US1476901A - Boiler-tube-cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 eb- -l4 1 5 J. M CARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Dec 11 1923.

Dec. 11, 1923.

E. J. MCCARTY v BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14 1.922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11 1923.

E. J. MOCARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1.922 4 SheetsSh eet 3 Dec. 11, 1923. 1,476,901

- E. J. M CARTY BOILER TUBE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1.922 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES EUGENE J. MCCARTY, 0F CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER-TUBE-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed February 14, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE J. MoCARrY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Boiler-'Tube-Cleaning Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for cleaning boiler tubes.

The present invention involves the use of a cleaning device combined with poweroperated means for performing the cleaning operation with it and simple mechanical adjustments by which the device is moved from one tube to the other and centered. With this invention the time required for the cleaning of a boiler is reduced very materially.

The invention involves a frame mounted so as to be capable of moving along on the floor in front of the boilers, a vertically adjustable support thereon for the scraper, a power operated feeding device for the scraper, automatic reversing mechanism for changing the direction of feed, and other features of importance as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which i Fig. 1 is an end elevationof a boiler tube cleaning machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view showi'ngmeans for supporting the frame from the truck on which it'is mounted;

Fig. 1 is a plan on enlargedscale of the mechanism mounted on' said frame for op erating the scraper;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan of part of the reversing device removed from the restof the machine; p

F ig. S is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 4 showing most of the mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the means for directly operating the scraper taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, also showing the driving means in elevation;

Fig. 10 is a side view'of apart of the same;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of a. detachable connection for the scraper;

Serial No. 536,576.

Fig. 13 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the other element of the connecting device;

Fig. 15 is a plan of the other elements showing the same parts also as in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged front elevation of part of the frame showing parts in section;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line 18l8 of Fig. 16 showing the ratchet mechanism;

. Fig. 19 is a sectional View on the line 19-19 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged end elevation of a guiding means between the frame and the operators platform; and

Fig. 21 is a sectional view on the line 212l of Fig. 20.-

I have shown the invention as comprising a base in the form of .a wheeled truck consisting of front and rear axles 10. The front one can. be provided with a tongue 9 or any desired means for drawing the truck along the floor. The two axles are connected together to form a complete truck by a rectangular frame 11 consisting of pieces of pipe or rods connected together by ordinary pipe connections, and this constitutes the bottom of the frame of the device. The rest of the frame comprises.

frame 11. To locate these fittings 18 on the truck the latter is provided with four upwardly extending pins 8 which project up into the pipe fittings so as to centerthem and fix them accurately in position. The

uprights 12 are provided with pipe fittings 13 at the top to connect them with a top frame 14 corresponding with the frame 11. All these parts are preferably in the form of piping or rods rigidly connected together by pipe fittings and they constitute the main frame of the device.

Slidab'le up and down on the four uprights 12 are four tubes 15 having at their tops pipe fittings 16 which are connected with each other by four members constituting a rectangular cross frame 17. This frame 17 supports the main parts of the device and is slidable up and down the uprights 12. It is supported by two chains 18, or other flexible connections, passing over sprocket wheels 19 fixed on a longitudinal shaft 20 journalled on the frame 14lat the top, and preferably at the center thereof. The sprocket chains passover these wheels and extend down on the opposite side. The shaft 20 is provided with a hand wheel 21 thereon for rotating it, and with a ratchet wneel 22 also fixed thereon. This ratchet wheel has a strong spring pawl 23 mounted on one of the pipes constituting the frame 14g and capable of swinging into and out of operative aosition. \Vhen in the position shown in ig. 17 it prevents the descent of the frame 17, but the latter can be raised either by turning the hand. wheel or by pulling on the loose ends of the two chains 18.

In addition to the ratchet wheel 22 the shaft 20 is also provided with a second one 24.1 This has a gravity pawl 25 pivoted on a lever 26 pivoted on the shaft 20. This lever '26 has a long handle extending down and sitions as the operator is likely to he in places where it would: be inconvenient for him to reachthe hand wheel. The operator normally stands on a platform 27 carried by a metal frame 28 secured at the top to the frame 17. This frame 28 is provided with grooved rollers 29 engaging two of the uprights 12 and guiding the platform in its motion up and down with the cross frame 1'? .to which its upper end'is connected.

The frame 17 is provided with a pan: of.

guide tubes 31 large enough to surround the tubes of the frame andcapable of-slid'ing thereon.- These tubes carry a supporting frame 32 extendingacross from one-of the longitudinaltubes ofthe frame 17 to the other; This constitutes a means for supportiingmost of the mechanism.

