US1663851A - Boiler soot cleaner - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1928. 1,663,851

F. w. LINAKER ET AL BOILER SOOT CLEANER Filed Sept. 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nn Ill March 27, 1928. 1,663,851

F. w. LlNAKER ET AL BOILER 500T CLEANER Filed Sept. 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR" M M By Attorneys, 6mm r Ynovwlg Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER AND THEODORE M. BRUIBACK, F DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER SCOT CLEANER.

This invention relates to boiler soot cleaners of the type having a rotatable or oscillatable tube called the cleaner element for conveying steam or other cleaning fluid. such tube commonly being provided with jet nozzles for directing jets of such fluid agalnst or among the boiler tubes. Such rot-atlve elements, when located low enough to be within reach, are commonly turned by a hand wheel or handle on the end outside the boiler setting; or when. located so high as to be out of reach, they usually carry a sheave wheel over which-passes a chain extending down to where it may be grasped by the attendant; or in other cases a ratchet wheel is provided, which is turned by a pawl on a lever which is rocked by means of a chain or other connection extending down within reach of the operator. The best results are secured by an intermittent rotation of the element by mechanism of the ratchet type, whereby between the advancing impulses the jets remain stationary for a short time so as to enable them to do their cleaning work more thoroughly than when merely swung through a given are.

The present invention provides an 1mproved mechanism whereby the cleaner element may be rotated intermittently. In

its preferred embodiment it is adapted to turn the element in either direction, so that the jets may be swung through an are from a given starting point to a given stopping point and back again, so as to confine their operation to that sweep whlch alone is effective for cleaning the b01161 tubes.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view;

Fig. 2 is an end view, with the cover plate of the valve casing removed, as seen from the line II-H Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III Fig. 1.

Fig

4: is a horizontal sectional view through the lower part of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview on the line V-V Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing ratchet bar, stop means.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line VI--VI Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line VTTVII Fig. 4..

Referring to the drawings, A, Fig. 1 is a portion of the boiler setting, B is the usual sleeve set therein, and B is a cap thereon. W'it-hin the sleeve and cap the cleaner element C is mounted, so as to be able to rotate in the manner well understood. This element commonly projects into the boiler and among the boiler tubes, and is provided with nozzles at intervals from which jets of steam may be directed against or among the boiler tubes. The front or outer end of the element C projects through a. stuffing box D into a casing or head E to which steam is admitted through a supply pipe F. The valve for controlling the admission of steam into the element may conveniently be located within the head E, or may be elsewhere applied, as may be desired in any individual case.

A supporting frame G is fastened to any suitable stationary part. This frame G is conveniently made of plates g and 9, connected by arms 9 the plate 9 having an annular portion engaging the head E, as by embracing a. boss on the latter, and being fastened by tap screws, while the plate g supports the element C through an antifriction bearing g'. The frame G provides the bearing for a rotary shaft L on which is fixed a pinion M which meshes with a gear N fixed on the tubular element C. A setscrew 11. serves for fastening the gear N to the element.

The shaft L has fixed thereon a ratchet wheel O, and on each side thereof, on the shaft L, are the hubs p and g of two oppositely arranged ratchet levers P and Q, having the spring-pressed pawls p, g thereon adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel O in opposite directions.

Between the levers P and Q there is arranged a projection or block R on the supporting frame G and having stops r, r thereon coacting with stops 7*, r on the lever P, and stops 7*, r" on the lever Q, for limiting the throw or movement of these levers.

The levers P and Q, are normally pressed to an initial position (see Fig. 2), and for this purpose a spring S is provided wound around the shaft L and has its two ends 8 8 connected to the levers P and Q, as indicated at s, s, the reaction of the spring being to draw the two levers together with 'case, the lever Q would be first the stops r thereon against the shoulders 1' 1 of t e block R.

Projectin from the block R in the path of the paw s p, g, are two cam-pro ections or horns 1 1", and Q are in initial position Fig. 2) hold the pawls p, g thereon out o engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 0, allowing these pawls to engage said teeth, however, when one or other of said levers is moved away from its initial position, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is generally desirable to provlde for stopping the rotation of the element after it has turned through a given are, in order that the operator may then be compelled to reverse its direction and cause its jets to swing backwardly through the same-arc.

This is because in most installations the jets" are efiective during only a limited part of an entire revolution, so that to perform the remainder of the revolution would be a waste of time and steam. In such cases it is desirable to provide adjustable means for limiting the rotative movement of the ele ment. Such means are shown in Figs. 1 and 6, where Y is an adjustable stop piece fastened to the gear wheel N by means of a bolt or screw y. The stop piece Y has pins 3 3 projecting from it, which enter holes 3 formed in the wheel N, the bolt g going throu h an intermediate hole. The holes y and t e spacing of the pins g have such angular relation as to enable the stop piece Y to be set around step by step in any suitable succession of angular positions to which it may be set in the original installation and adjustment of the apparatus. The stop piece Y strikes a part of the shaft L, but it may strike any other suitable part for performing its stopping function. As shown in Fig. 6, it will permit nearly an entire revolution of the element; to confine the element to some lesser are, two stop pieces Y may be employed, a second one being indicated in dotted lines at Y.

