CA2155622C - Tube cleaner for hard deposits - Google Patents
Tube cleaner for hard depositsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2155622C CA2155622C CA002155622A CA2155622A CA2155622C CA 2155622 C CA2155622 C CA 2155622C CA 002155622 A CA002155622 A CA 002155622A CA 2155622 A CA2155622 A CA 2155622A CA 2155622 C CA2155622 C CA 2155622C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- scraper
- shaft
- cleaner
- scraper element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
- B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
- B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
- B08B9/053—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction
- B08B9/055—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles
- B08B9/0557—Pigs with rings shaped cleaning members, e.g. cup shaped pigs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
- F28G1/00—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances
- F28G1/12—Fluid-propelled scrapers, bullets, or like solid bodies
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
A tube cleaner for removing thin hard deposits from the inner surface of a tube has a shaft with a nose portion and tail portion, and two or three scraper elements along the shaft. Each scraper element is a one piece element having a base portion and a plurality of outwardly biased rearwardly extending fingers terminating as blade portions. Adjacent fingers are of different lengths and the blade portions make substantially point-to-point contact with the tube inner wall surface as the scraper element is forced through the tube.
Description
21~~6~2 TUBE CLEANER FOR HARD DEPOSITS
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tube cleaner or scraper that is f luid driven through a tube to remove deposits, specifically very hard deposits, from the inner surface of the tube wall.
Background of the Invention A variety of heat exchangers use a series of tubes through which a cooling medium is passed so as to cool the tubes, while another medium of higher temperature is in contact with the exterior of the tubes, with heat transfer effected through the tube walls. For example, in steam condensers in large power plants, a series of small tubes are provided for heat transfer. After a period of time, impurities or minerals in the water flowing through the tubes tend to deposit on the inner surface of the tube wall and, in addition to narrowing the cross-sectional flow area of the tube passageway, such deposits form an insulating layer and detract from the heat transfer capabilities of the tubes.
In order to remove deposits or encrustations, a scraper element is inserted into one end of a tube, while the condenser is out of service, and the scraper element is driven by fluid pressure, usually by pressurized water, through the tube, the scraper element scraping the deposits from the inner surface of the tube wall and the pressurized fluid flushing the loosened deposits from the tube. Depending upon the physical nature and chemical composition of the deposits, various types of scrapers have been 74445-26 ~ ~ 5 5 6 2 2 proposed. Examples of earlier tube scrapers are given in US
2,170,997, US 2,418,509, and 2,734,208 to C.M. Griffin, while US 4,281,432 to George E. Saxon shows an improved tube cleaner with a flexible rubber skirt. These types of scrapers are adapted for use to remove general fouling and less tenacious deposits from tubes. In US 5,153,963, to Gregory J. Saxon and Daniel C. Lyle, a tube cleaner is disclosed for use in removing thick hard deposits, or thick scales that chip off in relatively large pieces, such as a scale containing calcium or silicon, the cleaner having freewheeling cutting wheels that cut through the scale and fracture the scale for removal from the tube.
While the aforementioned tube cleaners are suited to their purpose, there are certain deposits that are not readily removed by such prior tube cleaners. One such difficulty removable deposit is a very thin, brittle scale of a crystalline structure that fractures into very small granular pieces. Such scales are tenacious deposits.
Summar of the Invention The invention provides a tube cleaner for removing thin hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube, comprising: a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt; a plurality, but less than four, spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft; each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and a plurality of rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the ...__. ___ ._ -' 74445-26 radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and adjacent said scraper elements being arranged on said shaft such that blade portions of adjacent scraper elements are axially displaced. The scraper elements are each preferably formed from a single piece of spring steel.
Description of the Drawings The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the tube cleaner of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front end or nose view of the tube cleaner illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a scraper element in flat state prior to bending the fingers and blade portions;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the scraper element after bending to arrange the fingers and blade portions into the desired configuration;
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the contact of a blade portion of a scraper element to remove hard scale from a tube; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tube after passage of a tube cleaner of the present invention through the tube to remove hard scale.
.. r 2~~5622 Detailed Description A tube cleaner for hard deposits has two or three scraper elements spaced along a shaft, which elements have fingers that terminate as blades, the blades making a substantially point contact with the .tube wall. The present tube cleaner is specifically adapted for the removal of thin, hard deposits from the tube wall inner surface, such as deposits of between 0.005 to 0.010 inch of manganese or iron oxide scales, which, while not substantially restricting flow of a heat transfer fluid through the tube, tend to act as an insulating material and has a deleterious affect on the heat transfer capability of the wall of the tube.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a tube cleaner 1 for hard deposits of the present invention, is illustrated having a shaft 2, with one end, or a nose portion 3, and a second end, or tail portion 4, the tail portion 4 having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending skirt 5. Spaced axially along the shaft 2, between the nose portion 3 and tail portion 4, are two or three scraper elements 6, illustrated as three scraper elements 6, 6~ and 6~. Each scraper element 6 is formed of a single price of metal, preferably spring steel, such as SAE 1050 carbon annealed spring steel. Each scraper element 6 has a radially outwardly extending base portion 7 and a plurality, preferably six, rearwardly extending fingers 8, with each finger 8 terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion 9. The scraper elements 6 are constructed such that adjacent fingers 8 of the scraper element 6 are of different lengths, as seen by reference to Figure 2.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tube cleaner or scraper that is f luid driven through a tube to remove deposits, specifically very hard deposits, from the inner surface of the tube wall.
Background of the Invention A variety of heat exchangers use a series of tubes through which a cooling medium is passed so as to cool the tubes, while another medium of higher temperature is in contact with the exterior of the tubes, with heat transfer effected through the tube walls. For example, in steam condensers in large power plants, a series of small tubes are provided for heat transfer. After a period of time, impurities or minerals in the water flowing through the tubes tend to deposit on the inner surface of the tube wall and, in addition to narrowing the cross-sectional flow area of the tube passageway, such deposits form an insulating layer and detract from the heat transfer capabilities of the tubes.
In order to remove deposits or encrustations, a scraper element is inserted into one end of a tube, while the condenser is out of service, and the scraper element is driven by fluid pressure, usually by pressurized water, through the tube, the scraper element scraping the deposits from the inner surface of the tube wall and the pressurized fluid flushing the loosened deposits from the tube. Depending upon the physical nature and chemical composition of the deposits, various types of scrapers have been 74445-26 ~ ~ 5 5 6 2 2 proposed. Examples of earlier tube scrapers are given in US
2,170,997, US 2,418,509, and 2,734,208 to C.M. Griffin, while US 4,281,432 to George E. Saxon shows an improved tube cleaner with a flexible rubber skirt. These types of scrapers are adapted for use to remove general fouling and less tenacious deposits from tubes. In US 5,153,963, to Gregory J. Saxon and Daniel C. Lyle, a tube cleaner is disclosed for use in removing thick hard deposits, or thick scales that chip off in relatively large pieces, such as a scale containing calcium or silicon, the cleaner having freewheeling cutting wheels that cut through the scale and fracture the scale for removal from the tube.
While the aforementioned tube cleaners are suited to their purpose, there are certain deposits that are not readily removed by such prior tube cleaners. One such difficulty removable deposit is a very thin, brittle scale of a crystalline structure that fractures into very small granular pieces. Such scales are tenacious deposits.
Summar of the Invention The invention provides a tube cleaner for removing thin hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube, comprising: a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt; a plurality, but less than four, spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft; each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and a plurality of rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the ...__. ___ ._ -' 74445-26 radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and adjacent said scraper elements being arranged on said shaft such that blade portions of adjacent scraper elements are axially displaced. The scraper elements are each preferably formed from a single piece of spring steel.
