US2765659A - Water gauge glass cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Get. 9, 1956 D. C. DE HART WATER GAUGE GLASS CLEANER Filed Jan. 4, 1954 lll'llllllllllllll INvENToR DANA C -c:le HART AT TORNEYS 2,765,659 WATER GAUGE GLASS CLEANER Dana C. de Hart, Hillshorough, (Ialif. Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 401,933 4 Claims. (Cl. 73324) The present invention relates to improvements in a water gauge glass cleaner. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as here inafter described and claimed. This application embodies improvements over my copending case, Ser. No. 369,296, which was filed in the United States Patent Office on July 21, 1953.

As pointed out in the above-identified copending case, the tubular glass of a water gauge, as utilized on boilers, will become discolored in time. This will preclude an individual from gaining a clear View of the water level in the gauge. In solving the problem of cleaning the bore of the glass, without dismantling the gauge, the copending case provided an attachment. The latter included a brush arranged in the bore of the tubular glass, with a flexible shaft fastened to the brush, and extending to a position exterior of one of the valves associated with the gauge, whereby the brush couldbe reciprocated in the bore of the glass to effect a cleaning thereof.

However it has been determine that the internal diameters of tubular glasses for Water gauges vary considerably, and there is a wide range of tolerance even for specified diameters. Accordingly, a brush with bristles is not entirely satisfactory for cleaning the bores of such glasses.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a cleaner of the character described, which is adapted to be inserted into the bores of water gauges of various sizes, and utilized for effecting a thorough cleaning thereof. More specifically stated, a pair of resilient cleaning members are provided, each having a plurality of blades arranged to engage with the surface of the bore of a tubular glass, the blades being disposed to coact with one another to clean the entire circumference of the bore, when the members are reciprocated.

These blades are designed to contact with the surface of a bore of a predetermined maximum diameter. When the cleaning members are telescoped into tubular gauge glasses of smaller diameters, the blade will yield until their cleaning tips conform to the diameter of the particular bore. Thus the cleaning members will accommodate themselves to a wide selection of gauge glasses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of resilient cleaning members, which are identical with one another. This will result in a substantial saving in the cost of making the necessary molds in which the cleaning members are made.

. A still further object is to provide a flexible handle for reciprocating the cleaning members, this handle being adapted to be installed in a water gauge glass in such a manner that a section of the handle will be magnified by the water in the gauge glass, thus rendering it easy for an observer to determine the actual level of the water therein.

It is further proposed to limit the stroke of the cleaning member so that the latter will not be moved entirely out of the bore of the tubular glass during the reciprocation of the cleaning members.

Another object is to provide a water gauge glass cleaner which is simple in construction, durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. The novel features will be set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional water gauge, disclosing it as being coupled to a boiler, with my improved cleaner installed in the tubular glass of the gauge;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of my cleaner, a portion of one of the cleaning members being disclosed in section;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the uppermost cleaning member, as seen from the horizontal plane IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 3.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying my invention into practice, there has been shown a portion of a boiler .A having a water gauge B mounted on the exterior thereof. This gauge includes a tubular glass C having its lower end placed in communication with the interior of the boiler by a water shut-off valve D in the conventional manner. The upper end of this glass is coupled to the boiler by a steam valve E. When both of these valves are opened, the level 10 of the water F in the tubular glass will be the same as the level 10a of the water contained in the boiler. Moreover, steam will be permitted to flow from the boiler A through the valve E into the upper portion 11 of the tubular glass above the water in the latter.

In their structural features, the valves E and D are provided with stems l2 and 13, respectively. These stems are adapted to be rotated and moved axially by handles 12a and 13a, respectively. It will be quite apparent that when the handles are turned in one direction, the valves will be closed in the usual way, while rotation of the handles in the opposite direction will open the valves.

As shown in Figure 2, the water shut-off valve D has a threaded bore or opening 14 into which a nipple 15 is screwed. It will be noted that a T fitting 16 is coupled to this nipple, and a pet cock 17 is connected to the horizontal branch 16a of the T (see Figure 1). Upon opening the et cock, the water F will be drained from the gauge glass C. Normally, a tubular housing 18 is screwed into the vertical branch 16b of the T from below.

For the purpose of permitting the surface of the gauge glass bore 19 to be cleaned, without dismantling the water gauge B, I have provided a spool-like cleaning element indicated generally at G, which is mounted on the upper portion of a flexible handle H. The lower section 20 of this handle extends downwardly through the nipple 15 and the T fitting 16 into the tubular housing 18, the latter having a closed lower end 18a. When the housing is removed, as in Figure 2, the section 20 may be grasped so that an individual may reciprocate the handle and the cleaning element G.

