US783517A

US783517A - Boiler-tube cleaner.

Info

Publication number: US783517A
Application number: US20489904A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry L Greene; John Zilliox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-04-25
Filing date: 1904-04-25
Publication date: 1905-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1922-02-28

Description

No. 783,517. PATENTED FEB.28,1905. H. L. GREENE & J. ZILLIOX. BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H I x m l g STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. GREENE, OF ORCHARD PARK, AND JOHN ZILLIOX, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BOILEFWTUBE CLEANER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,517, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed April 25, 1904. Serial No. 204,899-

To (all whom, it Tit/t1 concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY L. GREENE, residing in Orchard Park, and JOHN ZinLiox, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Tube Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a boiler tube cleaner designed to remove scale or incrustations both from the inner and outer sides of such tubes.

The object of our invention is the construction of a simple and effective tool of this character which can be cheaply produced.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the cleaner, showing the same inserted in a boiler-tube. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the front portion of the cleaner at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hammer of the cleaner. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the toothed head which cooperates with the hammer. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the hammer and a water-tube, on an enlarged scale, showing the relative arrangement of the cutting edges and the guard of the hammer in striking the tube. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing-a modified construction of the cleaner.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, A indicates a water or fire tube of a boiler. Bis a rotary cylindrical shellor casing forming the main inclosing member of the cleaner and constructed of the proper diameter to easily enter the boiler-tube. This casing is open at its front end and provided at its rear end with a reduced extension B, which is securely connected with the front end of a hollow shaft (3 by a coupling CD To the rear end of this shaft is secured a bevelpinion D, the hub of which turns in a bearing (2, formed in a handle or supporting-frame E, thereby journaling the shaft in said frame by means of the pinion. The latter meshes with a bevel-wheel F, secured to a shaftf, having a hand-crankf" for turning it. The shaft f is arranged at right angles to the hollow shaft C and supported in a bearing f carried by a bracket f extending forwardly from the frame E. (Jr is a vibrating hammer, chisel, or scale-loosener, carried. by the rotary casing B and adapted to strike the interior of the boiler-tube at opposite sides for detaching scale either from its inner or its outer side. The hub g of the hammer is arranged in the front portion of the casing B and pivoted thereto by a transverse pin g passing through the same and having its ends seated in openings formed in the sides of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2. This hub is provided at or near its ends with a pair of lugs or tappets which are adapted to trip over an annu lar series of teeth or projections 72/, arranged on a non-rotary cylindrical head H. This head is arranged in the rear portion of the rotary casing B and secured by any suitable fastening to a rod I, which passes through the extension B and the hollow shaft C, and is secured at its rear end to the frame E, so as to hold the toothed head from turning.

The actuating-tappets of the hammer are.

located on opposite sides of the hub and arranged to engage the teeth of the non-rotary head H on opposite sides of its axis. These teeth are made in the form of ratchet-teeth and are of an odd number, so that the high portion of each tooth stands transversely in line with the lowest or base portion of the diametrically opposite tooth. By this construc tion the rotation of the casing-B and the hammer (1 relatively to the head H causes the tappets g of the hammer to trip alternately over the abrupt faces of the teeth of said head, thereby rocking the hammer first in one direction and then in the other and causing it to deliver powerful blows against opposite sides of the boiler-tube. This action of the .two tappets is permitted by reason of the fact that at the moment one tappet is riding over the abrupt side of one of the teeth it the other tappet stands over the inclined back of the opposing tooth, thus allowing the last-mentioned tappet to swing toward the base of said tooth without restraint until it encounters the abrupt face of the next tooth, when it is swung in the opposite direction by the same. In this manner the two tappets vibrate thehammer so long as the casing B is turned and the hammer is at the same time bodily rotated with the casing, causing it to strike the boiler-tube around its entire circle. and gradually pushing the cleaner through the tube the hammer acts upon all sides and all portions of the inner surface thereof, detaching any adhering scale or deposit therefrom and thoroughly cleaning it. The abrupt front faces of the teeth H are preferably beveled slightly, so as to have a wedging action upon the tappets and improve the operation of the device. In order to permit the hammer to yield or accommodate itself to irregularities of the boiler-tubes, the casing B and the head H are capable of sliding length wise with reference to each other, and aspring or cushion J is applied to the rod I between a shoulder Z thereof, and a hollow adjustable plug L, which is preferably screwed into the outer end of the extension B and through which the rod passes loosely. This screwplug is locked in position after adjustment by a jam-nut Z or other suitable means. An adjustable stop-collar m, secured to the rod I and abutting against the plug L, limits the forward movement of the rod and the toothed head H relatively to the casing B. The teeth It operate to give the hammer a full stroke in both directions, and the spring-J is stiff enough to resist longitudinal movement of the toothed head on the casing B, or vice versa, under ordinary conditions. When, however, the h ammer strikes a ridge or other inequality of the tube which prevents it from making a full stroke, the resistance of the spring is overcome, and either the toothed head recedes from the tappets of the hammer or the hammer recedes from the toothed head, according as the handle E is allowed to slide rearwardly on the hub of the pinion D or is held against rearward movement. Blocking of the hammer is thus prevented and all danger of breaking its tappets or the teeth of the head H is obviated. The hammer-head may be of any suitable construction, according to the work for which it is intended. If the tool is to be used for detaching scale from the inside of a water-tube, the head N is provided with suitable chisels or cutting edges, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 6; but if it is to be used for detaching scale from the exterior of boiler or fire tubes the hammer-head N may be blunt, as shown in Fig. 7. \Vhen the hammer is provided with cutters, it is preferably conical or tapered forwardly and provided with a number of annular cutting edges a, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, L, and 6, the conical head having the proper bevel to cause all of its cutting edges to penetrate the scale to about the same depth, as shown in Fig. 6.