Description of the Drawings The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the tube cleaner of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front end or nose view of the tube cleaner illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a scraper element in flat state prior to bending the fingers and blade portions;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the scraper element after bending to arrange the fingers and blade portions into the desired configuration;
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the contact of a blade portion of a scraper element to remove hard scale from a tube; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tube after passage of a tube cleaner of the present invention through the tube to remove hard scale.
.. r 2~~5622 Detailed Description A tube cleaner for hard deposits has two or three scraper elements spaced along a shaft, which elements have fingers that terminate as blades, the blades making a substantially point contact with the .tube wall. The present tube cleaner is specifically adapted for the removal of thin, hard deposits from the tube wall inner surface, such as deposits of between 0.005 to 0.010 inch of manganese or iron oxide scales, which, while not substantially restricting flow of a heat transfer fluid through the tube, tend to act as an insulating material and has a deleterious affect on the heat transfer capability of the wall of the tube.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a tube cleaner 1 for hard deposits of the present invention, is illustrated having a shaft 2, with one end, or a nose portion 3, and a second end, or tail portion 4, the tail portion 4 having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending skirt 5. Spaced axially along the shaft 2, between the nose portion 3 and tail portion 4, are two or three scraper elements 6, illustrated as three scraper elements 6, 6~ and 6~. Each scraper element 6 is formed of a single price of metal, preferably spring steel, such as SAE 1050 carbon annealed spring steel. Each scraper element 6 has a radially outwardly extending base portion 7 and a plurality, preferably six, rearwardly extending fingers 8, with each finger 8 terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion 9. The scraper elements 6 are constructed such that adjacent fingers 8 of the scraper element 6 are of different lengths, as seen by reference to Figure 2.
The scraper elements are of a size such that the blade portions 9, at rest position, extend radially outwardly from the shaft 2 a distance greater than the inner diameter of a tube to be cleaned. Thus, the outwardly biased scraper elements 6 must be slightly forced to a position closer to the shaft 2 in order to insert the tube cleaner 1 into the tube to be cleaned. The outward biasing of the scraper element f finger 6 then ensures contact of the blade portions 9 with the inner surface of a tube during movement of the tube cleaner through the tube.
Referring now to Figure 3, a scraper element 6 is illustrated in flat form, as punched from spring steel, prior to bending the fingers 8 and blade portions 9 into the desired shape.
The scraper element 6 illustrated has six fingers, a, b, c, d, a and f. While the six fingers, as punched from spring steel, are of the same length in flat condition, adjacent legs 8 are bent at different points so as to provide different length of adjacent legs 8 upon completion of the formation of the scraper element. For example, legs a and d are bent along line B, at a distance Ll from the base portion 7, to provide long bent legs; legs b and a ale bent along line B2, at a distance L2 from base portion 7, to provide bent legs that are shorter than bent legs a and d; and legs c and f are bent along line B3, at a distance L3 from base portion 7, to provide bent legs that are shorter than bent legs b and e.
Such an arrangement will result in a scraper element, after bending to a desired shape (Figure 4) that will have adjacent fingers 8 of the scraper element of different lengths, although a and d may be - -. <_ 215622 the same length, b and a may be the same length, and c and f may be the same length. Although the bent legs 8 have different lengths, the blade portions 9 are arranged such that they form a circle' having a diameter ~ which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tube that is to be cleaned with the scraper element 6. Thus, the distance from the shaft 2~to the outer arcuate edge of the blade portion 9 is the same from all of the legs 6, although the distance from adjacent blade portions 9 to the outwardly extending base portion 7 will vary. The staggered -lengths of the fingers 8 of the scraper element 6 of the present invention is an important factor. If the fingers 8 were all of the same length, the total force of insertion into a tube would be too great to overcome by hand. With staggered finger lengths, however, the force for entry is reduced by providing three stages of actual insertion rather than a single stage for each scraper element 6.
