US1408369A

US1408369A - Tube cleaner

Info

Publication number: US1408369A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1922-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1939-02-28

Description

F. W LINAKER AND T. M. BRUBACK.

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2|, 1919.

Patehted Feb. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

v I INVENTOR fiazz/wfi By Aftm'neys, aw/ink Qmk WW F. W. LINAKER AND T. M. BRUBACK.

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. 1919.

Patented Feb. 28', 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR LEI 712x MAI 9 r W W l J OU 4 O 5 Mm F m 3 -n 6 11H. 9 H w j M F. W. L INAKER AND T. M. BRUBACK.

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED'APR. 2i. 19l9. 1,408,369. Patented Feb. 28, 1922.v

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

By A'ttomeysg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

i i nniiaiox w. LINAKEB, AND THEODORE M. BRUBACK, or Donors. PENNSYLVANIA.

TUBE CLEANER.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, FREDERICK lV. LINA- KER and THEODORE M. BRUBACK, the former a subject of the King of Great Britain and the latter a citizen of the United States of America, both residing in Dubois, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for cleaning the tubes of boilers, economizers, and the like, commonly known as soot cleaners, and aims to provide improvements therein.

The present invention provides a tube cleaner for boilers, attached to a fitting upon the setting or wall of the boiler, and adapted to lie-projected into the interior of the boiler setting when it is desired to clean the tubes, and to be withdrawn from theinterior of the boiler setting when the cleaneris not in use." The removability of the cleaning element from the interior of the setting is of especial advantage where the position of the cleaning element or tube in the interior of the boiler setting is adjacent the combustion chamber of the furnace, or in the first passes for the combustion gases through or 1 over the tubes.

bodiment, and Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, illus-' trate another embodiment.

- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of said first'embodiment, attached tothe wall or setting of a boiler; Y

Fig; 2 is a horizontalsectional view of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-J11, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 1 is avertical sectional view of the second embodiment, shown attached to the wall or setting of a boiler;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of certain parts shown in Fig. 4;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb 28, 1922,

Application filed April 21, 1919. Serial No. 291,545.

Fig. 6 is a View in elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4;;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views illustrating the manner of use, and disposal when not in use, of-the parts of the invention.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is that of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. embodiment shown in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6, the cleaning tube is projected into the interior of the setting, and withdrawn, and disposed, when not in use, similarly to the parts shown in Figs. :7 and 8, although in the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the cleaning element or tube may be swung to and fro in the interior of the setting, as will hereinafte more fully appear.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, numeral 1 designates a cleaner pipe or element, and 2 a fitting through which said cleaner pipe or element extends, and in which it may he slid into and out from the interior of the boiler setting. r i

The fitting 2 preferably comprises a plate 3, adapted to be fastened to'the wall or setting of a boiler, and having brackets 4:, 4, on which a box 5 is pivotally'mounted, as indi cated at 6, 7. H

, The box 5 is provided with a stufling box 9 adapted to prevent the escape of cleaning fluid around the cleaner tube, and in which the cleaner tube or element 1 is slid back" and forth. The box 5 is also provided with a bearing 10 for the cleaner itube. The stufiing box 9 is preferably connected to the box 5. through a short pipe extension 12, in order to give the cleaner tube or element a longer bearing between its supports. 15 designates a cleaning fluid supply pipe, connected with the box 5 through a swing-' ing packing joint 17. The cleaning fluid may be any fluid useful for this purpose, but .is' usually steam. A nipple or short piece of pipe 19 may be interposed between the swinging packing joint 17 and the box 5,-and constitute oneof the pivots upon which the box 5 turns.

The box 5 is provided with a steam chamber 21, surrounding the cleanerpipe or element Land the cleaner pipe or element 1 is provided with steam inlet openings 23 adapted to admit steam from the chamber 21 to the interior ofthe pipe 1, when the pipe is projected into the interior of the boiler setting, as indicated in Fig. 1 (and as indicated indotted lines in Fig. a I The part of the cleaner pipe or element In the c 1 which projects into the interior of the boiler setting, is provided with a plurality of jet-forming orifices 24- (Fig. 7), through which the cleaning fluid is adapted to issue in jets, and strike against the tubes or other parts of the boiler to be cleaned, and thereby tions, so as to secure a thorough cleaning of all parts of the interior of the boiler the reach of the jets. 1

The boiler setting or wall is provided with a passage 27 through which the cleaner pipe or element passes. The box5 and the plate 3..fit closely, so as to shut off the entrance of air into the interior of the boiler setting. This close fit between the

parts

3 and 5 is best secured by using a packing 29 be tween them. j

The face, 30 of the box 5 facing the plate 3,-is preferably circular in cross-section, and the face 31 of the plate 3 is correspondingly shaped. These corresponding circular faces permit the box to'be turned upon its

axis

6, 7, a quarter turn or so, and still keep covered the passage 27 leading to the interior of the boiler setting.

