US901940A - Tube-cleaner. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

T. ANDREWS. TUBE CLEANER M, 7m new APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18, 1907.

UNITED sTArnsE rENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ANDREWS,OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS ANDREWS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, .OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' TUBE-OLE ANER.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908;-

Application flied March 18, 1907. Serial N 0. 868,092.

new and useful Improvements in Tube- Gleaners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.-

This invention relates to tube cleaners. The objects of the inventionare to improve and simplify the construction of such devices; furthermore, to increase their efficiency in operation, and to decrease the ex ense attending-their manufacture.

Vit-h the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter ,set forth, 1t being understood that changes in the 'precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1 I

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this spcific'ationFigure 1 IS a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, through a tube cleaner constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section onthe line 22 of F ig'. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1. F i 4 is a section on the line 4- 4of ,Fig. l ig..5 is a detail view of a modified means of secur- J ing the cutting disks in position.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the, diiferent the drawings.

The reference numeral 1 indicates a fluid chamber, which may be of any suitable form :4, which preferablfy -tion and is flared r and construction and is adapted to be connected with any suitable source of :fluid supply. Threaded into" or otherwise connected with the fluid chamber 1 as indicated at 2, is a head which is designated generally by 3. The head 3 preferably is frusto-conical in shape and is formed with an inner wall is annular in cross secom one'end to 'the other,

and an outer wall 5, whichis parallel to the inner wall 4, and similarly shaped. The inner and outer walls 4 and 5 are separated from each other so as to provide a fluid assage 6, which communicates with the aid chamber 1 and receives the from. The had 3 is provided with end bearings 7 and 8,,the bearin 8 being at, the inner end of the device, an the bearing through the bearings 7 and 8, is a long, removable bushing '9, which is provided at its inner end with an inte ral flange or thrustreceiving member 10, w 1ch rests against the inner end 11 of the head and is partially seated in a shallow recess formed in said inner end 11. Theopposite end of the long bushing 9 extends outward beyond the bearing 7 of the head, as indicated at 12, and is provided with a washer or thrust-receiving member 18, which is threaded on to or otherwise removably connected with the outer end of the bushing 9. The removable bushing 9 is formed intermediate its ends with one or more perforations 9, which communicate witlran oil chamber 9". As shown in the drawing, the bushing 9 forms a ortion of the inner wall of theoil cham er. Oil is supplied to the chamber 9 formed in the head 3 through a supply port- 40,which is normally closed by a ball valve 41 pressed outward by a spring 42 against a removable cap 43. The supply port 40 extends outward through the walls 4 and 5 of the head and through thefluid supply passage 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

Extending through the bushing 9 is a shaft 14, which is formed with a longitudinally-extending passage 15,so asto make it hollow. At its inner end the hollow shaft 14 is formed with an integral, thrust-receiving member 16, which is in contact with the integral thrust-receiving member 10 on the inner end of the" bush ,9. At its' outer end the h llow shaft 14 is provided with a nut or th st-heceivin member 17, which is threaded on to orb erwise suitably con- 'nected with the shaft 4 so as to removable therefrom.

It will be noted that when the tube cleaner is being forced into aboilertltbe' having a heavy scale so that the thrustton the shaft 14:.is in an outwarddirectioii; said thrust will be taken ,u by the thrust-receiving members 10 an 16, and. when the tube cleaner is either removed from the boiler tube or else encounters no resistance, soth'at the fluid passing through the fluid passage 6 andjstrikmg the turbinecausesthe thrust on theshaft'n to be in the opposite direct on,

7 at the outer end thereofiflExtending said thrust is taken upby the thrust-receiving members 13 and 17 as well as by the thrust-receiving portion 12 of the bushing 9, it being understood that the thrust-receiving member, 17, as shown cl'earlyin Fig. l, is adapted tocontact both with the end portion 12 of the bushing" 9, and with the thrust-receiving member 13. In the event that either the bushing 9 or the shaft 14, or both, should become worn, these parts can be removed and replaced by taking off the thrust-receiving members 13 and 17, as will be obvious. Detachably connected in any suitable manner, such as by screw threads 20 with the inner end shaft 14, so as to cover the same, is a turbine 21having turbine blades 22, as

shown in Fig. 4, around which blades is shrunk a metal band 23. As shown in Fig.