As an example, the force required to insert conventional scrapers, . such as those described in the Griffith patents referred to hereinbefore, is about eleven (11) pounds of pushing force, while with the scraper of the present invention, about forty-five (45) pounds of ..force are required to -insert the tube scraper into an open end of a tube, with scraper size and tube sizes being comparable. Thus, the scraper of the present invention requires about 4 to 5 times as much force to insert it into a tube as would a comparable sized conventional scraper if the lengths are equal.
The staggered length enables the tube cleaner to be sized so as to thus have more force perpendicular to the tube wall and still be ~1~562~
..
loaded into the tube by hand. As an example, a tube cleaner 1 having scraper elements 8 has been prepared according to the present invention where the lengths of the fingers, as measured from the base 7 of the scraper elements 6 to the blade portions 9 of the scraper elements were as follows: fingers a and d = 0.670 inch, fingers b and a = 0.635 inch and fingers c and f - 0.600 inch, with the scraper elements 6 formed from SAE 1050 carbon annealed spring steel, No. 2 finish, of a thickness of 0.030 inch.
The ability to form a scraper element from a single piece of metal, rather than forming prior scraper blades from separate pieces that had to be assembled, provides lower labor costs associated with their formation and can also provide greater spring force than was generated before.
The contact of a blade portion 9 of a scraper element 6 with the inner surface of a tube is shown in Figure 5. As illustrated, a tube 11 has a wall 12 with thin, hard scale 13 on the inner surface 14 of the wall 12. The blade portion 9 is of an arcuate shape such that only minimal contact, by section 15 of the blade portion 9 contacting the inner surface 14 of the wall 12, with almost a point-to-point contact achieved, as the blade portion scrapes through the thin hard scale 13, forming grooves 16.
Conventional scrapers generally are designed to maximize the contact between a scraper blade edge and the inner surface of the tube wall. To remove a thin, hard scale, however, such a design is unusable. If the force required to fracture the scale were generated at the same time as surface contact were maximized, the - , . , ~. 215622 friction between the blade of the scraper and the tube wall would be so great as to preclude fluidized pressure movement of a tube cleaner through the tube. By minimizing the contact in the present invention, a virtual point-to-point contact is provided, and a significantly higher pressure can be applied by the scraper blade 9 to the tube wall 12 and the tube cleaner 1 can still be propelled through the tube 11 by reasonable fluid pressures. It has been found that the contact of a scraper blade with the inner tube wall should be effected with a contact surface of between 0.003 - 0.009~~NCff of the arc of the blade surface with the tube inner wall surface 13 so as to provide scraped grooves 16 in the thin, hard deposits.
The blade portion should also have a~ sharp edge such that a cutting force is applied through the deposits.
The present tube cleaner, with the use of six fingers on each scraper element will provide six spaced contact points on an inner surface of a tube wall by each scraper element to remove hard, thin scale and clean the tube wall to bare metal. With the use of two or three, six-fingered scraper elements, that are axially offset from each other, there will be twelve or eighteen scraping grooves which, with removal of the hard, thin scale, will greatly enhance the heat transfer of the tube. A tube 11 is shown in Figure 6, after passage of a three scraper element tube cleaner of the present invention with grooves 16 formed in the hard, thin scale 13. By forming the grooves 16 through the deposits of hard, thin scale 13, the heat transfer capability of the tube wall 12 is _ , ~. ~. z~~~~~2 significantly increased to an extent such that complete removal of the scale is not required.
As scale grows very slowly, subsequent cleanings result in, over time, tubes that approach "as-new" condition after multiple passes of the cleaner. .
Referring now to Figure 3, a scraper element 6 is illustrated in flat form, as punched from spring steel, prior to bending the fingers 8 and blade portions 9 into the desired shape.
The scraper element 6 illustrated has six fingers, a, b, c, d, a and f. While the six fingers, as punched from spring steel, are of the same length in flat condition, adjacent legs 8 are bent at different points so as to provide different length of adjacent legs 8 upon completion of the formation of the scraper element. For example, legs a and d are bent along line B, at a distance Ll from the base portion 7, to provide long bent legs; legs b and a ale bent along line B2, at a distance L2 from base portion 7, to provide bent legs that are shorter than bent legs a and d; and legs c and f are bent along line B3, at a distance L3 from base portion 7, to provide bent legs that are shorter than bent legs b and e.
