US1926231A

US1926231A - Tube cleaner

Info

Publication number: US1926231A
Application number: US572466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-11-02
Filing date: 1931-11-02
Publication date: 1933-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1950-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1933. ERNST 1,926,231

TUBE CLEANER Filed NOV. 2, 1931 INVENTOR. M/ILL IA M ERNS A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to tube cleaners, and particularly to the type of cleaners which are motor driven and have cutters mounted for outward movement under centrifugal force, effected by rotation of the cleaner. An object of my invention is the provision of parts, which may be quickly assembled or taken apart, and which may be economically constructed.

A further object of my invention is the provision, in a tube cleaner of the character described,

of means for holding against rotation at a plurality of spaced positions, a cutter carrying shaft mounted for outward movement under centrifugal force, to reduce to a minimum torsional stresses on the shaft.

The invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of my invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of the cleaner of my invention, taken in aplane indicated by the line 11 of Figure 2; the outward position of the shafts and cutters is shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cleaner resting on its forward end, and taken in 'a plane indicated byline 2--2 of Figure 1; portion of the structure is shown in elevation todisclose clearly the construction.

Figure 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 2. A portion'of the structure is omitted from the view to disclose clearly the construction.

In the tube cleaners of the class wherein cutters are mounted on shafts which move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, as the cleaner is rotated, it is desirable to take up the axial thrust of said shafts caused by movement of the device through the tube as it is being cleaned, so as to prevent wear and tear on the parts. It is also advantageous to hold the shafts against rotary motion, for the same purpose. My tube cleaner is designed. to perform these functions, and at the same time allow the cutter carrying shafts to havea free swinging motion in addition to the outward motion there- 55 of. .The swinging motion accommodates the cutters to varying thicknesses of scale, thereby relieving strainon the parts and allowing a more eiilcacious cleaning action.

In broadly descriptive terms, the tube cleaner of my invention comprises a head having mounted thereon a plurality of shafts for carrying the cut- 0 ters. Means are provided, on the head, for mounting the shafts for bodily movement outwardly thereof, and with a swinging motion; so that when the cleaner is rotated at a high speed, the cutters may move outwardly under the'influence of centrifugal'force. To prevent wear. and tear on the shaft bearings, and torsional stresses on the shafts, means are also provided for holding the shafts against rotary movement; and a thrust plate-adapted to bear against the rear- ,0 ends of the shafts is provided for taking up the rearward axial thrust of the shafts under operation of the cleaner. 7

Each of the cutter carrying shafts is provided with an aperture, adjacent its rear end, in which is removably positioned a pin abutting against thehead; and the pins are so positioned as to be bodily movable with the shaft,'and thereby allow swinging motion thereof. A retaining plate having pin retaining slots is removably positioned on the head; andto complete the assembly, means are provided for retaining the plate in positionas the cleaner is rotated.

In greater detail, my tube cleaner comprises a head, preferably of metal, having an elongated stem 2 of substantially triangular section, formed with sets of radially extending spaced arms .or flanges 3, forming the front side 4 and rear side 6 of. the head. ,-;Preferably three equi-spaced arms are provided at each end of the stem, and

' the arms on one end are alined with the arms at the other end. Although I have shown a cleaner with three such sets or pairs of arms, it is apparent that any suitable number may be employed.

The arms of each set or pair are formed with elongated and alined slots 7; closed at their outer ends, in which are mounted, for bodily movement outwardly of the head, a plurality of cutter carrying shafts 8. The sides of apertures 7 areflat and parallel; and each of the shafts 8 is formed with parallel and flat sides along its entire length, to provide a structure for holding the shaft against rotary motion. It is to be noted that the width of each shaft beween is flat sides is just sufficient to fit' closely in the slots 7, so as not to impede free outward and swinging motion of the shafts while the cleaner is operated, and at the sametime provide means for holding the shaft against rotary 'rnotion at two spaced positions, thereby relieving twisting stresses thereon. The upper and lower ends of apertures 7, are preferably of thesame curvature as the rounded portions of the shafts, to provide as great a bearing surface as possible.

Shafts 8 are of such length as to project beyond the front side of the cutter; and are provided, at their forward ends, with heads 9. A plurality of conically shaped cutters 11 are journaled on the forward projecting ends of the shafts 8, between the heads 9 and the washers 12 adjacent the front side. Cylindrically shaped cutters 13 are journaled on the shafts 8, between the arms 3. Preferably two of these cutters-are provided for each shaft. The stem 2 of the head is deeply fluted or recessed between the setsof arms to allow free rotation of thecutters 13,

and at the same time permit the use of larger and heavier cutters than if the stem were not fluted.

In assembling the structure thus far described, it is apparent that the conical cutters 11 may be first placed on the shafts, the washers 12 positioned thereover, and the shafts inserted endwise through the front arms 3; The cylindrical cutters '13 may then be, placed on the shafts, which are next inserted, also endwise, through the apertures" 7 of the rear arms 3, so as to project therebeyond. I V t 'For the purpose of holding the shafts on the head, each is provided, adjacent its rear end, with an aperture extending transversely through the flattened sides thereof. The apertures are positioned closely adjacent'the arms 3 forming the rear side of the head; and removably positioned pins '14 are placedjthrough the apertures so as to be adapted to bear. against the rear side or arms. Preferably, the position of the pins 14 is such, as to allow a slight endwise play of the cutter carrying shafts, and thereby permit free outward and swinging motion of the shafts under operation of the cleaner, Means, common to all of the pins, is provided for retaining the pins in position but allowing bodily movement with their respective shafts.

