US1476854A

US1476854A - Flue-cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1476854A
Application number: US598869A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dewit N Tilley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-11-03
Filing date: 1922-11-03
Publication date: 1923-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1940-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1923,A 1,476,854

D. N. TLLEY FLUE CLEANI NG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11, 1923.

D. N. TILLEY FLUE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov.. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11 1923. 1,476,854

' D. N. nl LEY `FEDE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Illllll l me/nto@ D N. Taba);

Patented Dec. 11, 1,923.

UNITED STATES DEWIT N. TILLEY, OF MOUNT AIRY,INORTH CAROLINA.

ELITE-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application led November 3, 1922. Serial No. 598,869.

7'0 all who/m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dnwrn N. TILLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Airy, in the county of Surry and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FluevCleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning flues by means of a sand blast applied on the exterior of the Hue pipes.

The main object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character in which a pipe is secured at both ends in rev olublc heads and a sand receptacle connected with an air blast is made to travel along the pipe While the latter is revolving.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device in such a manner that the pipe is easily accessible and can be quickly installed or removed in the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to confine the sand blast within a small space`- so that the sand will not fly about during the operation of the device except around the pipe itself and along, a comparatively short length thereof.

For this purposeY the apparatus is con- ;:u structed in the form of a skeleton frame, in which a motor is mounted and provided with a suitable gearing connection with the attachments of the pipe as well as the carrier of the sand receptacle and the hose.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and

Figure 1 is a top plan view and partial section of the apparatus in operation;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof;

to Figure 3 is an axial section of thel clamping head for the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a transverse section along line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a section along line 6 6 of F igure 1, and

i igure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a nozzle for the sand blast hose.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 represents a skeleton frame constructed of two 'beams 11, placed on a solid foundation 12, such as concrete or masonry, see Fig ures 1, 2 and 6. These beams, which are preferably made of channel or H-bars, are rigidly secured by anchor bolts or the like on the base or concrete foundation 12 above which is secured a platform 9 on the beams 11. Upon the platform 9 is mounted a motor 14, here. shown bolted to a bracket 15, which in turn is bolted to the platform 9. At 16 is indicated a switch or starter for the electric motor 14, by means of which the motor may be started to revolve in any direction or stopped, when the apparatus is not intended to be used.

Upon the beams 11 is placed a crown comprising two

plates

13 and 17 spaced apart by distance bolts 19 and secured to the beams 11 by means of brackets 20. In the bearing 21, carried by

plates

13 and 17, is revolubly mounted a shaft 23 carrying a spur gear 24 at one end meshing with the pinion 25 secured on the spindle of the motor 14. In the other bearings 22 on these plates, is also revolubly mounted a stub sha-ft 26 provided with a spur gear 27 and meshing with the same pinion 25 0f the motor The shaft 23, which is threaded along its entire length beyond the crown plate 17, as at 28, extends to ,the opposite end of the skeleton frame 10 and is threaded in a revolubly mounted bearing 30 furnished in the second crown 31 of similar construction as the

first crown

13, 17. B-y means of a pin 29 the bearing may be locked to the shaft 23 or the crown 31, suitable apertures 49 being furnished in the latter as well as in the shaft and the bearing for this puropse. This crown 31 is provided with one ear 32 at each end, slidably engaging the beams 11. In this manner the crown 31 may be displaced along the beams 11 in accordance with the different lengths of the flue pipes 33. The pin 29, in that case, locking the bearing`30 to the crown 31, while, when the pin locks shaft and bearing together, the latch will revolve with the latter, the crown then remaining stationary.

By referring to Figures l, 2 and 4 it will be seen that the stub shaft 26 carries at its free end a clampingvhead 34 rigidly secured thereon. This head is constructed of an inner and an outer dome-shaped shell 35 andl 36 respectively, which are joined together and bolted on the end of the shaft 26 as at 37, so that the shaft 26 and the head 34 will always turn together. At the open end of the head 34 is provided a channel 38, which together with the inner and outer domes 35 'and 36 form bearings in which clamping bolts 39 are slidably but non-revolubly mounted. For this reason the inner ends 40 of the bolts 39 are of square or flat cross section, while the outer ends thereof, as at 41 are threaded and engage with correspondingly threaded pinions 42, mounted between the channel wall 38 and the outer wall 36 of the head. The inner ends 0f each bolt 39 carries a gripping jaw 43 having teeth or serrations on its inner or concave side, adapted to firmly grip one end of the flue pipe.