Such an arrangement will result in a scraper element, after bending to a desired shape (Figure 4) that will have adjacent fingers 8 of the scraper element of different lengths, although a and d may be - -. <_ 215622 the same length, b and a may be the same length, and c and f may be the same length. Although the bent legs 8 have different lengths, the blade portions 9 are arranged such that they form a circle' having a diameter ~ which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tube that is to be cleaned with the scraper element 6. Thus, the distance from the shaft 2~to the outer arcuate edge of the blade portion 9 is the same from all of the legs 6, although the distance from adjacent blade portions 9 to the outwardly extending base portion 7 will vary. The staggered -lengths of the fingers 8 of the scraper element 6 of the present invention is an important factor. If the fingers 8 were all of the same length, the total force of insertion into a tube would be too great to overcome by hand. With staggered finger lengths, however, the force for entry is reduced by providing three stages of actual insertion rather than a single stage for each scraper element 6.
As an example, the force required to insert conventional scrapers, . such as those described in the Griffith patents referred to hereinbefore, is about eleven (11) pounds of pushing force, while with the scraper of the present invention, about forty-five (45) pounds of ..force are required to -insert the tube scraper into an open end of a tube, with scraper size and tube sizes being comparable. Thus, the scraper of the present invention requires about 4 to 5 times as much force to insert it into a tube as would a comparable sized conventional scraper if the lengths are equal.
The staggered length enables the tube cleaner to be sized so as to thus have more force perpendicular to the tube wall and still be ~1~562~
..
loaded into the tube by hand. As an example, a tube cleaner 1 having scraper elements 8 has been prepared according to the present invention where the lengths of the fingers, as measured from the base 7 of the scraper elements 6 to the blade portions 9 of the scraper elements were as follows: fingers a and d = 0.670 inch, fingers b and a = 0.635 inch and fingers c and f - 0.600 inch, with the scraper elements 6 formed from SAE 1050 carbon annealed spring steel, No. 2 finish, of a thickness of 0.030 inch.
The ability to form a scraper element from a single piece of metal, rather than forming prior scraper blades from separate pieces that had to be assembled, provides lower labor costs associated with their formation and can also provide greater spring force than was generated before.
The contact of a blade portion 9 of a scraper element 6 with the inner surface of a tube is shown in Figure 5. As illustrated, a tube 11 has a wall 12 with thin, hard scale 13 on the inner surface 14 of the wall 12. The blade portion 9 is of an arcuate shape such that only minimal contact, by section 15 of the blade portion 9 contacting the inner surface 14 of the wall 12, with almost a point-to-point contact achieved, as the blade portion scrapes through the thin hard scale 13, forming grooves 16.
Conventional scrapers generally are designed to maximize the contact between a scraper blade edge and the inner surface of the tube wall. To remove a thin, hard scale, however, such a design is unusable. If the force required to fracture the scale were generated at the same time as surface contact were maximized, the - , . , ~. 215622 friction between the blade of the scraper and the tube wall would be so great as to preclude fluidized pressure movement of a tube cleaner through the tube. By minimizing the contact in the present invention, a virtual point-to-point contact is provided, and a significantly higher pressure can be applied by the scraper blade 9 to the tube wall 12 and the tube cleaner 1 can still be propelled through the tube 11 by reasonable fluid pressures. It has been found that the contact of a scraper blade with the inner tube wall should be effected with a contact surface of between 0.003 - 0.009~~NCff of the arc of the blade surface with the tube inner wall surface 13 so as to provide scraped grooves 16 in the thin, hard deposits.
The blade portion should also have a~ sharp edge such that a cutting force is applied through the deposits.