' drawing. v v The turbine 21 preferably 1, the inner .end or thrust-receiving member 16 of the shaft 14 isthreaded into a suitable socket in the turbine 21.

.For the purpose of causing the 'motive .fiuid from the chamberl'and flaring fluid passage 6 to impinge a ainst the blades 22, a number of inclined uid pas es 24 are cut through the inner end- 11 of t e. head 3, as shown clearly in Figs. 1-'ahd,. 3 -of the 4 isout oi frictional contact with the end 11 of the head 3,-

as indicated at' 25,v for which reason there'will' be no friction or, wear between the turbine 21 and the end 11. during the rotation of the turbine; but on thecontrary, all the friction 2 .or wear will be taken up by the thrust-re ceiving members10, 16, 12, 13, and 17, to;

gether with the shaft 14 and bushing 9, all

of which parts can be readily replaced when Worn, as previously described.

Pivotally connected in any-suitablemanner with the turbine/21, as indicated at 30,

is a plurality of swinging arms, with each of which swinging arms is connected a plurality of cutting devices or disks 32, the disks 32 being secured on the swinging arms 31 preferably by means of bolts 33, threaded into the arms-31, and being readily removable, so that when the innermost disks 32 become worn, they can be shifted upon the bolts 33 so as to'bring unworn disks'into position on the inner ends'of said bolts 33. In the modified construction. shown in Fig. 5, the bolts 33, are rovided. with nuts 45 to holdthe cutting di sin position.

In tube cleaners as generally constructed, it is customary to rely upon centrifugal force for throwing the arms31 outwardly to bring the disks 32 into cutting position.

It is one of the objects'ofmy invention toprovide fiuid-operate'di means for; positively throwing the dISkS/OY'GUHQ devices 32 into position. Fez the purpose'o providing. such fluid- -operated' means,, the turbine. 21 is formed with a chamber 35; which communicafes through-a passage 36 with the hollow shaft 14. Slidably mounted in the chamber 35 is a piston 37, which is suitably connected by means, such as links 38, with the swin ing arms 31. The turbine 21 is preferab y housed within a tubular extension 40 formed on'the innerend of the head,3.

Whenthe device is in operation, it will be the power should be turned on before the" cleaner should be inserted in the boiler tube,

lugs or arms 50 are removably secured to. the walls of the expansionchamber 35 by screws 51. The arms 50 project into slots 52 cut into piston 37 so as to limit the end wise movement of the piston, and thus limit the outward movement of arms 31. To aid this result further, the ends 53 of the arms 31 are so shaped as to be parallel with the adjacent portions of the turbine and expansion chamber, so as to contact therewith; when the arms have moved outward a certain distance. v

In tube cleaners as generally constructed,

avery short bearing is provided for the shaft 14. As practically all the strain of the rotating'cutting devices falls upon the shaft 14, a short shaft will become readily worn and will soon wabble in its bearing. In my device, on the contrary, I provide a shaft 14 and a bushin 9 which are of approximatelythe same ength as the distance from the outer face of the turbine 21 to the innermost cutting disk 32, whereby the shaft 14 has a lon strains which fall thereon, and the strength of the tube cleaner is therefore materially increased. 1

The improved device is strong, simple,

bearing to support the lateral durable, and inexpensive in construction, as

well as thoroughly efficient" in operation.

Matter shown and described herein and not specifically claimed'is reserved, being-claimed in copendin application Serial Number 359,947, bearing date of February 28, 1907.