Around the head 34 is mounted a clamping wheel 44, which has a ledge 45 on its upper side as seen in Figure 3 engaging with a flange 46 rigidly secured near the channel 38 on the outer wall 36 of the head. This wheel has a plurality of radial handles 47 by means of which the wheel may be turned around the head 34. On the under side of the wheel 44 is an annular projection provided with gear teeth, as at 48, meshing with the pinions 42. It will thus be seen that by turning the wheel 44 the clamping screws 39 may be made to slide in radial direction, inthis manner adjusting the distance between the jaws 43 in accordance with the diameter of the flue pipe to be cleaned.

The crown A31 is also provided with bearings 50 in alinement with the bearings 22 in the

first crown

13, 17 and adapted to revolubly engage a second stub shaft 51, which is similar in construction to that carried in the first crownbut has no spur gear 27. On its inner en-d this stub shaft 51 carries, however, a head 52 identical with the first head 34 which for this reason is provided with clamping bolts, pinions and clamping wheel as already described in connection with the head 34. i

, At 55, see Figures 5 and 6 is shown a sand receptacle or box, which-is closed at its upper end by a tight fitting cover 56. At the bottom is an outlet opening 57 with a suitable cock 58 connecting with a T 59\on the air liose 60, which is suitably connected with a compressed air source. lThe end of the hose 60 carries a nozzle 61, preferably, provided with two diverging, flattened branches 62, through which the sand is driven out by the compressed air against the outer surface of the flue pi e 33 when the apparatus is in operation. ack of the nozzle 61 is shown a branch 65 from the air hose, provided with a spraying nozzle 63 for use when cleaning the inside of the flue pipes. This spraying nozzle 63 may be replaced by others of smaller or larger size in accordance with the diameter of the flue pipe. At 64 is indicated a two-way valve for directing the blast through the nozzle 61 or the nozzle 63. The sand receptacle 55 is secured on the bracket 69, which is bolted, or in any other suitable manner rigidly attached, to

the brace 67. A bracket 66 has a hub, which is threaded and adapted to engage the threads 28 on the shaft 23.

.The bracket 66 is secured upon one of the braces 67, preferably made of flat iron and running slantingly between the beams 11 engaging therewith by means of hooks 68, with which they are provided at their free ends'. These braces support a central drum 70, in which a portion of the flue pipe is enclosed during operation, as best seen in Figures 1, 5, and 6. This drum has Hat ends 71 and 72 and a cylindrical side wall 73 connecting the two ends and through which the nozzle 61 enters, as at 74. At one place, however, this side wall 73 is broken through to permit the insertion of the flue `pipe to be cleaned. The width of the opening thus provided is sufiiciently large to admit the largest pipe, for which the apparatus is intended. The ends 71 and 72 of thedrum are also cut open to the same width as the side, as at 75, and a section 76 comprising end and side portions is intended to fill the openings thus provided in thc drum after the pipe has been positioned in the apparatus. In order to secure the section`76 in place, it is provided with ears 77 corresponding to other ears 78 on the ends 71 and 72 of the drum, with which it is connected by means of thumb screws 79.

At 80 are shown a pair of radially slidable shutters running in guides 81 furnished in the ends 71 and 72 of the drum. These shutters are intended for pipes of smaller diameter so as to completely close up the opening in the drum around the pipe. Clamping bolts 82 are provided for securing the shutters in an ad]ustable position. lt will be evident that the size of the semi-circular cut 83 furnished at the inner edge of each shutter, may be varied according to the size of the pipe to be cleaned. Cleaning doors 85 are also furnished for removing sand.

The manner of operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Before inserting the flue pipe in the apparatus the crown `31 is run out to the end of the skeleton frame, the pin 29 locking bearing 30 andacrown 31 together. In this position the distance between the head 34 and the head 52 is supposed to be sufiicientto admit the longest flue pipe 33 intended to be cleaned'in the apparatus. The drum 70, which at this time may be positioned anywhere between the two heads 34 and52, but preferably, near one of them, is then, opened -by removing the section 76. It will now be possible to insert the flue pipe 33 sideways through the opening of the' drum 70 and to place it with one end in the head 34. By now turning the hand wheel 44 of this head 34 thejaws 43 of the clamping bolts 39 arel made to approach each other and engage on opposite sides of the flue pipe 33 and to secure the same cenrtrally in fthe head.

The outer end of the flue pipe 33 is therev upon secured in a similar manner in the head 52, after the crown 31 has first been shifted sufliciently for this purpose, and the clamping handles 47 loosened. The ue pipe 33 will thereupon be rigidly secured in axial.

Supposing now, that the drum 0 is situated at the remote end of the apparatus, near the head 52,

ythe valves

58 and 64 are then opened permitting the compressed air to carry the fine sand from the receptacle 55 through the nozzle 61v to be thrown against the outer surface of the pi 33. As however, the drum is clamped tightly around this portion of the pipe, the flying sand will be enclosed within the drum.