The present tube cleaner, with the use of six fingers on each scraper element will provide six spaced contact points on an inner surface of a tube wall by each scraper element to remove hard, thin scale and clean the tube wall to bare metal. With the use of two or three, six-fingered scraper elements, that are axially offset from each other, there will be twelve or eighteen scraping grooves which, with removal of the hard, thin scale, will greatly enhance the heat transfer of the tube. A tube 11 is shown in Figure 6, after passage of a three scraper element tube cleaner of the present invention with grooves 16 formed in the hard, thin scale 13. By forming the grooves 16 through the deposits of hard, thin scale 13, the heat transfer capability of the tube wall 12 is _ , ~. ~. z~~~~~2 significantly increased to an extent such that complete removal of the scale is not required.
As scale grows very slowly, subsequent cleanings result in, over time, tubes that approach "as-new" condition after multiple passes of the cleaner. .
Claims (7)
1. A tube cleaner for removing thin hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube, comprising:
a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt:
a plurality, but less than four, spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft;
each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and a plurality of rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and adjacent said scraper elements being arranged on said shaft such that blade portions of adjacent scraper elements are axially displaced.
a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt:
a plurality, but less than four, spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft;
each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and a plurality of rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and adjacent said scraper elements being arranged on said shaft such that blade portions of adjacent scraper elements are axially displaced.
2. A tube cleaner for removing hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube as defined in Claim 1 wherein two spaced apart scraper elements are axially disposed along said shaft.
3. A tube cleaner for removing hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube as defined in Claim 1 wherein three spaced apart scraper elements are axially disposed along said shaft.
4. A tube cleaner for removing hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein six rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers are provided on said scraper element.
5. A tube cleaner for removing hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube as defined in anyone of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the arcuate blade section of each said blade portion is arranged to contact said inner surface along 0.003 - 0.009 inch of an arc of said blade portion.
6. A tube cleaner for removing hard deposits on an inner surface of a tube, comprising:
a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt;
three spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft;
each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and six rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and
a shaft having a nose portion and a tail portion, said tail portion having secured thereto an outwardly and rearwardly extending flexible skirt;
three spaced apart scraper elements axially disposed along said shaft;
each said scraper element being formed of a single piece of metallic material and having a radially outwardly extending base portion and six rearwardly extending outwardly biased fingers with each finger terminating as an outwardly extending blade portion having an arcuate blade section, the radius of the arc being substantially smaller than the inside radius of the tube for minimal contact, with adjacent fingers of said scraper element being of a different length; and
7. A tube cleaner as defined in anyone of Claims 1 to 6 wherein each scraper element is formed of spring steel.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US28713594A | 1994-08-08 | 1994-08-08 | |
| US08/287,135 | 1994-08-08 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2155622A1 CA2155622A1 (en) | 1996-02-09 |
| CA2155622C true CA2155622C (en) | 2001-01-30 |
Family
ID=23101605