Operation: The initial position of the parts, with the valve E controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to the'element C closed, is illustrated in Fig. 2. To operate the mechanism to clean the boiler tubes, the workman pulls on one or the other of the chains attached to the ratchet levers, P or Q (which ever may be necessary to turn the parts in the proper direction). In this ulled. This would cause the spring, presse pawl g thereon to slide off of the cam-projection r, and to engage one of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 0. Movement of the lever Q would turn the ratchet wheel 0 to the extent permitted b the stops r", r thereon in relatlon to the s oulders r, r on the block B. As here shown a single pull on one of the ratchet levers P or Q effects a rotation of which when the levers P about 45 of the ratchet wheel 0. The ratchet wheclO being fast on the shaft L, turns the latter, and this in turn rotates the pinion M in mesh with the gear N fixed to the element C. As the gear N is of considerably greater diameter than that of the pinion- M, a rotation of 45 of the pinion M would effect a considerably less degree of rotation of the gear N and the element C turned thereby. For example, each pull of a ratchet lever might be designed to effect a rotation of about 5 of the gear N and element 0, so that to turn the element C through an arc of 135 would require 27 pulls or operations -of one of the ratchet levers. The operation of the ratchet levers through the gears M and N therefore effects a comparatively slow and relatively steady or uniform rotation of the element. The mechanism thereby compels or imposes upon the workman a mode of operating the cleaner element which is independent of his skill or instructions for operating the cleaning mechanism, and insures the thorough and effective cleaning of the tube system in the zone cared for by the element 0 erated, and by choosing a proper ratio etween the pinion on the ratchet wheel shaft and the gear on the element, a rate of turning of the element best suited in general practice for the cleaning of the tube system and an economical use of steam, may be closely approximated.

After each pull of a ratchet lever, upon releasing the chain, it is restored to initial position by the spring S.

The degree of rotation of the element C may be controlled by the stop or stops Y, Y.

The construction is preferably arranged for reverse operation. \Vhen soarranged, when the workman finds that the mechanism is stopped when he continues the intermittent pulling on one lever, he then grasps thechain attached to the opposite ratchet lever (the ratchet lever P in the sequence pertaining to the structure illustrated) and begins repeatedly ulling upon said opposite ratchet lever. This operates in the same manner as the other ratchet lever, but in an opposite direction, to turn the ratchet wheel 0, and this through the shaft L, pinion M and gear N pulls the element C intermittently in the reverse direction.

The movement of the element C in the opposite direction may be controlled b the stops Y, Y, on the gear N, or, as here s own, the construction of the valve in the casing E may be such as to limit the reverse movement of the element, and when the element reaches the limit of its reverse movement, admission of cleaning fluid to the element is cut off, and the cleaning completed.

The present invention provides a very simple and inexpensive construction for imparting the desired intermittent rotation to the cleaner element. The device is appli to the other chain for intermittently rotating the element back to its starting point; this operation may be repeated if found necessary for efiective cleaning.

The valve in the' casing E illustrated hereln, and the combination of such valve broadly with means for automatically opening andclosing it by the. same means which are used for turning the element, is not claimed herein, but is claimed in another of our applications, to 'wit:our application Serial No. 641,149, filed May 24, 1923.

v The combination-of a step by step mechanlsm for turning the cleaner element with means for automatically opening and closing the valve is described and claimed in our appllcation No. 634,524, filed April 25, 1923.

The invention ma receive other embodiments than that hereln specifically illustrated and described, within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is a 1. A soot cleaner com rising an element adapted to project jets o cleaning fluid into a bank of boiler tubes, means for intermittently turning said elementin either direc- -t1on, sald means comprising ratchet levers co-axially pivoted carrying pawls, a ratchet wheel operativel connected to said element and adapted to engaged by either pawl when its lever" is actuated, and a frame supporting said ratchet levers and wheel, and

carrying a stop, each of said levers being provided at its hub portion with two shoul-,

ders integrally formedv therewith and adapted to engage said stop whereby their motion in either direction is limited to a definite am; y I 2. A soot cleaner comgarising an element adapted toproject jets o cljeamng fluid into a bank of tubes, means for' intermittently turning said element, and a reduction gearing between said turning means and said element adapted to impose on said turningmeans' a'relatively slow intermittent tuming of said element, said means comprising ratchet levers, adapted to operate 1n opposite directions, a pawl on each lever, a ratchet wheel adapted to be engaged bysaid pawls, and a cam for lifting eac pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel on its return movement. a

3. A soot cleaner comprising an element adapted to project jets'of cleaning fluid into a bank of tubes, means for intermittently turning said element, and a reduction earing between said turning means and sai element adapted to impose. on said turning means a relatively slow intermittent turnlng of said element, said means comprising ratchet levers, adapted to operate in opposite directions, a awl on each lever, a ratchet wheel adapte to be engaged by said pawls,

a cam for lifting each pawl out of engageing between said turning means and saidelement adapted to impose on said turning means a relatively slow lntermittent turning of said element, said means comprising ratchet levers, adapted to operate in opposite directions, a pawl on each lever, a

ratchet wheel adapted to be engaged by said pawls, a cam for lifting each pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel on its return movement, and spring meansfor r eturnin 'said levers after each operation, and

means eing a single coil spring attached at its ends to said levers.

In witness whereof, we signed our names.

.FREDERICK W. LINAKER. THEODORE M. BRUBACK;

have hereunto

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