This handle has sutlicient length so that the cleaning element may occupy a normal position adjacent to the stem 12, and thereby be concealed from exterior view by the body 21 of the valve E, as suggested in Figure 2. The upper section 22 of the handle is arranged axially relative to the cleaning element G and the tubular glass C. However, an offset 23 is formed in the handle so that the intermediate section 24 of the latter will be disposed adjacent to a side surface 19a of the bore 19 (see Figure 2), whereby this section will be magnified by the water in the bore, when an observer views the intermediate section of the handle from an opposite side of the tubular glass, as in Figure 1. This will allow the observer to readily determine the exact level 10 of the water in the gauge.

Moreover, the offset 23 and the flexibility of handle H allows the latter to be positioned laterally in back of the stem 13 of the water shut-off valve D. As the handle is drawn downwardly, the intermediate section 24 will curve through the nipple 15 and the T fitting 16. The offset 23 functions as a limit stop since this offset will abut the stem 13 during downward movement of the handle. The upper end 25 of the handle is positioned to strike the stem 12 of the valve E, to thereby limit upward movement of the handle. The reason for limiting the stroke of the handle is to preclude the spoollike cleaning element from accidentally moving entirely out of the tubular glass.

Turning to the details of the cleaning element G, it includes upper and lower cleaning members G and G respectively, which are fashioned from suitable resilient material, such as neoprene. These members are identical with one another, thereby contributing to substantial saving in the cost of manufacturing, since the same mold can be made for casting both.

Each of the cleaning members provides a base 26 having a plurality of blades 27 diverging therefrom, which define tips 27a disposed to yieldingly engage with the surface of the cylindrical bore 19 for cleaning the latter, when the cleaning element G is moved along the bore. The blades on one member extend in the opposite direction from those on the other. Each member has notches 28 located between adjacent blades thereof through which fluid (steam or water) in the bore may by-pass the cleaning members.

With particular reference to Figures 2-5, inclusive, it will be seen that the blades 27 on each cleaning member are disposed opposite the notches 28 of the other member. These blades coact with one another to clean the entire circumference of the bore 19, when the members are reciprocated therein. Each member has the general exterior shape of being frusto-conical. The bases 26 are abutted together. As shown in Figures 3-5, the tips 27a of each member form arcs of a circle at the larger end of the cone to thus conform to the cylindrical bore 19.

In order to anchor the flexible handle H to the cleaning members, each of the latter has a non-circular handle-receiving opening 29 extending therethrough. Also, the handle is non-circular in cross-section (see Figure to thus prevent one cleaning member from rotating relative to the other. Pins 30-30 are inserted through the handle to bear against the members G and G from above and below to retain them in place on the handle.

Upon advancing the cleaning element G upwardly in the gauge glass C, the top end 25 of the handle will abut the stem 12, precluding the member G from moving entirely out of the glass. Of course, there will be no difficulty in drawing the member G back into the glass again, when the handle is pulled downwardly. In a like manner, the offset 23 will abut the stem 13, during downward movement of the handle, preventing the cleaning element G from being entirely dislodged from the gauge glass.

It will be observed from Figure 3 that the notches 28 extend approximately to the bases 26. This arranger ment allows the blades 27 to flex inwardly without compressing the cleaning members. Obviously, when gauge glasses of smaller diameters than that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 are used, the blades 27 will yield to allow them to be telescoped into the smaller tubular glasses.

From the practical commercial aspect, the flexible handle H may be furnished to take care of the longest length of tubular glass to be utilized on water gauges of this type. When the cleaning element G is arranged adjacent to the valve stem 12, as shown in Figure 2, the lower section 20 of the handle should extend somewhat below the T fitting 16 to permit an individual to grasp this section of the handle. Obviously, when shorter tubular glasses are employed, the excess length of the handle may be easily cut OE. With this arrangement, the tubular housing 18 may be relatively short, regardless of the overall length of the gauge glass selected.

Summary of operation Assuming that the entire device has been assembled in the manner disclosed in Figure l, and that the bore 19 of the tubular glass C has become discolored, the steps of cleaning the glass is summarized briefly as follows:

Initially, the water shut-off valve D and the steam valve E are closed by turning their respective handles 13a and 12a in the proper direction. Next, the pet cock 17 is opened to permit the column of water F to drain from the tubular glass. Thereafter, the pet cock should be closed and the tubular housing 18 removed from the T fitting 16. Now the handle H and its spool-like cleaning element G are reciprocated one or more times in the bore 19, as required, until the surface of the latter has been cleaned by the blades 27.

