US2272640A - Tube cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1942. P. T. KEEBLER- E1- Al.

' TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS 2 sheets-,sheet 1 Filed Deo. 16,A 1940 lNVENTOR Feb. `10, 1942. P, T KEEBLER ETAL 2,272,640

TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 16, 1940 fu 7 INVENTOR www iff MW Patented Feb.. 1G, 1942 TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS Paul T; Keebler endl-Virgil HL. Baker, Springfield, Ohio, assignors to Elliott Company, Pittsburgh; Paf, acorporation of Pennsylvania- 9Y Claims.

This 'invention' pertains to motory driven cut; ter and cleaner heads suitable for cleaningi interior deposits in` tubes, suchl as heavy coke; More particularly, thel invention relatesn to an` improved. cutter head having roughing and polishing elementsfin operativev combination;

Ity has been f an object of ourinvention to provide a new and improved cutter uni-t'offa type that-Will be particularly suitable for removing coke and other extraneousI material Where. the taper of the out surface is signi m` cant.

Anotherv object has' been to provide: a' cutter unit having improved characteristicsAw ol ilexibility. v

A furtherrobject has'beenz to devise acleaner head combination having at least tWo types f of" cleaneror cutter elements in operative combination. such that theelernents of one etyp'ecan best` effect,desiredfoperative` results Without und'esirable modification by the other'type` etelements.

These and many other objectsof ourinventionwill appearto those. skilled in :theart yfrom the description, the drawings, and r theY appended claims Inthe. drawings:

Figure4 l is a lside elevation. partly in section; showing one form of our invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevationshowingY :t6

cutter elements and pins of Figure l;

Figure Sisan end 4sectional View in elevation taken along the line III-III of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an exploded sidesectional elevation showing a` modied arrangement ol cutter ele ments andpins;

Figurev 5 is aside elevation-,showingindetall thespider construction ot'Figure l;-

Figure 6 is a plan View otthefront -endf (leftl of Figure 5) of the spider of Figure-'5, and Fig ure 7 is a similar View of the rear end (right. of Figure 5);

Figure 8 is a side in elevation, and Figure@ is a plan view of a front plate detail of -therernbodiment of Figure .1;

Figure 10 is an endplan View in elevation, partially in section, of a.,detail^ot arear plate'` of ,the embodiment of Figure 1;. and.

Figure 11 is a vertical section. taken alongtha line XI-XI of Figure l0.

Heretofore in'; present-dav commercial con-. structions, it has-been customary tomcunt af. number. of cutter or cleaner.. elements. on the-` same journal pin arrangement. We haver-found that this c0nstruction.has certain disadvan-vr theerearareeof'substantially cylindrical form'.-

ability is needed betweenA lthettvo types of cutter;I

. that'theiroperating-aXes'farev at anY angle to fthe:A

tageous. results, particularly `as applied' :to tubing? having. heavy `coke'- encrustations thereinl'z In L. suchra construction, the forwardcutter `elements i' are generally; tapered Aand the otherrelements Yof We have determined'. *that the: preferable 'type of operation 'is'. for "the forward' or conical cut-'- tersY to Aadvance at a vsuitableinclinationv with respect tov thev axis of thevunit (to 'effect se'lf'- feed) and'at la--suitable inclination into thecoke encrustation without settingKAV upy an undesired inclination and positioning of the rear.v or huish-.- ingfcutters. To effect a uniformr jobthe"nishing cutters should preferably move somewhat" parallel to thexaxis of'th'e 'bodyfbeinga'cleaned and thus7 be capable or somewhat parallel posi'-v tioning Wit-h respect to they rotating.K cutter f head2' or" spindle* To effectsuch `a result,V itrwilltbev` apparent that a-suitableA fdexibility` or adapte elements. and' that this cannot be 'accomplished'.- by the utilization ora tsingle coinmonisupporting". journal pin for by other yar-rangementsfamiliar: to those skilled in the art.

Particularly as applied to" a 'self-'feeding :i type offcutterhead,. see for lrexample; the arrangement shownin the KeeblerfPatent'2,1385009, itis'de= sirable lto operate'one set of cutters; the` leading;l cone; or` roughing'cutters; in s, such' amanneri operating vor rotating 4axisrof th'e'heads. During? the' operation of theV unit, the cleaning cutters should: I'be I preferablyrmounted in'such aomannerx that they-can movertoa position in Whiclrtheir axesware'pai-allel'to the `axis `ofthe head aswellr as at an angle-thereto;

In aprererredrform ofV ourfnvention olvililigl ure= l,- We havefshown a spiderlfhavingf a fronthead portion ll, threeY or'anylsuitable'number ofy longitudinally; andY 'backvvardly 'extending -integral, arm` portions .i 2; and a. back' orf rear head" portion I3. Afrontiplateelemen-tzl isprovlded'i with outwardlyfextending ears' lf which; as? shovvndnFigures`v l; 8; and9; t-between:theA integral arms l E andabut against fan 'inner side of the front head portionfl; plate l'is removably positioned and 'each Yof 'itsears .l'is provided 'with a :bearing hole "orf slot r l 'l 'forV ree ceivingand Journaling acutter'pin: Thefslcts or; recesses ll 'mayb'e circular or radially elongated', asfshoum'in/'Figures andl''or'the aboi-"edn'erri1v tioned Keebler patent.