What is claimed is: 1. A- tube cleaner having cleaning devices and a head, with an oil chamber therein, and

a bushing formingpart of the innerwall of said oil chamber and having therein. I 1 I 12. Atube cleaner having a head, a. perforated bushing therein, a. shaft "in said bushing havingcutters connected therewith,

said head also having therein fluid-supply passages and anyzi' chamber, the latter b61115 interposed betweensaid bushing and sai a perforation through said bushing, and cleaning devices receivingmembers' at both ends thereof, a

, chamber.

sa1d oil chamber. andhaving perforations ing a fluid-pressure chamber therein, a fluid- ,for throwing them positively outward.

fluidsupply passages, the inner wall of said head forming a portion of the wall of the 3, A tube cleaner having a head, with an oil chamber therein, a bushing forming part of the wall of said oil chamber and having a perforation therein, a shaft extending connected with said sh'aft.

4. A tube cleaner having a head, with any oil chamber therein, a bushing forming a portion ofthe wall of said oil chamber and having a perforation therein, thrust-receiving members connected with the ends of said bushing, a shaft extending through said bushing and having thrust-receiving members at the ends thereof, and cleaning devices connectedyithsaid shaft.

\5. Atube cleanerhaving a head, with a frusto-conical oil chambed therein, a bushing forming a portion gof the inner wall of intermediate the ends thereof, thrust-receiving members connected with the ends of said bushing, a shaft extending through said bushing and having thrust-receiving members .co acting with the thrustreceiving members of sa1d bushing, a turbine connected with said shaft, cleaning devices connected withsaid turbine, and an annular fluid passage extending around said oil chamber.

6. tube cleaner having ahead, a-bushing mounted in said head and having thrustshaft. extendingtlirough the head and havoperated device operated by the pressure in the pressure chamber of said shaft, and cleanin devices connected ,with saidflnidopera 7 device, substantially as described.

[{A ,tube cleaner having a head, a relative y-long bushing removably mounted in the head and having thrustreeeiving members at both ends thereof, in shaft extendi through the bushing and having a fiu1 my hand in the presence of two subscribing pressure passage therein, cleaning devices connected with said shaft, :1 cylinder coniston in said cylinder, and means connect mg said piston with said cleaning devices 8. A tube cleaner having a head, abushing mounted in said head and having thrustreoeiving portions at both ends thereof, a shaft extending through said bushing and having thrust-receiving portions to co-act therethrough, cleaning with said shaft, a cyllnder connected with said shaft and communicating with the fluid passage thereof, and a piston mounted in said cylinder and means connecting said piston with said cleamng devices for throwing them ositively outward.

9. A tu 'ecleaner havinga. head, a bushing mounted in said head and having thrustreceiving members at the ends thereof, one of said thrust-receiving members having a threaded confine-tion with said bushing, a

with thethrust-receiv ng portions of the bushing, saidshaft havin a fluid. passage evices connected.

shaft extending through said bushing and,

having thrust-receiving members at the ends thereof, one of said thrust-receiving members having a threaded connection with said shaft, a turbine having a threaded connection with said shaft, and cleaning devices connected with said turbine.

10. A tube cleaner comprisi a head having anroil chamber and a flui -su'pply passage, a bushing removably mounted in said head and having perforations therein communicating with said oil chamber, a shaft extendin through said bushing, a turbine detachably pivotally connected with said turbine, and having portions thereof in parallelism with the adjacent portions of the turbine to limit the outward movement of said arms, said turbine havi a-chamber with lugs mount ed on the we ls thereof, a piston slidably mounted in said chamber and having slots to receive said'lugs, links connecting said connected with said shaft, arms,

piston with said pivotally mounted arms,

and cleaning devices detachably connected with said pivotally mounted arms.'

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set witnesses. v

, I THOMAS ANJDREWS.

Witnesses:

E. BERTRAM Mo'rr,

Images