Operation: Normally the cleaner tube or element is in the position shown in Fig. 8,

within alongside the wallor setting of the boiler.

See also the position indicated'by the dotted line 33, Fig. 7. In this'position the inner end35 of the cleaner tube or element is flush with or slightly below the face 30 of the box 5. In order to use the device for cleaning, the tube 1 andbox 5 are swung around the

axis

6, 7, of the box until the end 35 of the tube is in line with the opening 27in the wall of the boiler, Fig. 7. The cleaner tube or element 1 is then pushed into the interior of the. boiler to an extent sufficient to bring the inletopenings 23 into the chamber 21 of the box. Steam may thereupon. be admitted through thepipe 15, and this steam passes through the nipple 19 into the chamber 21, through theinlets 9.3 to the interior of the pipe, and thencethrough the jet-formingorifices 24501111011110 parts to be cleaned. The surfaces struck by the jets may be changed by turning the cleanerpipe or element 1 upon its axis.

To remove the cleaning pipeor element after the cleaning has been effected, and to prevent the corrosion of the cleaning pipe or element, and also damage-thereof by heat, the cleaning pipe or element'is' pulledoutwardly through the box 5 to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 7. The end 35 of the pipe being flush with or slightly below the surface 30 of the box 5, the cleaner pipe is swung against the wall of the boiler, the box turning on its

axis

6, 7, and left in such position. A support 37 .may be provided upon the wall of the boiler to hold the projecting end of the cleaner pipe or element 1, as indicated in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 4:, 5 and 6, numeral 1 designates the cleaning pipe or element provided with inlet orifices 23 and jet-forming orifices 24. Numeral 5 designates the box turning on the

pivotal axis

6, 7, and provided with the steam chamber 21, stufling box 9, bearing 10, and swinging packing joint 17, all of which parts may be similar: in construction to the correspondingly numbered parts in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing.

.50 designates a plate having arms or

brackets

51, 52, in which the box 5 is mounted, and having a curved or circular face 54 similar in curvature to the face 30 of the box 5. A packing 56 is preferably provided between these faces 30 and 54.

The cleaner tube or element 1, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is adapt= ed to be swung or oscillated on the interior of the boiler setting. To this end the boiler setting or wall is provided with an opening 58, elongated in the direction in which'it is desired to swing the cleaning tube or element 1. A guide 60 may be provided for the outer end of the cleaner pipe or element, and'the cleaner pipe or element'provided witha shoe 61 adapted to slide on said guide 60. The face of the shoe 61 which slides upon the guide 60, is flat, and thereby prevents the cleaner tube or element. being turned upon its axis. However, the ends of the guide are cut away slightly, as indicated at 63, so that when the shoe is swung to the extreme ends of the guide, the cleaner pipe or element 1 maybe turned slightly upon its axis. 1

The shoe may be provided with a shoulder (35 for limiting the inward movement of the cleaner tube or element in-the box5.

Handles

67, 68, may be prodded for con venience in sliding and turning the cleaner tube or element 1.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is of especial advantage in connection with vertical fire tube boilers.

OperationrlVhen not in use, the cleaner tube or element 1 is withdrawn fromthe interior of the boiler setting, and preferably in the boiler wall or setting, the box turning upon'its

pivotal axis

6, 7. When in line with the opening 58, the cleaner tube or pipe is pushed or slid inwardly to the position where the inlet orifices 23 are in communication with the chamber 21' in the box 5.- This extent of movement may be determined by the stop or shoulder 65. Steam, or other fluid, may then be admitted through the pipe 15, passing therefrom into the chamber 21, and thence into the element or tube 1 through the orifices 28, and out from the tube, in jets, through thejet-lforming' orifices 24c. The cleaner tube or element may be swung

uponthe axis

6, 7, in order to cause the jets to strike against different parts on the interior of'the boiler setting, and at the ends of the guide 60 the tube or element 1 may be swung slightly on its axis, thereby directing the jets upon other parts on the interior of the boiler setting.

After the cleaning has been e fli'ected, the cleaner tube or elment 1 is pulled outwardly until its end 35 isflush with, or below, the surface of the box 5, whereupon the tube may be swung against or alongside the side of the boiler or setting,*the box 5 turning upon its

axis

6, 7. When with-drawn from the interior of the boiler setting,'and disposed alongside of the wall or setting, the cleaner is out of the way of the boiler attendants, and liability to damage by heat and corrosion is greatly minimized. The inventive ideas herein set forth may receive other embodiments than those herein specifically illustrated and described.

What we claim is 1. A tube cleaner, or the like, comprising a cleaner tube, and a pivotal support therefor, mounted outside the wall of the boiler furnace, said cleaner tube having a cleaning fluid passage, and jet forming orifices therein, said tube being slidable in said support, and adapted, when slid out, to swing on the axis of said support into a position alongside the wall of the structure.