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002155622A Expired - Lifetime CA2155622C (en) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-08-08 | Tube cleaner for hard deposits |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0698423B1 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100228757B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2155622C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69507221T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2128667T3 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5940922A (en) * | 1997-09-12 | 1999-08-24 | Conco Systems Inc. | Easy insert composite tube cleaner |
| US5784745A (en) * | 1997-09-12 | 1998-07-28 | Conco Systems, Inc. | Easy insert tube cleaner |
| US6691446B2 (en) * | 2002-06-19 | 2004-02-17 | Barry L. Graves | Rifle barrel cleaning, retrieval tool |
| DE102007016688A1 (en) | 2007-04-04 | 2008-10-09 | Immug Rohr & Schlauch Gmbh | Pipe for e.g. steel pipeline, has additional device conveying discharge of adherent components of medium and includes chambers separated from cavity by partition wall, where chambers are displaced under low or high pressures |
| DE102010010280A1 (en) | 2010-03-07 | 2011-09-08 | Karl-Heinz Grüter | Device for internal cleaning of heat exchanger pipes, has nozzle, which is positioned in heat exchanger tubes, from which scratches are loaded with pressurized water |
| DE102010052517A1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2012-05-24 | Karl-Heinz Grüter | Device for internal cleaning of heat exchanger pipes, has nozzle, which is positioned in heat exchanger tubes, from which scratches are loaded with pressurized water |
| EP2534437A2 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2012-12-19 | Jarin GmbH | Device for internally cleaning pipes |
| DE202010017785U1 (en) | 2010-03-07 | 2012-12-05 | Karl-Heinz Grüter | Device for internal cleaning of pipes |
| CN101839670B (en) * | 2010-05-27 | 2012-04-18 | 北京化工大学 | Inner diversion type self-tightening hanging part of heat exchange tube |
| US9089884B2 (en) | 2010-07-20 | 2015-07-28 | Tdw Delaware, Inc. | Pipeline debris shearing device |
| CN102688871B (en) * | 2012-06-08 | 2016-06-01 | 哈尔滨工业大学 | A kind of without traction variable diameter pipe cleaning device |
| US9332826B2 (en) | 2014-07-09 | 2016-05-10 | Ricky Spillman, JR. | Cleaning device |
| CN104196565B (en) * | 2014-08-15 | 2016-11-23 | 重庆国翔新材料有限公司 | Tunnel drainage pipeline automatically removes crystalline texture and has the tunnel drainage system of this structure |
| CN105032870B (en) * | 2015-08-25 | 2018-02-13 | 首钢京唐钢铁联合有限责任公司 | Iron scale cleaning tool and method |
| US9375765B1 (en) | 2015-10-09 | 2016-06-28 | Crossford International, Llc | Tube scraper projectile |
| CN105642621A (en) * | 2016-03-03 | 2016-06-08 | 厦门精图信息技术有限公司 | Cleaning device for adhesions on inner wall of pipeline |
| CN112620382A (en) * | 2020-10-27 | 2021-04-09 | 佛山市三水凤铝铝业有限公司 | Cylinder cleaning equipment for extruder |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2734208A (en) | 1956-02-14 | Tube cleaner | ||
| US1835238A (en) * | 1930-03-10 | 1931-12-08 | Franklin Dev Company | Condenser slug |
| US2170997A (en) | 1936-05-23 | 1939-08-29 | Cecil M Griffin | Tube cleaner |
| US2418509A (en) | 1944-11-28 | 1947-04-08 | Cecil M Griffin | Fluid propelled articulated scraper for cleaning tubes |
| US4281432A (en) | 1979-08-02 | 1981-08-04 | Condenser Cleaners Mfg. Co., Inc. | Tube cleaner |
| SU1414482A1 (en) * | 1984-10-17 | 1988-08-07 | Трест "Южводопровод" | Arrangement for cleaning the internal surface of pipeline |
| SU1674992A1 (en) * | 1989-09-01 | 1991-09-07 | Инженерный Центр "Кавитрон" По Сельскохозяйственному Водоснабжению И Трубопроводам | Apparatus for cleaning inner surface of pipeline |
| US5153963A (en) | 1991-06-05 | 1992-10-13 | Conco Systems Inc. | Tube cleaning tool for removal of hard deposits |
| US5305488A (en) * | 1992-06-15 | 1994-04-26 | Lyle Daniel C | Tube cleaning tool |
-
1995
- 1995-08-08 DE DE69507221T patent/DE69507221T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-08 CA CA002155622A patent/CA2155622C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-08 EP EP95305517A patent/EP0698423B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-08 ES ES95305517T patent/ES2128667T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-08 KR KR1019950024364A patent/KR100228757B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69507221D1 (en) | 1999-02-25 |
| EP0698423A1 (en) | 1996-02-28 |
| ES2128667T3 (en) | 1999-05-16 |
| DE69507221T2 (en) | 1999-05-27 |
| KR100228757B1 (en) | 1999-11-01 |
| KR960007024A (en) | 1996-03-22 |
| EP0698423B1 (en) | 1999-01-13 |
| CA2155622A1 (en) | 1996-02-09 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20150810 |