing having a recess configured to receive a support having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall, the support being configured to receive the finned tube portion; and a clamping arm connected by a pair of connecting arms to a clamping block pivotally connected to the clamping housing, the clamping block being configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the support when the clamping arm is rotated.

2. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a gauge assembly including a first plate, a second plate spaced vertically above the first plate and defining a first space between the first and second plates having a first height, and a third plate spaced vertically above the second plate and defining a second space between the second and third plates having a second height that is less than the first height.

3. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 2, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a first spacer placed between the first plate and the second plate, and a second spacer placed between the second plate and the third plate.

4. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a stop block releasably fixed to the alignment bar.

5. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a scale extending along the alignment bar.

6. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 5, further characterized in that the scale measures a distance along the alignment bar from a center of the press assembly.

7. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the pressure assembly includes a stop to restrict downward movement of the upper block.

8. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the connecting arms are pivotally connected at their first ends to the clamping arm by means of a first arm axis and at their second ends to the clamping block by means of a second arm axis. 9 - The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the clamping block is pivotally connected by means of a block shaft supported by the clamping housing.

10. A tube support mounting assembly comprising: a blade strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube; a stop block releasably fixed to the alignment bar; and a press assembly comprising: a housing through which the alignment bar extends; an upper block movably mounted in the housing and extending downwards towards the alignment bar and configured to flatten a first set of fins on a first surface of a portion of the finned tube; a pressure arm rotatably mounted on the upper block and operable to move the upper block vertically with respect to the housing;and a lower block extending upward from the alignment bar and configured to flatten a second set of fins on a second opposite surface of a portion of the finned tube when the pressure arm rotates and moves the upper block downward; a tube support clamping assembly comprising: a clamping housing having a recess configured to receive a support having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall, the support being configured to receive the portion of the finned tube; and a clamping arm connected by a pair of connecting arms to a clamping block pivotally connected to the clamping housing, the clamping block configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the support when the clamping arm is rotated;and a gauge assembly configured to receive a flattened portion of the finned tube to determine if the support can receive the flattened portion.

11. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 10, further characterized in that the gauge assembly comprises a first plate, a second plate spaced vertically above the first plate and defining a first space between the first and second plates having a first height, and a third plate spaced vertically above the second plate and defining a second space between the second and third plates having a second height that is less than the first height.

12. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 11, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a first spacer placed between the first plate and the second plate, and a second spacer placed between the second plate and the third plate.

13. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 10, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a scale extending along the alignment bar. 14 - The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 13, further characterized in that the scale measures a distance along the alignment bar from a center of the press assembly.

15. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 10, further characterized in that the connecting arms are pivotally connected at their first ends to the clamping arm by means of a first arm axis and at their second ends to the clamping block by means of a second arm axis.

16. The tube support mounting assembly according to claim 10, further characterized in that the clamping block is pivotally connected by means of a block shaft supported by the clamping housing.

17. A tube support mounting assembly comprising: a blade strip extending along an alignment bar and configured to be received within a finned tube; a stop block releasably fixed to the alignment bar; a press assembly comprising: a housing having an opening through which the alignment bar extends; an upper block movably mounted in the housing and extending downwards towards the alignment bar and configured to compress a plurality of fins on a first surface of a portion of the finned tube; an arm rotatably mounted on the upper block and operable to move the upper block vertically with respect to the housing; a stop for restricting downward movement of the upper block;and a lower block extending upward from the alignment bar and configured to flatten a plurality of fins on a second opposite surface of a finned tube portion when the arm rotates and moves the upper block downward; and a tube support clamping assembly comprising: a clamping housing having a throat configured to receive a support having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall, the support being configured to receive the finned tube portion; and a clamping arm connected by a pair of link arms to a rotating block, the rotating block configured to engage and force the front wall into a press fit with the top wall of the support;and a gauge assembly comprising a first plate, a second plate spaced vertically above the first plate and defining a first groove between the first and second plates having a first height, and a third plate spaced vertically above the second plate and defining a second groove between the second and third plates having a second height that is less than the first height.

18. A method for installing a support on a finned heat exchanger tube comprising: positioning a blade strip within a tube portion of a finned tube; inserting the blade strip into a first open end of the finned tube; passing the finned heat exchanger tube through an opening in a housing of a press assembly and along an alignment bar extending through the opening, the press assembly including a lower block extending upwards from the alignment bar, an upper block movably mounted in the housing and extending downwards towards the alignment bar, and a pressure arm rotatably mounted on the upper block;rotate the pressure arm to move the upper block downwards so that the upper block flattens a plurality of fins on a first surface of a finned tube portion and a plurality of fins on a second opposite surface of the finned tube portion to form a flattened portion of the finned tube; position a bracket having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, and a front wall pivotally connected to the bottom wall in a groove of a clamping housing of a tube support clamping assembly, the tube support clamping assembly including a clamping arm connected by a pair of link arms to a block pivotally connected to the housing; position the flattened portion of the finned tube in the bracket; and move the clamping arm so that the block engages and forces the front wall to press-fit against the top wall of the bracket.

19. The method according to claim 18, further characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of: placing a stop block in a desired position along the alignment bar before the step of placing a sword strip inside a portion of the tube.

20. The method according to claim 18, further characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of: inserting the flattened portion of the finned tube into a gauge assembly before the step of positioning the flattened portion of the finned tube in the support to determine if the height of the flattened portion will accommodate the support.

Images