By thus turning the crank f in cleaning fire-tubes. The hammer-headmay be removably secured to its shank, as shown, so that one or the other kind of head may be applied to the same hammer.

Instead of rotating the vibrating hammer with reference to the toothed head the head may be rotated relatively to the hammer, such a reversed arrangement being illustrated in Fig. 7. In this modification the relative arrangement of the casing B the toothed head H, and the pivoted hammer G is the same as in the first-described construction; but the rod I instead of bein non-rotary is journaled in the screw-plug L and in a bracket or support E and provided at its rear end with a handcrank 0. The bracket E is carried by a rod or tube P, arranged on one side of the rod or shaft I and secured to the rear end of the casing. A handle extends from the outer end of the bracket for turning thesame and the casing on the shaft 1' to cause the hammer to strike the inner surface of the boiler-tube on all sides. In the operation of this modified cleaner upon rotating the toothed head H by means of the crank 0 its teeth are caused to engage the hammer-tappets alternately and vibrate the hammer.

In our improved cleaner the hammer is vibrated in both directions by positive means and not by springs, and it therefore delivers uniform and effective blows against opposite sides of the boiler-tube and is not liable to get out of order or become impaired in its action. By dispensing with the use of springs for this purpose the construction of the tool is also materially simplified.

We claim as our invention 1. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination with a casing and a head having an annular row of projections, of means for rotating one of said members relatively to the other, and a vibrating scaleloosener pivoted to said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination with a casing and a head having an annular row of teeth each having an abrupt front face and an inclined back, the high portion of each tooth being located in line with the low portion of the opposite tooth, means for rotating one of said members relatively to the other, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

3. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination with a casing and a head having an annular row of projections one of said members being capable of longitudinal movement relative to the other, a spring arranged to resist such longitudinal movement in the normal operation of the cleaner, means for rotating one of said members with reference to the other, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and having tap pets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

4. 'In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, means for rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row of projections, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said projections, whereby the rotation of the casing causes the tappets to trip over said teeth and at the same time causes the scale-loosener to rotate and strike the boiler-tube on all sides of its bore, substantially as set forth.

5. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, means for rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row of projections, and a vibrating scale-loosener having a hub which is pivoted to said casing and provided with tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and located on different sides of the hub, said tappets extending into the path of said projections, sub stantially as set forth.

In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, means for rotating the same, a non-rotary head arranged. in said casing and provided at its front end with an annular row of teeth having abrupt front faces and inclined backs, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and having a pair of tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

7. In a boilertube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, means for rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row of projections, a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the head and extending into the path of said projections, said casing being capable of moving lengthwise on said head, and a spring arranged to resist such longitudinal movement of the casing, substantially as set forth.

8. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a supporting-frame, a non-rotary head having an annular row of teeth and a rod which connects the head with said frame, a rotary casing inclosing said toothed head and having a hollow shaft which is journaled in said frame and surrounds said rod, means for tm'ning said shaft, and a vibrating scale-loosener having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

9. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a supporting-frame, a non-rotary head having an annular row of teeth, a rotary casing surrounding said head, capable of sliding lengthwise thereon and provided at its rear end with an adjustable plug, means for rotating said casing, a spring interposed between said head and said plug, and a vibrating scaleloosener pivoted to said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

10. In a boiler-tube cleaner,the combination of a supporting-frame, a non-rotary head having an annular row of teeth and a rod which connects the head with said frame, a rotary casing surrounding said head, capable of sliding thereon and provided at its rear end with an adjustable plug, means for rotating said casing, a spring applied to said rod between a shoulder thereof and said plug, astop mounted on said rod and abutting against said plug, and a vibrating scale-loosener having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending into the path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness our hands this 22d day of April,

HARRY L. GREENE. JOHN ZILLIOX. WVitnesses:

(J. F. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM.