US2395019A

US2395019A - Tube scraper

Info

Publication number: US2395019A
Application number: US438391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry J Sievers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-04-10
Filing date: 1942-04-10
Publication date: 1946-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1963-02-19

Description

H. J. SIEVERS 2,395,019

TUBE S CRAPER Filed April 10, 1942 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb.19 1946 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE SCRAPER Henry J. Sievers, Evanston, Ill.

Application April 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,391

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cleanin or scraping devices for tubes such as fiues, boiler tubes. and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tube scraper of the type defined, of simplified construction, which may be readily and economically fabricated. and which will be efficient in operation.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide in a tube scraper of the type defined, improved and simplified means for adlusting the scraper blades to compensate for wear and to apply a' predetermined scraping engagement against the tube surface, while permitting automatic resilient contraction of the scraper blades as may be necessary to clear obstructions or the like within the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube scraper of simplified structure wherein the scraper blades form substantially continuous circumferential contact with the tube wall, while at the same time being readily adjustable in a radial direction to accommodate the tube size and. to provide increased or decreased pressure contacting engagement against the tube wall.

A still further object of the invention is to" provide scraper blades which are self-sharpening.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention i set forth for purposes of illustration.

In accordance with the invention, the scraping unit of the structure comprises in effect a substantially one-piece element providing circumferentially continuous contactin engagement against the tube surface, the scraper blades being readily adjustable and resiliently mounted to provide the necessary movements for the blades in a radial direction.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view of a scraper structure constructed in accordance with the scraper on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the scraping unit or element 01' the structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the

scraper, shown in association with a tube It to be scraped. comprises an operating rod II, a support shaft or mandrel l2 mounted on the end of the operating rod, and a scraping unit, generally indicated by the numeral I3, supported by the shaft l2. The operating rod I i may be of any desiredlength, to extend beyond the end of the tube In, and form the means by which the scraper structure may be propelled longitudinally of the tube to effect its cleaning or scraping functions.

More specifically, the support shaft i2 is carried on the end of the rod H by means of a coupling member it provided with threaded sockets on either end-thereof,-into which the rod ii and shaft I? are threadedly secured. A pin it, pressfitted into position, serves to prevent inadvertent unthreading of the shaft H from the coupling member, after assembly of the parts. Suitable means, such as a lock nut l6, may be provided for maintaining the coupling member in locked position upon the end of the operating rod. The pin l5 also acts as a securing means for a sheet metal guiding cone if, the apex end of which is formed with a cylindrical skirt I 8 arranged in embracing relation upon the end of the coupling member. A washer l9 loosely mounted on the shaft I2, is maintained in engagement with the end of the coupling member by the resilient engagement of the scraping unit, this washer bein so proportioned that it acts as a position maintaining means for the guiding cone. The guiding cone facilitates the entrance of the scraper structure into the end of the tube, remote from the operating rod H, the right end of the tube as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The enlarged end l'la of the cone is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the tube, so as not to interfere with the ready introduction of the scraper into the opposite tube end, or to the left as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The scraping unit, which is perhaps best illustrated in Fig. 4, comprises a series of scraper blades 25, and a cooperating series of blades 26, the juxtaposed ends of which are secured together by suitable means, such as welding or riveting, rivets 2'! being the securing means illustrated in the particular embodiment shown. Also in the particular illustrated embodiment there are four blades 25, and four blades 28, which The ends of the blades 25, extending ,away from the blades 28. are secured to a support bracket to adapted to be loosely mounted on the shaft ii, The projecting ends of the blades 26 are similarly secured to a support bracket II, also adapted to be loosely mounted on shaft l 2. More specifically, bracket 30 is provided with a series of flanges or wings 30a, to the undersides of which the blades 25 are respectively secured, bracket 3| being similarly provided with flanges or wings 3 la for supporting the ends of the blades 28. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the blades to the support brackets, rivets 32 being illustrated as the securing means in the particular embodiment shown.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the outer end of the support shaft I2 is threaded as indicated at I211, this threaded shaft section being adapted to support a wing nut or the like 33 and a washer member 34. By adjustment of the wing nut 33, washer 34 is thrust into engagement with the support bracket 30, which in turn urges the support bracket 3| into abutting engagement with the washer l9. By means of the wing nut the support bracket 30 may be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft l2 whereby, due to the shaping of the scraper blades, the

scraping edges

25a and 26a thereof are adjusted in a radial direction for predetermined scraping contact against the tube wall. If desired, a lock nut or the like 35 may be provided for holding the wing nut 33 in adjusted position.

Particular attention is directed to the shaping and disposition of the scraper blades. It will be noted that the blades are of generally curved shape whereby, due to their spring tempered character they may be resiliently urged radially into engagement with the tube wall by adjustment of the wing nut 33, Also due to the resilient thrusting engagement thus provided, the blades may be automatically slightly contracted radially upon engagement with unusual or obstinate obstructions in the tube to effect a clearance thereof as may be necessary, notwithstanding the, fact that the adjustment of the nut 33 may be such as to urge the blades firmly into engagement with the tube wall. Further, compensations for wear may be readily effected by adjustment of the wing nut 33, and adjustments may also be made, within limits, to adapt the scraper to different sized tubing. It will accordingly be seen that while the scraper unit is in effect of simplified one-piece construction, it is possessed of efficient and advantageous operating characteristics desirable in a device of the type described. The scraper unit may be readily and economically fabricated as an essentially one-piece unit.

It will further be noted, particularly by preference to Fig. 4, that the blades 25 overlap the junctures or spaces between the blades 28, and that the blades 28 similarly overlap the junctures or spaces between the blades 25, so that the scraping edges 25a and 28a of the two sets of blades provide a circumferentially continuous scraper structure engageable with the tube wall. This circumferentially continuous structure, while in effect of one-piece construction, is at the same time radially adjustable as heretofore pointed out. The spring steel blades, which are relatively thin, provide

effective scraping edges

25a and 26a, without the necessity for special sharpening or edge producing devices, and the edges will automatically remain sharp regardless of wear as the structure continues in use.

As is believed to be clear, after proper adjustment of the wing nut 33, the scraper structure is operated by the operating rod II, to effect its longitudinal propulsion through the tube, thereby effecting its scraping and cleaning functions by reason of the engagement of the scraper blades against the tube wall surface. The guiding cone l1 facilitates introduction of the scraper into the tube end remote from the operating rod II, as may be necessary.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described but only as indicated in the following claims,

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A tube scraper including in combination an elongated support, a plurality of sets of scraper blades supported thereb adjacent respective ends of the scraper blades, the other ends of said blades being formed with outwardly directed flange portions wider than the supported ends, said flange portions of opposite blades having parts in juxtaposition, and means for rigidly uniting the flange portions of opposite blades in a set.

2. A tube scraper including in combination an elongated support, a plurality of sets of scraper blades supported thereby adjacent respective ends of the scraper blades, the other ends of said blades being formed with outwardl directed flange portions wider than the supported ends, said flange portions of opposite blades having parts in juxtaposition, means for rigidly uniting the flange portions of opposite blades in a set, and means adjustable on said support member for imparting longitudinal thrust to said sets of blades to move said flanges outwardly.

3. A tube scraper including in combination an elongated support, a plurality of sets of scraper blades supported thereby adjacent respective ends of the scraper blades, the other ends of said blades being formed with outwardly directed flange portions wider than the supported ends, said flange portions of opposite blades having parts in juxtaposition, and means for rigidly uniting the flange portions of opposite blades in a set, flange portions of adjacent sets having parts of the flange portions overlapping whereb to provide a circumferentially continuous scraper surface.

HENRY J. SEVERE.