Simultaneously with opening the sand blast, the switch 16 is turned in position to start the motor 14, which thereupon will revolve the shaft 23 together with Vthe bealring 30, to which it is now locked by pin 29. The drum 7() will rthen slide along the' pipe through 4the cooperation of .the threaded portion 28 of the shaft 23 with the hub 66.

A-t the same time the motor also revolves the stub shaft 26 and the head 34 thereby turns the fiue pipe against the blast emitted from the nozzle 61.

Directly the drum has reached the head 34,'the switch may be turned'in opposite direction Ito reverse the motor 14, when the drum will start to travel in opposite direction along the flue pipe 33, in oase it is found necessary to apply a second blast against the pipe.

Ater fthe flue pipe has been .thoroughly cleaned in this manner, the section 76 is removed from the drum and the sand, now deposited in the' bottom thereof, is taken out, whereupon the pipe can be detached from the

heads

34 and 52 in a manner that will be' readily understood from the foregoing description.

lit will be evident that for a very lar apparatus of this character it may be a visable to supply two or three screw shafts 23 in order .to uniformly distribute rthe weighlt of the drum 70 when passing it along the due pine. For this purpose each of such additional. screw shafts vwould naturally have to be provided with spur gears 2'4 also meshing with lthe pinion 25 and 'these Screw shafts )to be mounted in the crowns 70 and 3l in the same manner as shown with regard to the shaft 23. The .screw shatts would then be placed at the same radial. distance laline'ment with said rst clamping 'heads and a similar from` the axis of the drum and metrically around the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1.. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial head, a drum slidably mounted in said f rame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, and means for introducing a blast into said drum.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said firstl clamping head, a

spaced symdrumslidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, means for introducing a blast into said drum, and other means for revolving said head. 3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a a second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said first clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, means for introducing a blast into said drum, other means for revolving said head, and an element actuated by said other means adapted to axially displace said drum in said frame.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end ofthe frame and in axial alinement with said' first clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith. means for introducing a blast into said drum, other means for revolving said head, and an element actuated by said other means adapted to axially displace said drum in said frame; said other means including aA motor mounted in said frame a gearing connection between said motor and one oi said gearing connection with said element. l

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a lframe, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping headl similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said rst clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said "rame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, means for introducing a blast into said drum, other means for revolving said inol lilli head, and an element actuated by said other means adapted to axially displace said drum 1n said frame; said frame including longitudinal guides, and arms on said drum sup-` the other end of the frame and 1n axial alinement with said first clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial `alinement therewith, means for introducing a blast into said drum, other means Jior revolving said head, and an element actuated by said other means adapted to axially displace said drum in said frame; said frame including longitudinal guides; arms on said drum supported on said guides, said element having'positive driving connection with said arms; said iirst means including a sand receptacle mounted on said arms, a nozzle opening into said drum and having a suitable connection with said sand receptacle and with a source of compressed 3.11.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a

second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said iirst clampin head, a drum slidably mounted in said rame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, and means for introducing a blast into said drum; each of the clamping heads comprising a dome-shaped member, radial clamping bolts, slidably but non-revolubly mounted in said dome-shaped member, pinions having threaded engagement with said clampino* bolts and a hand wheel meshing with said pinions and mounted to revolve on said dome-shaped member, said clamping bolts being provided with gripping jaws at their ends. A

8. An apparatus of the class' described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping head similarly mounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said irst clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, and means for introducing a blast into said drum, said drum having a side opening and a suitable closing member for said opening.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a clamping head revolubly mounted at one end of said frame, a second clamping'head similarlymounted at the other end of the frame and in axial alinement with said irst clamping head, a drum slidably mounted in said frame between said heads and in axial alinement therewith, and means forintroducingablast into said drum, said drum having a side opening and a suitable closing member for said opening; each of said clamping heads comprising a domeshaped member, radial clamping bolts slidably but non-revolubly mounted in said dome-shaped member, pinions having threaded engagement with said clamping bolts and a hand wheel meshing with said pinions and mounted tol revolve on said dome,

said clamping bolts being provided with gripping jaws at their ends.

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, longitudinal runners anchored on said base, a supportinfr member rigidly secured at one end of said base, a second supporting member slidably mounted upon said runners, a clamping head on each of said members and revolubly mounted therein, a drum slidably mounted upon the said runners between said clamping heads and in axial alinement therewith, said clamping heads and said drum being adapted to carry a pipe to be cleaned, means for introducing a blast into said drum and other means displacing said drum in axial direction between said heads while simultaneously revolving the latter.

In testimon whereof I aiiix my signature.

D lWIT N. TILLEY. [L. s]