Importance

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Abstract

Floatable tube sheets are provided for use in a reformer furnace or the like wherein a plurality of vertically oriented catalyst tubes are disposed in the fire box with the upper tube ends extending through the fire box roof. The tube sheets are located proximate apertures or channels in the roof through which the upper tube ends protrude and provide a seal to substantially minimize air leakage through the roof. At the same time, the tube sheet plates permit vertical expansion and contraction of the tubes. The tube sheet plates themselves are moveably mounted to the roof so that they can float vertically upwardly and downwardly through a limited distance so as to compensate for tube movement in those instances in which the tubes become bent or bowed during operation. At least a pair of contiguous tube sheet plates surround each tube to facilitate easy tube sheet removal without resulting in attendant removal of any neighboring tubes or, in some instances, furnace shutoff.

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First Claim