On the underside of' t'he guides 31 are bosses 70 havingbearings for a cross shaft 71 onv which isv aliand wheel 72. On the shaft are toothed .wheels 73 surrounding which and supported by the shaft are inverted U-shaped brackets 74 which carry guard plates 75. The wheels 73 mesh with a pair of fixed horizontal chains 76 carried by-hooks-TT second to the opposite ends of the frame 17. By-turning the hand wheel 72 the whole supporting frame can be adjusted along the chains 76.

suspended from the frame 32 is a motor casing 33 in which there is a motor. the shaft 34 of which has a pinion driving a gear. 36. This gear is mounted on a shaft 37 on which is a gear 38. This gear drives twogears 39 in opposite directions, one of them directly and the other through a pinion 40. These gears 39 are on two shafts 4- mounted on the supporting frame 32 in bearings 44c. These two shafts 41 are rotated in opposite directions constantly when the power is turned on the motor at the switch 79. Each one has freely rotatable on it a toothed wheel 17. Two clutches :42 are provided each with a yoke 1-3 for connecting the wheels with the respective shaft and disconnecting them therefrom. These yokcs are slidable on the shafts 4;]. freely.

Pivoted at a point 15 on this frame 32 a lever 46. This has two arms All), each provided with a plate 4-8 carrying the two yokes When the lever is swung in either direction from the neutral, it will connect one Shaft 11 with the power through the clutch thereon and cause one of the pair of sprocket wheels at? to be rotated. Each of the sprocket wheels is fixed on a sleeve 17 freely rotat able on one shaft 41 and is connected to it by the respective clutch. \Vhen the clutch is Jul: of operation these wheels are loose on their respective shafts.

These wheels are provided with teeth which are adapted to engage in perforations 50 in the top of an operating device com prising a series of links 01. llarh of these links is of inverted U shapc construction with the perforations 50 through its center as indicated by Figs. 9, 10 and 15. The links are connected with each other by pintles 52 and it will be obvious from the arrangement shown that while each link can be. swung downwardly from the main portion of the device, they cannot be swung up wardly. This operating device rests on a table 5?) which constitutes part of the frame or is supported by it. it the ends thcv also pass over supporting non-friction rollers 54 for an obvious purpose.

The end link 56 of this operating device is longer than the others and provided with a headed projection 57, the head 58 of which is flattened so as to he received in a slot 59 in the shank 60 of the brush or scraper ()1 which is to be inserted in the boiler tubes to serve as a cleaning member therefor. This slot 59 has an enlarged opening 62 at at its inner end to provide a key hole slot for receiving the head 58. In order to attach the scraper to the operating device the scraper with its shank is turned up lo the dotted line position in Fig. I4 and inserted. then swung over into horizontal position.

This operating device consisting of the links 51 and connected parts. constitutes part of the cleaning device and rests on the plate 53 and is guided through two guides 63. Each of these guides has a hand screw G l so that a curved tubular guide 65 can be secured in it. In the form shown this is placed on the right, but it can be placed on the other side if the machine is to he used the other way around. This curved guide is used merely for the purpose of keeping the operating device in proper place for use without taking up much room. It is shown as constituting more than a complete circle, and with the end of the device consisting of one or two links extending through it when the scraper is in the fine. As it is drawn out these links are contained in the curved guide.

This operating device is provided with a reversing mechanism shown in the form of a reversing stop 66 mounted on the device at a material distance from the projection 58 which is the other reversing stop. They are adapted when moved up far enough to engage one end or the other of a sliding plate 68. This plate is slotted at the center and into the slot extends a pin 69 on the extreme end of the lever 46. The operating device,'being moved by power and one of these pairs of stops engaging the slide 68, will cause the lever 46 to swing on its pivot 45 and disengagethe clutch that is already engaged and put the other clutch into action. This results in stopping the device and reversing it,'and the action is automatic at both ends, so that the operator can leave the machine running and it will force the scraper back and forth through the tube as long as it may be necessary. These stops 6'6 and 58 can be made adjustable or arranged at the proper distance apart to cause the scraper to reciprocate the length of a boiler tube.

The operation of the machine is very sim ple. The whole machine is moved up in front ofthe boiler by hand and the cross frame 17 raised or lowered so as to bring it at the proper height for cleaning the first tube to be cleaned. The supporting frame on it is moved back and forth to adjust it to the center of the tube, then the motor is turned on and the handle 46 moved from neutral to the position for moving the operating device and scraper toward the boiler. Nothing further need be done until the repeated recip'rocations of the scraper have thoroughly cleaned the tube,-then the handle is turned to neutral position, the motor stopped, and either the frame moved vertically or the supporting frame horizon tally, or both, to bring the scraper into registration with the neXttube and the operation is repeated. The way of operating the various adjustments has been described in full and need not be mentioned here.

