HK1231545B - Flexible tube cleaning lance positioner frame apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Flexible pipe cleaning boom positioner frame assembly

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a high-pressure fluid rotating nozzle system. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus for positioning one or more flexible tube cleaning booms into alignment with a heat exchanger tube sheet.

Background Art

Conventional boom positioner frames are heavy, rigid frame structures that can be assembled adjacent to a heat exchanger once the tube sheet flange covers have been removed. Alternatively, such frame assemblies can be bolted directly to the tube sheet. U.S. Patents 4,095,305, 6,626,195, 6,681,839, and 7,530,363 disclose exemplary linear frames suitable for positioning adjacent to or fastened to a heat exchanger tube sheet. Such assemblies are heavy, are generally difficult to set up and utilize, and most require a significant amount of space adjacent to or in line with the tube sheet, which can limit the feasibility of using such assemblies. A device is needed for precisely positioning one or more cleaning booms in alignment with a heat exchanger tube sheet that is easy to erect, remains rigid, and occupies minimal space adjacent to the tube sheet.

Summary of the Invention

The present disclosure directly addresses this need. One embodiment of a frame apparatus for maintaining a flexible boom positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced apart from a heat exchanger tube sheet according to the present disclosure includes an upper rail, a lower rail, a positioning rail supported by one of the upper and lower rails and guided by the other of the upper and lower rails, and a rail clamp assembly secured to a portion of the tube sheet. The rail clamp assembly operably holds one of the upper and lower rails in a fixed position relative to the tube sheet. The rail clamp assembly includes a plate or beam member adapted to be secured to the tube sheet, a base plate spaced apart from the plate by one or more threaded shafts, and one or more clamp fingers rotatably secured to the base plate. The one or more clamp fingers are operable to rotate toward the base plate when the base plate is drawn against the plate or beam member by rotating the threaded shafts.

In one embodiment, the member is an elongated beam having a rail clamp assembly at a distal end of the beam and a screw clamp assembly at a proximal end of the beam. In another embodiment, the member is a generally trapezoidal plate having a curved bottom edge and a plurality of holes extending therethrough adjacent the bottom edge for receiving a plurality of bolts to secure the member to the tube sheet. The base plate of the clamp assembly has a pair of spaced apart fingers rotatably supported therein and a pair of spaced apart threaded shafts beneath each finger secured to the base plate.

Each finger engages a ball-stud spring plunger in a first position that allows the rail to be attached to the assembly and in a second position that allows the rail to translate along or be rotationally adjusted relative to the baseplate. A threaded shaft is operated to draw the baseplate to the beam to rotate the one or more fingers to a third position that grips the rail and prevents translation and rotation of the rail relative to the baseplate and tubesheet face.

Other features, advantages, and characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a flexible boom positioner frame assembly according to the present invention oriented against and secured to an exemplary heat exchanger tube sheet.

2 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a flexible boom positioner arrangement according to the present disclosure abutting and secured to a heat exchanger tube sheet.

3 is a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a flexible boom positioner apparatus secured to the heat exchanger tube sheet shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view of one of the four clamp arm assemblies shown in FIG. 3 .

FIG5 is an exploded view of the track clamp assembly of the clamp arm assembly shown in FIG4

6 is a side view of one of the track clamp assemblies according to the present disclosure, wherein the track clamp assembly is in a first detent position and open to receive a frame rail therein.

7 is a side view as shown in FIG. 6 , with the track clamp assembly in a second detent position such that the frame beam is retained but remains rotatable and axially adjustable relative to the base plate.

8 is a side view as in FIG. 6 , with the frame rail clamped in a final secured position within the rail clamp assembly such that the frame rail is rotatable and axially fixed relative to the base plate.

9 is an isolated perspective view of a dual-jaw clamp assembly used in the second exemplary embodiment of the positioner frame assembly shown in FIG. 2 .