The rear side of the head is formed with an integral threaded stud 16, upon which is'removably positioned a retaining plate, having radially extending arms 17 positioned similarlyfwith respecttothe rear arms 3 of the head. The outer portions of the pin retaining arms 17 are formed with elongated slotsf18, having 'flat sides, in which the pins 14 lie and are prevented from falling out of the cutter carryingshafts. A pin 19 is threaded into .the'rear side of -the head, and engages in an aperture of the retaining plate, so as to provide meansfor properly positioning the plate.

It is apparent from the preceding description, that after shafts 8 have been properly positioned on the head, the pins 14 may be quickly inserted ,adaptedto bear against the end of the stud 16 soas to hold the lower end of hub 22 away from contact with the retaining plate and allow slight play'thereof." On therear'side, the thrust plate 21 is provided with another threaded hub '24, into whichmaybe screwed a drive shaft 26 which may be 1 connected to any suitable prime mover foroperating "the cleaner. The hub 24is pro,-

rotation of the head, and means for retaining the vided with-flats 25, in order that it may be readilyturned by a wrench.

From the preceding description, it is apparent that as the cleaner is shoved through a tube to be cleaned, the thrust plate 21 takes up the rearward thrust of shafts 8; and when the cleaner is withdrawn from the tube, the pins 14 prevent the shafts from falling off the head. Due to the fact that the shafts 8 are able to swing, as well as move bodily outward under the action of centrifugal force-as the cleaner is rotated rapidly, it is seen that the cutters may readily accommodate themselves to varying thicknesses of scale. Furthermore, since the pin retaining plate is out of contact with the hub 22, there is no danger of the hub'twisting the plate, under the driving action of the drive shaft, against the retaining pins 14, which action might'impede free outward movement of the cutter carrying shafts.

Since only a single element, the retaining plate, holds all of the pins '14- in position, it is obvious that the parts may be quickly assembled, or taken apart for the purpose of replacing cutters or other parts.

I claim:

i 1 10 l. A tube cleaner comprising a headincluding wardly of said head under the action of centrifugal force upon rotation of the head, and means for retaining the'shaft on the-head.

2'. A'tube cleanercomprising ahead including a pair'of alined and spaced arms having elongated alined slotstherein, said slots being bounded by parallel fiat sides, a cutter carrying shaft having parallelflat sides, and adapted-forendwise-insertion through both of said slots, whereby the shaft is held against rotary motion by both arms but is mounted for movement outwardly of said 1 head under the action of centrifugal force upon rotation of the head, means for retaining the shaft 'on-the hea'dQand a thrust plate mounted on said head and adapted to bear against the end of the shaft inserted'through said slots for taking up 1 the axial thrust of the shaft upon operation of the cleaner.

3. A-tube cleaner comprising-a head including a pair of alined and spaced arms having elongated alined slots thereon, each of said slots having a 1 fiat side, a cutter carrying shaft of substantially the same cross-sectional size throughout'mounted onsaid head and projecting through said slots, said shaft-being formed with a fiat bearing against the flats bounding the slots, whereby the shaft is held against rotary motion. by both arms but is mounted for movement outwardlyv of said head under the'action of centrifugaluforce upon shaft on the head. 2

4. A tube cleaner comprising a head including a plurality of'outwardlyprojecting pairs of alined arms, the arms of eachpair being spaced and having elongated alined slots, a cutter carrying shaft adapted for" insertion. through the slots of each pair of arms, means for holdingeachshaft .against rotary motion at spaced points adjacent each pair of arms, each-shaft being mounted for movement outwardly ofsaid 'head under the, action of 'centrifugalforce uponrotationof -the head, an element removably positioned adjacent the rear end of each shaft and adapted to bear against the side of the head for retaining the shaft on the head, and a single retaining and guide means for all of said elements mounted on said head.

5. A tube cleaner comprising a head including alined and spaced arms having elongated slots therein, each slot having a flat side, a cutter carrying shaft passing through said slots and having a flat adjacent the flat side of each slot, means for retaining the shaft on the head, and a thrust plate on the head and adapted to bear, against an end of the shaft for taking up axial thrust.

6. A tube cleaner comprising a head including alined and spaced arms having elongated slots therein, a cutter carrying shaft passing through said slots, means for holding the shaft against rotary motion, means for retaining the shaft on the head, and a thrust plate on the head and adapted to bear against an end of the shaft for taking up axial thrust. V

7. A tube cleaner comprising a body including a pair of alined and spaced arms having elongated alined slots therein, each of said slots having a fiat side, a cutter carrying shaft of substantially the same cross sectional size throughout mounted on said body and projecting through said slots, said shaft being formed with a fiat bearing against the flats bounding the slots, whereby the shaft is held against rotary motion by both arms but is mounted for movement outwardly of said body under the action of centrifugal force upon rotation of the body, a head formed integrally on the forward end of said shaft and adapted to be spaced from the front of said body, a cutter journaled on said shaft between said head and the front of said body,