Front :cutter 'or journal' pins IB 'arefremovablyl mountedatone lend in each of the slots Il fto" longitudinally extend' Ybacktvardly therefrom'andf support forward, cone-shaped cutter elements or heads 20. Cutter teeth portions 2| of the elements 2U are of integral form and are spaced by annularly-extending grooves 22. 'Ihe rear portion of each forward cutter element is provided with a longitudinally-extending bore or opening therein that is radially offset from an opening or bore in the front portion thereof and is suitable for receiving a second or rear cutter pin 25. The rear cutter pin is preferably at least as strong or of as great a diameter as the forward cutter pin I8 and is preferably of greater diameter.

The rear cutter or journal pins 25 are at one end journaled substantially loosely within and extend from the portions 23 of the cutter elements 2G. Suitable clearance may be allowed between the ends of the pins I8 and 25 to provide a suitable pivot action between the forward ends of the pins 25 and the female wall portions 23 of the forward cutters 20; both ends of these female portions or bores are preferably chamfered. In this manner, the cutters 20 are, in effect, supported on two cutter pins. A pair of straight, cylindrical, finishing, or rear cutter elements 3l] are operably mounted beyond and adjacent as well as in substantial abutment with the forward cutter element 20 upon an extending portion of each second or rear cutter pin 25. In this manner, the forward pin I8 is held in operative position by the pin 25 and the latter takes up thrust upon the forward pin I8, transferring it through its length to a rear head lock plate or member 32.

As shown particularly in Figures l, 2, and 4, the pin 25 is preferably provided at its rear end with an annular thrust fiange 26 and a somewhat beveled stud end portion 27 that is loosely and somewhat pivotally journaled within slotted portions 33 of the rear head lock plate 32. Small openings 34 are provided in the top of these slotted journal portions 33; openings 35 are also provided in body portions of the plate 32 for passage of fluids.

The entire arrangement is demountable in such a manner that the wearing parts can be readily replaced. As shown particularly in Figures 1, 10, and 11, the rear plate 32 has a series of undercut offset portions 36 for receiving the arms I2 of the spider. The plate 32 is removably mounted on the frame or spider I a connector 4l] abuts rear plate 32 and is threaded within a female portion 4I of the spider I0 to secure the rear plate in position. In a mounted position, a center annulus 31 in the rear plate 32 fits over iiange I4 of the spider IIJ, also offset portions 35 t over portions I3 of the spider. erably such that they will be tightened during the rotation of the cutter head.

In view of the above description, it will be apparent that the arrangement can be readily dismounted by unscrewing the connector 4U, lifting the rear head plate 32 away from the rear portions of the spider I0, and then pulling the pins 25 and finally the pins IS backwardly out of their operative positions.

The above arrangement, as will be apparent, makes possible a closely associated mounting of the two types of cutter elements while permitting them to operate in the most efficient manner to effect their cooperative results. That is, the front cutter elements 20 can pivot to a suitable feeding and rough-cutting relationship with the inside of the pipe and the coke to be removed, while the finishing cutter elements are independently and adjustably mounted or pivoted with respect to the elements 20 to best complete the cutting and cleaning operation without setting up offsetting and undesired results in combination. 'I'he cutters 3D are, in effect, pivoted on the cutters 20; we provide suitable play or clearance between cutters to permit their axial movement on the pins.

By providing a removable front plate, movable journal or cutter pins, and a removable rear plate, the parts subjected to the most wear can be readily and inexpensively replaced. The front cutter pins are operably held in position and strengthened against thrust by the rear cutter pins 25 which are in substantial axial alignment and are at least preferably in a substantial endto-end relationship. Suitable clearance is provided to permit desired relative movement between pins. The unit will readily adapt itself to any type of heavily coked tube surface. By eliminating a single pin for cutters of different types, we also eliminate bending fatigue and thereby increase the life of the unit. There is no cramping of the operation of the cutters of one type by the operation of the cutters of the other type, in that each has an axially-adjustable or pivotal operating relationship with respect to the other.

It will also be noted that the front cutter element 20, in effect, constitutes a continuation of the cutter pins, in that both of them are operably supported therein. They, in turn, operably and adjustably support the front cutter element. The front cutter element, in effect, pivotally supports the rear cutter pin 25 upon which the rear, cylindrical, or straight cutter elements 3U are operably mounted.

In Figure 4, we have shown a modified form of our invention in which a forward cutting element 20 is combined as a single integral element with the forward pin I8'. We prefer the arrangement shown in Figure 1 in that the wearing parts can be replaced with minimum expense.