10 is an isolated side view of a hook clamp finger used in the clamp assembly shown in FIGS. 2-9 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first exemplary frame assembly 100 is shown in FIG1 as being bolted to a tube sheet 102. For clarity, the tube bundle is not shown in this figure, but it should be understood that the tube sheet 102 is essentially the end face of the heat exchanger tube bundle, removed from or in place within the heat exchanger. The assembly 100 has a top, generally horizontal rail 104 secured to a common leg of a rigid, Y-shaped metal support member 106. The other two legs of the support member 106 are bolted to a tube sheet flange that typically secures the heat exchanger tube-side end caps (not shown). A bottom rail 108 is adjustably mounted and aligned parallel to the top rail 104 via bolts 110 that pass through arcuate slots 112 in flat brackets 114 secured to the center of the Y-shaped support member 106 via additional bolts 110.

The positioner support rail 120 is oriented orthogonal to the lower rail 108, i.e., substantially vertically, as shown in FIG1 , and is driven horizontally along the lower rail 108 by a remote-controlled air motor 122. A flexible boom positioner drive assembly 124 is mounted on the positioner support rail 120. The position of the drive assembly 124 is varied along the support rail 120 via a remote-controlled air motor and gear assembly 126 to align the drive assembly 124 with a specific tube in the tube bundle to be cleaned. The flexible boom drive 124 can then insert or remove one or more flexible booms (not shown) from the tubes to which they are aligned.

A second exemplary frame assembly 200 according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG2 . Assembly 200 has a generally horizontal upper rail 204, a lower rail 206, and a positioner support rail 208 that supports the flexible boom positioner drive assembly 124, as shown in the first embodiment of FIG1 . Upper rail 204 is used to provide mechanical alignment with the tube banks present in a heat exchanger bundle. When so aligned, drive assembly 124 can be moved up and down along support rail 208 to a precise position aligned adjacent to selected tubes within tube sheet 202. Lower rail 206 need not be mounted parallel to upper rail 204; lower rail follower bracket 209 allows for reasonable rotation within a plane generally parallel to the surface of tube sheet 202. The lower rail 206 and lower rail follower bracket 209 serve to mechanically support the drive assembly 124 in position and prevent deflection away from the tube sheet 202 caused by the injection thrust, mechanical mass or forces applied to the system by the interaction between the drive assembly 124, the flexible boom and the heat exchanger tubes.

Each of the upper and lower rails 204, 206 is secured to the tube sheet 202 via a double-jaw clamp assembly 210, shown in greater detail in FIG9 . Each clamp assembly 210 is designed to be secured to the tube sheet 202 via a bolt, one of the central hole 212 and one of the slots 214, and preferably another bolt, one of the other of the slots 214. The clamp assembly 210 has a generally trapezoidal, flat mounting base plate 220 with a curved bottom edge 222. The curved slots 214 are parallel to the bottom edge 222 and sandwich the central hole 212 therebetween. By mounting the base plate 220 to the tube sheet 202 via bolts (not shown), with at least one bolt positioned in one of the slots 214, the orientation of the base plate 220 can be tilted to facilitate alignment of the clamp assembly 210 relative to a row of tubes passing through the tube sheet 202. Alternatively, the base plate 220 can be secured to the tube sheet 202 via a single bolt passing through the central hole 212. In the latter case, the base plate cannot slide along the slot, but can be rotated about the bolt axis to facilitate alignment. Preferably, however, at least one bolt in one slot 214 should be used with another bolt in a hole 212 or another slot 214.

The drive mechanism/air motor 122 is remotely operated to move the support rail 208 back and forth along the upper rail 204. A driven roller assembly 209 secures the lower end of the support rail 208 to the lower rail 206. The driven roller assembly 209 limits movement of the support rail 208 away from the tube sheet 202 while allowing the rail 208 to move freely back and forth along the lower rail 206. Furthermore, the driven roller assembly 209 allows the support rail 208 to move toward and away from the upper rail 204 while maintaining the support rail 208 in a plane parallel to the tube sheet 202. It should be understood that the above configuration could be reversed, with the drive mechanism 122 mounted on the lower rail 206 and the driven roller assembly 209 mounted on the upper rail 204.

The operation of the dual clamp assembly 210 is included in the following description of the frame apparatus 300. FIG3 is a perspective view of a third exemplary flexible boom positioner frame apparatus 300 according to the present disclosure. The apparatus 300 is specifically designed to allow the apparatus 300 to be completely installed on a tube sheet 302 of a heat exchanger without requiring any hand tools, and also to allow installation onto tube sheets that do not have bolt holes on their peripheral flanges.

