Product category:
Tooling and tools
News Release from: Wicksteed Engineering | Subject: Automatic tube pullers
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 19 March 2003
Tube pullers aid effective refurbishment
Automatic tube pullers designed for the fast and effective refurbishment of heat exchangers, air-conditioning and refrigeration plant systems can be supplied by Wicksteed Engineering.
Automatic tube pullers designed for the fast and effective refurbishment of heat exchangers, air-conditioning and refrigeration plant systems can be supplied by Wicksteed Engineering The equipment is suitable for the withdrawal of tubes up to 45mm diameter, with a pulling force of up to 30t being available
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 5 Jun 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Designed for one-man operation, the pullers provide significantly faster tube removal rates than competitive products.
In addition, models are also available to enable safe operation in hostile environments if required.
A powerful electrohydraulic unit can be supplied for general-purpose applications in nonhazardous atmospheres including power generation, sugar and aluminium refineries together with desalination plants.
With the highest rate of tube extraction, these products are ideal for general engineering requirements and guarantee minimum equipment downtime for all tube renewal and replacement projects.
However, where hostile environments may be encountered, as in oil refineries and petrochemical plants, then a pneumatic-hydraulic tube puller has been developed.
This obviates the need for 'hot work' permits.
These tube pullers are fully automatic and easy to use, with no special skills required for operation.
They feature a unique patented locking device to eliminate operator involvement during the pulling process.
There is a simple two-button on/off operation, with sensing devices incorporated to determine the appropriate extraction force required.
The pulling heads have strokes of 150mm and tube extraction rates in excess of 3m/min can be achieved, using an automatic step-and-repeat action.
Both power packs feature 5.5kW motors.
They are fully mobile and at 305kg (including hydraulic oil) can be easily transported.
The electro-hydraulic unit requires a 415V three-phase 50Hz supply, while the pneumatic-hydraulic unit needs a 7bar input air pressure with a minimum volume of 3680 litre/min.
A 220V 60Hz model is also available for the American market.
Tube expanders are also available as the most effective way of securing tubes into the end plates, complementing the product range from what is probably the UK's largest manufacturer of tube expanding equipment.
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