2. The combination with a boiler, or the like, having an. opening through its structural wall, of a fitting covering said opening, a rotatable support pivotally mounted in saidofitting, and a cleaner tube slidable in said support, said cleaner tube having a cleaning fluid passage, and jet forming orifices therein, said support having its axis at the outer side of the wall, whereby said cleaner tube, when slid in said support to its outermost position, may swing, with said rotatable support, to a position alongside said wall.

3. The combination with a boiler, or the like, having an opening through its wall or setting, of a fitting covering said opening, a rotatable support pivotally mounted in said fitting, having an internal chamber, n admission pipe for introducing cleaning fluid to said chamber, and a cleaner tube slidable in said support, said cleaner tube having a cleaning fluid passage, and et formmg orifices therein, sald tube hav1ng an inlet opening which, in its operative position, admits fluid from said chamber to said passage in said tube.

4. The combination'witha boiler, or the like, having an opening through its wall or setting, of a fitting covering said opening, a rotatable support pivotally mounted thereon and having an internal chamber, means for introducing a cleaning fluid into said chamber, and a cleaner tube slidable through said support, the latter having means for making a tight joint between said tube and support in operative position, said cleaner said cleaner tube having a cleaning fluid passage, and jet forming orifices therein.

6. A tube cleaner, or the like, comprising a fitting, a rotatable support pivotally mounted thereon, and a cleaner tube passing through said support, slidable therein, and mounted to be rotated therein, said cleaner tubehaving a cleaning fluid passage, and jet forming orifices therein, said support having its axis at the outer side of the wall, whereby said cleaner tube, when slid in said support to its outermost position, may swing, with said rotatable support, to a position alongside said wall.

7. A tube cleaner according to claim 6, having packing means between thetube and support, adapted to prevent leakage of the fluid between them, while permitting said movements of the tube.

8. A tube cleaner, or the like, comprising a fitting, a rotatable support pivoted thereon, a cleaner tube passing through said support and rotatable therein, and means for admitting cleaning fluid to said tube, said cleaner tube having acleaning fluid pas sage, and jet forming orifices therein, said support having its axis at the outer side of the wall, whereby said cleaner tube, when slid in said support to its outermost position, may swing, with said rotatable support, to a position alongside said wall.

9. A tube cleaner, or the like, according to claim 8, having a guide for directing the movement of the cleaner tube aroundv the pivotal axis.

10. A tube cleaner, or the like, according to claim 8, having guiding means adapted to prevent rotation of the clea er t e, while swinging through a determined are around the pivotal axis.

l1.-A tube cleaneigor the like, according to claim 8, having guiding means, compris ing a stationary, arc-shaped guide, and a guiding head on the tube, adapted, by their engagement, to prevent rotation of the tube, while swinging through a determined arc around the pivotal axis.

12. A tube cleaner, orthe like, according to claim 8, having guiding means, comprising. a stationary, arc-shaped guide, and a guiding head on said cleaner tube, said guiding means having co-operating parts which prevent rotation of said tube, while swinging through a determined are, said guiding means permitting oscillation of said tube beyond the limits of said determined are.

18. A tube cleaner, or the like, according to claim 8, having guiding means, comprising a stationary, arc-shaped guide, having a plane guiding face, and having inclined por tions beyond such face, and the cleaner tube having a head with a reciprocal guiding face, adapted. through the engagement of said head with'said plane face, to guide the tube, in its swinging movements, overa certain arc, and prevent its rotation, and adapted, during its engagement with said inclined portions beyond said are, to permit it a limited rotation. I i

14;. A. tube cleaner, or the like, comprising a support mounted'ona pivotal axis,

having an internal chamber, and means for admitting cleaning fluid to said chamber, a cleaner tube shdable in said support, having an opening communicatlng with said chamber when in operative position, and stops to limit thesliding movement ofthe tube, adapted, when in operative position, to insure communication of said opening with said chamber, said cleaner tube havinga. cleaning fluid passage, and jet forming ori fices therein.

15. A boiler tube cleaner, comprising a support pivotally mounted outside the'walli of the boiler furnace, on an axis parallelto said wall, acleaner tube passing through said walland through said support and rotatable therein, and slidable in said support outwardly of the furnace, said support and tube adapted, when the tube is in itsoutermost position, to be turned to bring the tube alongside the wall of the furnace, and means for introducing cleaning fluid into and through'said tube into the furnace, when the tube is slidinto its operative. position in. the furnace.

16. The structure of claim 15, the tube and support having spaced stop shoulders adapted to limit the outward sliding of the tube.

17. The structure of claim 15, the sup,- port having a chamber receiving the cleaning fluid, and the tube having an opening which, in the operative position only of the tube,

communicates with said chamber, whereby the outward sliding displacement of the tube cuts off the. flow of cleaning fluid to said tube. f5 In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names. I

FREDERICK WQSLINAKER.) THEODORE M. BRUBAGK;