The apparatus 300 includes an upper rail 304, a lower rail 306, and a positioner support rail 308. The positioner support rail 308 is movably secured to both the upper rail 304 and the lower rail 306. A drive mechanism 310, preferably comprising a pneumatic motor 122, is secured to the upper end of the positioner support rail 308. The drive mechanism 310 is remotely operated to move the support rail 308 back and forth along the upper rail 304. A driven roller assembly 312 secures the lower end of the positioner support rail 308 to the lower rail 306. The driven roller assembly 312 limits movement of the support rail 308 away from the tube sheet 302 while allowing the rail 308 to move freely back and forth along the lower rail 306. Furthermore, the driven roller assembly 312 allows the support rail 308 to move toward and away from the upper rail 304 while maintaining the support rail 308 in a plane parallel to the tube sheet 302. It should be understood that the above configuration may be reversed, with the drive mechanism 310 mounted on the lower rail 306 and the driven roller assembly 312 mounted on the upper rail 304 .

Each of the upper rails 104, 108, 204, and 304, lower rails 206 and 306, and positioner support rails 120, 208, and 308 shown in Figures 1-3 is preferably an aluminum extrusion 316 that, in cross section, is a generally rectangular tubular shape having four side walls 318. An end view or cross section of one embodiment of the extrusion 316 is seen in Figures 6 to 8. Each of the four corners of the rail extrusion 316 extends outwardly to form axially extending external ribs 320. Preferably, at least one of the side walls 318 of each rail has a series of spaced, closed slots 322 that form a substantially trapezoidal surface designed to operably engage a drive sprocket (not shown) that is driven by the pneumatic motor 122 or 126 shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

The external ribs 320 on each rail 316 allow each rail 316 to be adjustably and securely held in a secure clamp by a clamping mechanism (either the dual rail clamp assembly 210 or the single rail clamp assembly 350 ), the operation of which is illustrated in FIGS. 6 , 7 , and 8 .

As best shown in FIG3 , in accordance with the present disclosure, each rail 304 and 306 is securely fastened to the tube sheet 302 by a pair of rail clamp arm assemblies 325. One of the rail clamp arm assemblies 325 is shown alone in perspective in FIG4 . The rail clamp arm assembly 325 has a rail clamp 350 at the distal end of an elongated beam 326 and a screw clamp 328 at the proximal end of the elongated beam 326. The beam 326 is preferably an elongated rectangular sheet of metal and may be made of steel or high-strength aluminum.

The screw clamp 328 includes a pair of transverse bolts 330 and 332 that pass through smooth axially spaced holes spaced from the proximal end of the beam 326. The transverse bolt 330 is secured to the beam 326 by a nut 334 that is secured between the head of the bolt 330 and the beam 326. Another nut 336 on the transverse bolt 330 sets the minimum jaw width position on the transverse bolt 330.

Screw clamp 328 also includes a jaw member 338 having two holes extending therethrough, spaced to match the spacing between transverse bolts 330 and 332 adjacent one end of jaw member 338. Jaw member 338 is also formed from an elongated rectangular sheet of metal or high-strength aluminum. A cage nut 340 is secured to the outside of jaw member 338 at one of the holes, threadedly engaging and capturing one end of transverse bolt 332. The other end of transverse bolt 332, which passes through beam 326, is secured to a crossbar handle 342. Screw clamp 328 operates like a vise, capturing and holding a portion of heat exchanger flange 302 between jaw member 338 and the proximal end of beam 326.

The screw clamp 328 is positioned so that the beam 326 and jaw member 338 are over the edge or rim of the tube sheet flange, and the lever handle 342 is manually tightened to draw the beam 326 and jaw member 338 together against the tube sheet 302. Flanges of tube sheets 302 of varying thickness can be accommodated by changing the position of the nuts 336 on the bolts 330 or by significantly increasing the flange by using longer bolts 330 and transverse bolts 332. The rail clamp arm assembly 325 can be positioned anywhere on the rim/flange of the tube sheet 302 so long as the screw clamp 328 can achieve a secure grip on the tube sheet 302. If desired, the proximal end of the jaw member 338 and/or beam 326 can optionally be engaged with a dowel pin (not shown) to engage within a bolt hole around the rim/flange of the tube sheet 302.

