FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to testing devices for conducting flange test on boiler tubes as per ASTM A 370 standard and ASTM A 450 standard. More particularly, the invention relates to a testing device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, the device being adaptable on the standard testing systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Boiler tubes are subjected to various fabrication process for example, flaring, pulling etc, and thus the ductility of the material of the tube has to meet the minimum requirements for successful conduct of the fabrication processes. The ASTM A 370 standard specifies some manipulating tests for evaluating the ductility of the boiler tubes. These tests include flattening test, reverse flattening test, crush test, flange test and flaring test. The flange test is intended to determine the ductility of the boiler tubes and their ability to withstand the operation of bending. The test is conducted on a ring specimen of 100 mm long and the test consists of forcing a flaring tool on the specimen which is supported in a die block and the flange is turned over at right angles to the body of the tube to the required width. The standard has given some recommended tool and die block for the conduct of the test.
The flaring tool and the die block used for the flange test must be accommodable in a universal testing machine. Different tools of various diameters must be made available for carrying out the flange test on boiler tubes of different diameters and thickness. The diameter of the boiler tubes required to

be tested range from 38.1 mm to 63.5 mm. The thickness of the tubes vary from 3.5 mm to 9 mm.
Presently, the flaring tool is provided with a grip portion of diameter 20 mm and the flaring tool is gripped in the jaw faces of the universal testing machine.
The prior art use a number of die blocks depending on the tube specimen size i.e. outer diameter.
In the prior art the removal of the tube specimen after the test is difficult in absence of any provision for a washer.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, which can be used for the conduct of flange test on boiler tubes.
Another object of the invention is to propose a device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, in which the flaring tool is mountable on the standard universal testing machine.
A still another object of the invention is to propose a device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, in which flaring tools are capable of evaluating boiler tubes of different diameters and thickness as per ASTM A 370 standard.

A further object of the invention is to propose a device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, in which a single die block with a set of different diameter sleeves, enables carrying out the flange test on tubes of various diameter.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, there is provided a device for conducting the flange test on boiler tubes, comprising;
a set of flaring tools mountable in a standard universal testing machine;
a die block having a central hole for housing the boiler tube, the diameter of the
central hole corresponding to the diameter of the boiler tube;
a set of sleeves with different inside diameters but having a common outside diameter in registration with the diameter of the central hole of the die block, and being insertable in the die block for conducting the test on boiler tubes of different outside diameters;
a washer which can be inserted into the die block which supports the tube during testing and enables the removal of the tested tube, the firing tool mounted on a top compression disc of the universal testing machine and the die block disposed on the base of the universal testing machine.

In the new device, the flaring tool is provided with a portion of diameter 16 mm which can be seated in the compression disc of the universal testing machine.
In the new device, the die block is common for all tube sizes and by selecting a suitable sleeve the tube specimens of different diameters can be tested.
In the new device, a washer is provided at the bottom of the die block. The washer is common for all tube to be tested. After the test is over, the tube specimen can be easily removed.
At the outset of the description, which follows, it is to be understood that the ensuring description only illustrates a particular form of this invention. However, such a particular form is only an exemplary embodiment and the teaching of the invention is not intended to be taken restnctively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
As shown in figure - 1 the device comprises at least one flaring tool (1) selected from a set of tools for conducting the flange test. The flaring tool (1) is inserted into the compression disc (6) of a standard universal testing machine. A die block (2) is kept over the base (7) of the universal testing machine. The die block (2)

is mounted directly under the flaring tool (1) which is inserted into the compression disc (6) of the universal testing machine. Depending on the outside diameter of the tube (5), a sleeve (3) is selected from a set of sleeves, and inserted into the die block (2) as shown in figure 1. A steel washer (4) is then inserted into the die block (2) till it rests on the base (7) of the universal testing machine. The tube (5) to be tested is then inserted into the sleeve (3) as shown in figure 1 such that the tube (5) projects outside the die block (2) by a distance for example, 20 mm as shown in the figure 1. During the testing, the flaring tool (1) is lowered till the edge of the tube (5) to be tested is turned to right angles as required in the test. After the testing is completed, the compression disc (6) is raised and the tube (5) is removed from the device.

WE CLAIM
1. A device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, the device being adaptable on a standard universal testing machine having at least one compression ring (6), and a base (7), the device comprising:
- at least one flaring tool (1) selected from a set of flaring tools
corresponding to the diameter of a boiler tube (5) to be tested, the
flaring tool (1) can be inserted in the at least one compression ring
(6) of the testing machine;
- a die block (2) having a central hole for housing the tube (5) under test, the diameter of the central hole being selected corresponding to the diameter of the tube (5), the die block (2) can be mounted under the inserted flaring tool (1);
- a sleeve (3) selected from a plurality of sleeves in registration with the diameter of the tube (5), and inserted into the die block (2);
- a washer (4) insertable in the die block (2) till it rests on the base
(7) of the testing machine; and
- the tube (5) being inserted on the sleeve (3) such that it is
projected outside the die block (2) by a distance, the flaring tool
(1) during testing being lowered in a first step till it reaches the
edge of the tube (5), and in a second step turned at right angles.

2. A device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, as substantially described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

ABSTRACT

TITLE : .A DEVICE FOR CONDUCTING FLANGE TEST ON BOILER TUBES
This invention relates to a device for conducting flange test on boiler tubes, the device being adaptable on a standard universal testing machine having at least one compression ring (6), and a base (7), the device comprising; at least one flaring tool (1) selected from a set of flaring tools corresponding to the diameter of a boiler tube (5) to be tested, the flaring tool (1) can be inserted in the at least one compression ring (6) of the testing machine; a die block (2) having a central hole for housing the tube (5) under test, the diameter of the central hole being selected corresponding to the diameter of the tube (5), the die block (2) can be mounted under the inserted flaring tool (1); a sleeve (3) selected from a plurality of sleeves in registration with the diameter of the tube (5), and inserted into the die block (2); a washer (4) msertable in the die block (2) till it rests on the base (7) of the testing machine; and the tube (5) being inserted on the sleeve (3) such that it is projected outside the die block (2) by a distance, the flaring tool (1) during testing being lowered in a first step till it reaches the edge of the tube (5), and in a second step turned at right angles.