It will appear that the core axis of the cutter 20', in effect, constitutes an integral portion of the pin I8' such that this pin is mounted in an endwise relationship with respect to the pin 25, a relationship that corresponds to the relationship between the pins I8 and 25 of the embodiment of Figure 2.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, although we have shown forms of our invention to illustrate its principles and novel features, that the inventive concept is not limited thereto. That is, the particular cutter construction of the spindles, etc., can be suitably modified and other arrangements of cutters may be employed to utilize our new and improved form of fiexible mounting between cutter element types. Also, various arrangements may be employed to utilize our ideas of support and journal construction for the cutter pins.

We claim:

l. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided with bearing portions, a cutter having a longitudinal operating axis, a cutter pin operably mounting said cutter adjacent one end thereof in one bearing portion of the support frame, said cutter having a longitudinally-extending bore portion open to an opposite end thereof, the bearing portion of the support frame adjacent the last-mentioned end of said cutter having an outwardly-extending slot, a second cutter pin having a portion of substantially uniform diameter therealong operably and loosely mounted within said bore portion and extending outwardly therefrom to operably mount the opposite end of said cutter within the slotted bearing portion, so that the longitudinal operating axis of said cutter will move in an angular relation to a longitudinal axis of the cleaner head.

2. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame with spaced-apart pin-mounting portions, a pair of cutter pins operably mounted in said pin-mounting portions of the support frame and extending longitudinally therefrom towards each other in a substantially end-to-end relationship, and a cutter operably mounting the endto-end portions of said cutter pins with respect to each other in such a manner that one of said pins will move into endwise abutment with the other of said pins under thrust conditions, the other of said*pins having a thrust shoulder portion.

3. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, a cutter pin operably mounting one of said cutters adjacent an end thereof on the support frame, a second cutter pin operably extending from said first-mentioned cutter adjacent an opposite end thereof and operably mounting said cutter on the support frame, the second cutter of said pair being operably mounted on said second cutter pin between said first-mentioned cutter and the support frame, at least one of said cutter pins and said first-mentioned cutter being loosely mounted to provide angular movement between the axes of said cutters during a tube cleaning operation, so that the longitudinal axis of one of said cutters will move in an angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the other of said cutters.

4. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, a cutter 'pin operably mounting one of said cutters adjacent an end thereof in the support frame, a second cutter pin extending into an opposite end of said first-mentioned cutter and operably mounting the other cutter of said pair between said first-mentioned cutter and the support frame, said cutters and cutter pins being mounted in such a manner as to allow one of said cutters to move in an angular relation to the axes of the other of said cutters during a rotation of said cleaner head.

5. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided with bearing portions, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, cutter pins extending from opposite end portions of one of said cutters and mounting said cutter in the bearing portions of said support frame, at least one of said bearing portions having an outwardly-extending bearing slot, said bearing portions having portions for limiting the extent of outward movement of said cutter pins, the other cutter of said pair being operably mounted on one of said cutter pins between said rst-mentioned cutter and the support frame, said first-mentioned cutter and said cutter pins having portions so mounted that one of said cutters is free to move angularly with respect to the other of said cutters during a tube cleaning operation in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of one of said cutters can move in an angular relation to the axis of the other of said cutters.

6. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, at least a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, a pair of cutter pins extending from opposite ends of one of said cutters and mounting said cutter on the support frame, one of said cutter pins being loosely associated with said rst-mentioned cutter and having the other of said cutters operably mounted thereon so that the longitudinal axis of one of said cutters will move in an angular relation to the axis of the other of said cutters.

7. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided with bearing portions, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, cutter pins operably mounting one of said cutters adjacent opposite ends thereof in the bearing portions of the support frame, one of said cutter pins being loosely mounted between said first-mentioned cutter and one of the bearing portions, the other of said pair of cutters being operably mounted on said loosely mounted cutter pin in such a manner that said second-mentioned cutter will be free to change the relation of its longitudinal axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first-mentioned cutter to provide angular movement between the longitudinal axes of said cutters.

8. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, a longitudinally-extending cutter having connected bore portions open to opposite longitudinal ends thereof, the bore portion at one end of said cutter having a smaller diameter than the bore portion at the other end thereof, a cutter pin operably and turnably mounted within the bore portion of smaller diameter and extending therefrom to cooperate with the support frame, a second cutter pin of greater diameter operably and turnably mounted in the bore portion of greater diameter and extending therefrom to cooperate with the support frame, a second cutter operably mounted on said pin of greater diameter, one of said cutter pins having a portion providing a mounted relationship with said first-mentioned cutter such as to allow relative angular movement of axes of said two cutters.

9. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame with spaced-apart pin-mounting portions, a cutter pin operably mounted in one of said pin-mounting portions of the support frame and extending longitudinally therefrom, a cutter operably positioned on said cutter pin between said pin-mounting portions of the support frame, said cutter having an integral pin extending from an end thereof and operably mounted in the other of said pin-mounting portions of the support frame, said cutter element operably mounting an extending end portion of said first-mentioned cutter pin in a substantially endwise relationship with respect to a portion integral with said second-mentioned pin in such a manner that said first-mentioned pin will move into endwise abutment with the integral portion of the otherv of said pins under thrust conditions, said firstmentioned pin having a thrust shoulder portion.

PAUL T. KEEBLER. VIRGIL H. BAKER.

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