At the opposite end of the beam 326 in the rail clamp arm assembly 325 is a single rail clamp assembly 350. The rail clamp assembly 350 is shown in exploded perspective in FIG5 . The distal end 352 of the beam 326 has a threaded transverse bore 354 extending therethrough. The distal end 352 also has a pair of arcuate slots 356 symmetrically spaced along the beam 326 about the threaded transverse bore 354.

The rail clamp assembly 350 basically includes the distal end 352 of the beam 326, a threaded handle shaft 358, a base plate 360, a hook clamp finger 362, and a static clamp 364 that spans the bottom end of the base plate 360. The base plate 360 is a generally rectangular, flat metal plate having a bottom end to which the static clamp 364 is secured. Alternatively, the static metal clamp 364 can be integrally formed with the base plate 360. The top end of the base plate 360 has a cutout recess or rectangular indentation 366 sized to accommodate the hook clamp finger 362 therein. The finger 362 is mounted for rotation about an axis screw 368 that extends across the recess 366 in the top end of the base plate 360.

The threaded handle shaft 358 preferably has a cylindrical portion 370, a threaded portion 372, and a smaller diameter distal threaded end 374. The cylindrical portion 370 has a transverse bore 376 through which a handle rod 378 extends. The handle shaft 358 also preferably has a flat washer 380 surrounding a shoulder of the threaded portion 372. The threaded portion 372 engages the threaded bore 354. The smaller diameter threaded distal end 374 passes through a hole 382 in the base plate 360 so that when the shaft 358 is assembled through the threaded bore 354 in the beam 326, the base plate 360 is securely fastened to the distal end 374 of the handle shaft 358.

A guide pin or screw 361 is preferably secured to and extends outwardly from the rear surface of the base plate 360 so as to ride within the slot 356 to allow the base plate 360 to rotate through a limited arc about the hole 354 through the beam 326. The guide pin 361 allows the rail clamp assembly 350 to have a limited range of adjustment about the distal end of the beam 326.

An isolated side view of a hook clamp finger 362 is shown in FIG10. The finger 362 is a metal plate that resembles a claw hammer having parallel side rod portions 386 that merge with an upper portion 388 adjacent to a transverse hole 390. The finger 362 has opposing flat side surfaces 396 and a rear edge 398. The upper portion 388 has a downwardly extending claw or hook portion 392 and an opposing hammer head 394 that protrudes beyond the rear edge 398 of the parallel side rod portion 386.

Each side surface 396 has a recess 400 above and preferably slightly offset from vertical alignment with the transverse hole 390. Another recess 402 is spaced from the transverse hole 390 on the arc of the recess 400 and faces the hook 392. Each of the recesses 400 and 402 is positioned to engage a ball-stud spring plunger 404, which extends from the hole through one or both sides of the base plate 360 into the recess 366. When the finger 362 is rotated on the shaft 368, causing the plunger 404 to engage the recess 402, the hammer head 394 extends further beyond the rear of the base plate 360, and the hook or claw 392 is raised to the installed or released position, as shown in FIG6 below. When the ball-stud spring plunger 404 engages the recess 400, the finger 362 rotates on the shaft 368, causing the hook or claw 392 to move forward relative to the base plate 360 and downward relative to the static metal clamp claw 364. This detent position allows the extruded track 316 to be loosely retained in the assembly as shown in FIG. 7 .

6-8 illustrate the operation of each track clamp assembly 350 shown in FIG3 and incorporated into the dual track clamp assembly 210 shown in FIG2. FIG6 is an end view of the single clamp assembly 350 or the dual clamp assembly 210, shown in an open first position for receiving a track 316 therein. It should be understood that the track 316 can be any of the tracks 104, 108, 204, 206, 304, 306, 208, and 308 described above.