By the use of this machine the backbreaking job that is a periodical dread for the boilerroom crew is practically eliminated, its timeis reduced very materially, and the number of men used on it also very much reduced. At the same time there is no dange'ro'f the cleaning job being slighted, and a thoroughly clean set of boiler tubes is the result. This saves in the consumption of coal. The machine is so small that it can be stored in any ordinary boiler room. By

the old method it was common toback off the scraper end so as to make it work easily, but with the power cleaning machine it is possible to expand the scraper so that a man by his own strength cannot push it through the tube. By expanding it to the proper amount a thorough cleaning is ensured and the scraper can be pushed through without difficulty.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, or to the use of an electric motor instead of some other power for operating the device, but what I do claim is 1. In a power operated flue cleaning machine, the combination of a frame having supporting wheels mounted thereon, a movable flue scraper or cleaner, means on said frame for guiding the motion of the flue scraper or cleaner, and an operators platform adjustable up and down said frame and extending the length of the frame at a level below that of said guiding means.

2., In a power operated flue cleaning ma chine,- the combination offront and rear shafts, each having a plate extending up wardly therefrom having bearings for the shafts, and each having two pins extending upwardly from their upper surfaces, wheels on which said shafts are supported, pipes fitting over said pins and constituting uprights, top and bottom frames rigidly connected to said uprights to form a main frame,

and means on said main frame for cleaning or scraping flues.

3. M a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination with aframe, of a motor supported on the frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected with the motor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axis of one of said shafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheel to its shaft, but not both of them at the same time, a boiler flue cleaning device mounted on said frame in position to be operated by said toothed wheels, each of said toothed wheels being arranged to rotate freely on its shaft when not clutched thereto, said frame having a transverse track and said flue cleaner comprising a series of links pivoted together at points below their centers and having square shoulders projecting upwardly from the pivots and supported by said track, said links having perforations equally spaced on one surface so that the teeth of the sprocket wheels will engage said perforations to opcrate the flue cleaner.

' main frame having a plurality 4. Ina machine for cleaning boiler flues, the combination. with amain frame, a fine scraper, a support for the flue scraper, a shaft on the main frame having a plurality of sprocket wheels thereon, a corresponding number of chains supporting said support and passing up over the sprocket wheels, whereby said shaftcontrols the elevation of the flue scraper, a hand wheel on said shaft for rotating it, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, and an operating handle swivelled on it and depending from the shaft provided with a pawl for engagrin;- the ratchet wheel and operating the shaft.

5. In a machine for cleaning boiler lines, the combination with a frame comprising tvo pairs of uprights, of a corresponding number of tubes slidable vertically on said uprights, a rectangular cross frame carried by said tubes, a flue scraper, means on the cross frame for guiding the flue scraper, a longitudinal shaft at the top of the frame having a plurality of sprocket wheels there on, acorresponding number of chains sup portingsaid cross frame and passing up over the sprocket wheels, whereby said shaft controls the elevation of the cross frame, a ratchet wheel lined on the shaft, and asprin'g pawl mounted on the main frameand engaging the ratchet wheel to antomatically hold the shaft against rotation in a direction to lower the cross frame.

(3. In a machine for cleaning boiler llues, thecombination with a main frame, of a frame supported thereby, a flue scraper can ried by the second frame, a shaft on the of sprocket wheels thereon, a corresponding;' number of chains supporting said second frame and passing up over the sprocket wheels, where-- by said shaft controls the elevation of the second frame. a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a spring pawl mounted on the frame and engaging" the ratchet wheel to automatically hold the shaft against rotation in a direction to lower the second frame, a second ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a lever pivoted to the shaft and d pending therefrom, and a pawl on the lever for once 1 the second ratchet wheel and therebvl'urning the shaft in a direction to raise the sec ond frame when the lever is oscillated. 7. In a machine for cleaning fines of boilcrs and the like, the combination of a portable framevcomprising a series of uprights, a flue scraper, means adjustably mounted on the frame for guiding the flue scraper, a pair of supports depending from the frame having rolls for engaging the uprights, and an operators platform mounted at the bottom of said supports.

8. In a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination of a portable frame, a pair of rods extendingalong it at equal distances apart. a pair of tubular guides, one on each rod, a supporting frzme carried by the guides, a pair of horizontal chains arranged in fixed position on the portable frame between said rods, a shaft supported by the supporting frame and having two sprocketwheels each meshing with one of said chains, whereby the rotation of said shaft will move the supporting frame along the rods, and flue cleaning device carried by the supporting; frame.