When steam pressure is present in the boiler A, the valve E should be opened slightly as the next step. This will result in blowing the sediment out through the bottom of the T fitting, while the cleaning element remains at the bottom of its stroke. In the event that no steam pressure is contained in the boiler, the valve D may be opened to allow water from the boiler to wash the sediment out through the T fitting.

In either case, after the tubular glass has been cleaned and the sediment removed, the handle H is pushed upwardly until the cleaning element G is arranged adjacent ot the stem 12, thereby concealing the element G within the valve body 21. Now the housing 18 is screwed into the bottom of the T fitting to enclose the projecting end of the handle.

Subsequently, the valves D and E may be opened. This will permit water from the boiler A to enter through the valve D until the water level 10 in the gauge glass C corresponds with the water level 10a in the boiler, as shown in Figure 1. The notches 28 in the members G and G will permit steam to by-pass the spool-like cleaning element G without obstruction.

I claim:

1. The combination with a pair of spaced-apart valves each having a stem; and a tubular gauge glass having its end sections coupled to the valves; of a pair of resilient cleaning members disposed in the bore of the glass gauge; each cleaning member providing a base having a plurality of blades diverging outwardly therefrom; the blades on one member extending in the opposite direction from those on the other; the blades on both members defining tips disposed to yieldingly engage with the surface of the bore; the blades coacting with one another to clean the entire circumference of the bore, when the members are reciprocated therein; and a flexible handle secured to both cleaning members to anchor them into a unitary structure; this handle having an end section extending to a position exterior of one of the valves for operation thereof; the handle defining an end disposed to abut the stem of one valve to preclude one of the cleaning members from moving entirely out of the gauge glass, when the members are moved toward that valve stem; the handle being fashioned with an oifset therein, defining a stop, Which is positioned to engage with the stem of the other valve to prevent the other cleaning member from being entirely dislodged from the gauge glass, when the cleaning members are moved toward the latter valve.

2. In a water gauge glass cleaner: a pair of resilient cleaning members adapted to slide in the cylindrical bores of various diameters of tubular glass gauges; each member having the general exterior shape of being frustoconical, and providing a base having a plurality of blades diverging outwardly therefrom; the bases abutting one another the blades on one member extending in the opposite direction from those on the other; the blades on each member defining tips forming arcs of a circle at the larger end of the cone and being disposed to conform with and yieldingly engage with the surface of the selected bore for cleaning the latter, when the members are reciprocated in the bore; each member having notches located between adjacent blades thereof through which fluid in the bore may by-pass the cleaning members; the blades on each member being disposed opposite the notches of the other member; the blades coacting with one another to clean the entire circumference of the bore, when the members are reciprocated therein; and a flexible handle having one end section thereof arranged axially of and secured to both cleaning members to anchor them into a unitary structure; the handle having an intermediate section disposed laterally relative to the extended axes of the cleaning members; the handle defining an offset interconnecting said sections and providing a valve stem abutment stop.

3. The combination with a pair of spaced-apart valves, each having a stem; and a tubular water gauge glass having its ends coupled to the valves; the gauge glass having a bore communicating with the interiors of the valves; one of the valves having a body fashioned with an opening located on the opposite side of its stem from that of the gauge glass; of a glass cleaner comprising: a pair of resilient cleaning members disposed in the bore of the glass gauge; each cleaning member providing a base having a plurality of blade diverging outwardly therefrom; the bases abutting one another the blades of one member extending in the opposite direction from those on the other member; the blades on both members defining tips disposed to yieldingly engage with the surface of the gauge bore; the blades coacting with one another to ciean the entire circumference of said bore; and a flexible handle secured to both cleaning members to anchor them into a unitary structure; the handle having an intermediate section passing laterally to one side of the stem of that valve in which said opening is provided; the handle then extending through said opening to a position exteriorly of said valve body for operation.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which the intermediate section of the handle is disposed adjacent to one side of said bore of the gauge glass, whereby this section will be magnified by water contained in the bore, when an observer views the intermediate section of the handle through the opposite side of the glass; the handle having an offset therein constituting a stop arranged to abut the stem of the valve having the opening in its body to limit withdrawal of the cleaning members from the bore of the glass gauge towards this valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,261 Kunkle Nov. 26, 1878 640,442 Clarke Jan. 2, 1900 753,189 Buckelew Feb. 23, 1904 1,065,174 Schick June 17, 1913 1,595,021 Plunkett Aug. 3, 1926 1,958,604 Barber May 15, 1934

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