In the open, first position, shown in FIG6 , the clamp assembly 350 is fully open. When the fingers 362 are in the position shown in FIG6 , the ball-stud spring plunger 404 engages the recess 402 to hold the fingers 362 in the open position. The handle 378 is fully threaded into the beam 326 , causing the washer 380 to abut against the beam 326 . This pushes the base plate 360 laterally from the beam 326 to the position shown. In FIG6 , the rail 316 is being placed into or removed from the assembly 350. In the former case, the angle rib 320 is first placed into the lower jaw 364 , and then the rail 316 is simply rotated counterclockwise to push the adjacent rib 320 of the rail 316 against the stem portion 386 of the finger 362 . This rotation causes the finger 362 to rotate clockwise from the first position until the stem portion 386 of the finger is nearly flush with the surface of the base plate 360 . Simultaneously, the ball-stud spring plunger 404 now engages the recess 400 . When the plunger 404 engages the recess 400, the user will feel a tactile snap. This corresponds to the position of the finger 362 shown in FIG7 . The handle 378 is then rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG7 to prevent the finger 362 from returning to the open position shown in FIG6 . With the finger 362 oriented as shown in FIG7 , the track 316 is securely held, but the track 316 can be moved axially or rotationally within the assembly 350 to a desired position.

FIG8 shows the clamp assembly 350 in the track locking position. The handle 378 is further rotated counterclockwise to push the base plate 360 fully against the beam 326. This causes the hammer head protrusions 394 on the upper portions 388 of the fingers 362 to rest flush against the beam 326, causing the hooks 392 of the fingers 362 to clamp the track 316 against the base plate 360. This rigidly locks the track 316 between the jaws 364 and the hooks 392 and against the base plate 360.

The operation of the clamp assembly 210 shown in Figures 2 and 9 is essentially the same as that just described, except that the base plate 224 has two recesses for the two fingers 362, the beam 326 is replaced by the base plate 220, and there are two handle shafts 358 to pull the base plate 224 toward the plate 220 to clamp the track 316 in place. In the case of the clamp assembly 210, the two hook clamp fingers 362 and all related components are mounted to a single base plate 222. Because they are mechanically fixed to the same plate, no rotation is allowed between the base plate 224 and the base 220, and therefore, only axial translation of the track 316 is allowed when in the holding position shown in Figure 7.

Many changes can be made to the device, which will be apparent to readers of this disclosure. For example, the fingers 362 can be shaped differently than described above. The track 316 can lack the four ribs 320 and can be configured without ribs at all.

All such changes, substitutions, and equivalents in accordance with the features and benefits described herein are within the scope of the present disclosure. Such changes and substitutions may be introduced without departing from the spirit and broad scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (19)