9. In a. boiler flue cleaning: machine. the, combination with a frame and a cross frame adjustable thereon, of a motor supported by the on, ,s frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected with the motor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably and freely mounted on parallel axes, means capable of clutching cihcr toothed wheel to one shaft but not both of them at lhe same time, and a boiler flue cleaning dvice supported by said cros: frame in position to be ope 'aled by said toothed wheels.

10. In a boiler flue cleaning: machine, the combination with a frame and a cross frame vertically adjustable thereon, of a motor supported by the cross frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected with the motor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axis of one of said shafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheel to its shaft, and a reciprocable boiler 'l'lue cleaning device mounted on said. cross frame. and having depressions for receiving? the teeth of both of said toothed wheels, whereby the rotation of either wheel will move the cleaning device along.

ll. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a flue cleaning device guided and rcciprocablc on said frame and provided with depressions in its surface, a pair of toothed wheels niounted in alignment so as to engage ca'mstantly in said depressions, a motor, and means connected with the motor for operating one of the toothed wheels at a time and turning them in opposite directions. whercby one toothed wheel when positively connected with the motor will move the flue cleaning device in one direction and the othe under the some conditions will more it in the other direction.

in a lluc. cleaning machine, the cou] binetion of a supporting: frame. with a cleaning device comprising a E'FtllOH of links pivoted together and guided on said frame, said links having depressions, a pair of toothed v nhecls in alignment with each other, both of which engage in said depressions, means for driving said toothed wheels in opposite directions and for discoimcctin; each of them when the other 's connected to be driven, whereby one wheel will move lllll the cleaning device in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

13. In a boiler flue cleaning machine, the combination with a portable frame and a cross frame vertically adjustable thereon, of a motor supported on the cross frame, a pair of shafts adjacent the motor, means connected wit-h the motor for constantly driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pair of toothed wheels each rotatably mounted on the axis of one of said shafts, means capable of clutching either toothed wheel to its shaft, but not both of them at the same time, a boiler flue cleaning device mounted on said cross frame in position to be operated by said toothed wheels, each of said toothed wheels being arranged to rotate freely on its shaft when not clutched thereto, said frame having a transverse track and said flue cleaning device comprising a series of links and supported by said track, and having perforations equally spaced on one surface so that the teeth of both sprocket wheels will engage said perforations to operate the flue cleaning device.

14. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame, with a cleaning device comprising a series of links pivoted together and guided on said frame, means for reciprocating said cleaning device, and a curved movable tubular guide having means whereby it can be connected to either side of said supporting frame for receiving the links and guiding them in a curved path beyond the frame.

15. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame, with a flue cleaning device comprising a series of links pivoted together and guided on said frame,

means for driving said links inopposite directions one of said links having a transverse projection thereon, and a flue scraper having on the shank thereof a key shaped open ended slot for receiving said projection and detachably connecting it thereto.

16. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a supporting frame, with a flue cleaning device guided on said frame, a pair of wheels adapted to engage the flue cleaning device for moving it, means for driving said wheels in opposite directions and for disconnecting each of them when the other is connected to be driven, whereby one wheel will move the flue cleaning de- 'vice in one direction and the other in the opposite direction, said flue cleaning device having reversing stops thereon at a distance apart, and means in position to be operated by said reversing stops alternately for disconnecting the' operating wheel from a source of power and connecting the other wheel thereto, whereby the direction of motion of the cleaning device is reversed.

17. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination ofa guide and support, a flue cleaning device comprising a series of links pivoted together supported thereby, a motor, a pair of wheels loosely mounted and adapted to engage the'flue cleaning device for operating it, means whereby said wheels rotate only in opposite directions, said means comprising two clutches, one for each wheel, a lever for operating said clutches constructed to connect one wheel to the motor when turned in one direction and to connect the other one when turned in the opposite direction from neutral, a slide connected with said lever, and stops on the flue cleaning device for engaging the opposite ends of said slide, whereby the continued motion of the flue cleaning device after such engagement will movev the slide and thereby turn said lever to disconnect the wheel previously in operation and connect the other wheel to move the flue cleaner in the opposite direction.

18. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination of a guide and support, a flue cleaning device, a motor, a pair of wheels loosely mounted and adapted to engage the flue cleaning device for operating it, two clutches, one for each wheel, a lever for operating said clutches constructed to connect one wheel to the motor when turned in one direction and to connect the other one when turned in the opposite direction from neutral, a slide connected with said lever, and stops on the flue cleaning device for en gaging the opposite ends of said slide, whereby the continued motion of the flue cleaning device after such engagement will move the slide and thereby turn said lever to disconnect the wheel previously in operation and connect the other wheel to move the flue cleaner in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' EUGENE J. MoCARTY.

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