METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A FURNACE HEAT EXCHANGER AND PLATE ASSEMBLY

摘要

A furnace heat exchanger and support plate assembly are joined together by a cooperating oval rim defining an opening in the heat exchanger and an opening formed by a mating flange on a partition plate and extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The flange on the partition plate is inserted in the opening in the heat exchanger unit and expanded radially outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the openings by a multiple jaw expander mechanism which is inserted through the opening in the plate into the interior of the heat exchanger. A second expander apparatus is inserted in the opening after withdrawal of the first expander to engage and expand portions of the flanges which were not fully displaced by the first expander. The expander mechanisms include radially and axially movable jaws comprising plural oval shaped jaw segments which are engaged by an axially movable mandrel.