1. A frame device for maintaining a flexible spray bar positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced apart from a heat exchanger tube sheet, the frame device comprising: Upper guide rail; Lower guide rail; A positioner track, which is supported by one of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail and guided by the other of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail; and A track clamping assembly fixed to a portion of a tube sheet, the track clamping assembly being operable to hold one of the upper and lower guide rails in a fixed position relative to the tube sheet, the track clamping assembly comprising: Beam members capable of being fastened to the tube sheet; A substrate spaced apart from the beam member by one or more threaded shafts; One or more clamping fingers are rotatably fastened to the substrate, wherein the one or more clamping fingers are operable to rotate toward the substrate when the substrate is pulled toward the beam member. 2. The frame device according to claim 1, wherein the beam member is an elongated beam having the track clamp assembly at the distal end of the elongated beam and the helical clamp assembly at the proximal end of the elongated beam. 3. The frame device according to claim 1, wherein the beam member is a generally trapezoidal plate having a curved bottom edge and a plurality of through holes adjacent to the bottom edge for receiving a plurality of bolts to fasten the beam member to the tube sheet. 4. The frame device according to claim 3, wherein the clamping fingers are a pair of spaced-apart fingers rotatably supported in the substrate, and the threaded shafts are a pair of spaced-apart threaded shafts fastened to the substrate below each of the clamping fingers. 5. The frame device of claim 1, wherein each of the clamping fingers engages a ball-head spring plunger in a first position and a second position, the first position allowing one of the upper and lower guide rails to be attached to the track clamp assembly, and the second position allowing the one of the upper and lower guide rails to translate along the base plate. 6. The frame device of claim 5, wherein the threaded shaft pulls the one or more clamping fingers to a third position engaging with one of the upper and lower guide rails to retain the one of the upper and lower guide rails within the track clamping assembly. 7. A frame device for maintaining a flexible spray bar positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced apart from a heat exchanger tube sheet, the frame device comprising: Upper guide rail; Lower guide rail; A positioner support rail, which is supported from the upper guide rail and restricted to lateral movement only along the lower guide rail; and Multiple track clamping arm assemblies, each track clamping arm assembly configured to be fastened to a portion of a heat exchanger tube sheet, such that each track clamping arm assembly operably holds one of the upper and lower guide rails in a fixed position relative to the tube sheet, each track clamping arm assembly comprising: A slender beam having a helical clamp at its proximal end for securing the slender beam to the heat exchanger tube sheet; and A track clamp assembly at the distal end of the elongated beam, operable therein to releasably receive, hold, and clamp a portion of one of the upper and lower guide rails, each track clamp assembly comprising: a threaded hand screw screwed through the distal end of the elongated beam into a base plate; a static jaw fixed to the base plate; and hook clamping fingers rotatably fastened to the base plate opposite the static jaw. 8. The frame device according to claim 7, wherein the hook clamp finger is rotatably fastened to the substrate in a rectangular recess by a shaft screw. 9. The frame device according to claim 8, wherein the hook clamp finger has a parallel side bar portion in the recess, a hook portion extending toward the static gripper, and an opposing hammer portion extending beyond the rear edge of the parallel side bar portion. 10. A frame device for maintaining a flexible spray bar positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced apart from a heat exchanger tube sheet, the frame device comprising: Upper guide rail; Lower guide rail; A positioner support rail, which is supported from one of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail and is restricted to lateral movement along the other of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail; and Multiple track clamping assemblies operable to releasably receive, hold, and clamp a portion of one of the upper and lower guide rails, each track clamping assembly having a support plate capable of being fastened to a peripheral portion of a heat exchanger tube sheet, a manual screw screwed through the support plate and rotatably fastened to a substrate, a static jaw fixed to the substrate, and a hook clamping finger rotatably fastened to the substrate opposite the static jaw. 11. The frame device according to claim 10, wherein the hook clamp finger is rotatably fastened to the substrate in a rectangular recess by a shaft screw. 12. The frame device of claim 11, wherein the hook clamp finger has a parallel side bar portion in the recess, a hook portion extending toward the static gripper, and an opposing hammer portion extending beyond the rear edge of the parallel side bar portion. 13. The frame device according to claim 12, wherein when the manual screw secures the base plate against the support plate, the hook clamp fingers rotate toward the static gripper. 14. The frame device of claim 11, wherein each track clamp assembly further includes a ball-head spring plunger extending from the base plate into the recess to engage a recess in the hook clamp finger, thereby releasably holding the hook clamp finger in an open position to receive portions of the upper and lower guide rails between the hook clamp finger and the static jaw. 15. The frame device of claim 12, wherein the hook clamp finger is rotatably supported on a shaft screw extending across the notch. 16. The frame device according to claim 15, wherein when the base plate is spaced apart from the support plate, the hammer portion extends from the base plate toward the support plate, and when the base plate is fastened against the support plate, the hook clamp fingers rotate toward the static gripper. 17. The frame device of claim 15, further comprising a ball-head spring plunger extending from the base plate into the recess above the shaft screw. 18. The frame device of claim 17, wherein when the base plate is spaced apart from the support plate and the hook clamp finger is rotated to the release position, the ball-head spring plunger releasably engages a first stop in the hook clamp finger, and when the hook clamp finger is rotated to hold a portion of one of the upper and lower guide rails between the hook clamp finger and the static gripper, the ball-head spring plunger engages a second stop in the hook clamp finger. 19. A frame device for maintaining a flexible spray bar positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced apart from a heat exchanger tube sheet, the frame device comprising: Upper guide rail; Lower guide rail; A positioner support rail, which is supported by one of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail and guided by the other of the upper guide rail and the lower guide rail; and Multiple track clamping arm assemblies, each track clamping arm assembly configured to be fastened to a portion of a heat exchanger tube sheet, such that each track clamping arm assembly operably holds one of the upper and lower guide rails in a fixed position relative to the heat exchanger tube sheet, each track clamping arm assembly comprising: A slender beam having a helical clamp at its proximal end for securing the slender beam to the heat exchanger tube sheet; and A track clamp assembly at the distal end of the elongated beam, operable to releasably receive, hold, and clamp one of the upper and lower guide rails, wherein the track clamp assembly includes: a threaded hand screw fixed to a base plate at the distal end of the elongated beam; a static jaw fixed to the base plate; and hook clamp fingers rotatably fastened to the base plate opposite the static jaw.