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US 2012/0067370 A1Published application
Semi-automated heat exchanger tube cleaning assembly and method
AssigneeHydrochem LLC
InventorsTerry Lee Crock, Frank Joseph Moll, James Buchanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger tube cleaning assembly and method is provided. The assembly can allow for semi-automated tube cleaning of a heat exchanger or other piping or equipment used in an industrial facility such as, for example, a petrochemical plant or oil refinery.
Claims19
An assembly for cleaning one or more tubes on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
- a track;
- a first trolley and a second trolley each disposed on the track and capable of independent movement therealong;
- a cleaning device disposed on either the first trolley or the second trolley, the cleaning device being alignable with a selected tube on the heat exchanger tube sheet to be cleaned;
- and
- a distancer disposed between the first trolley and the second trolley and capable of moving either trolley along the track to adjust the distance therebetween.
2 more elements
An assembly for cleaning a plurality of tubes on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
- a first track;
- a first trolley and a second trolley each disposed on the first track and each capable of moving between adjacent tubes on a row on the x-axis of the tube sheet;
- a second track;
- a positioning device disposed on the second track and capable of moving between adjacent rows of tubes on the y-axis of the tube sheet;
- and
- a cleaning device disposed on the positioning device, the cleaning device being alignable with the tube to be cleaned on the tube sheet.
3 more elements
An assembly for cleaning a plurality of tubes on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
- a first track;
- a first trolley and a second trolley each disposed on the first track and each capable of moving between adjacent tubes on a row on the x-axis of the tube sheet;
- a second track;
- a positioning device disposed on the second track and capable of moving between adjacent rows of tubes on the y-axis of the tube sheet;
- and
- a cleaning device disposed on either of the first trolley or the second trolley, the cleaning device being alignable with the tube to be cleaned on the tube sheet.
3 more elements
An assembly for analyzing one or more tubes on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
- a track;
- a first trolley and a second trolley each disposed on the track and capable of independent movement therealong;
- an analyzing device disposed on either the first trolley or the second trolley, the analyzing device being alignable with a selected tube on the heat exchanger tube sheet to be analyzed;
- and
- a distancer disposed between the first trolley and the second trolley and capable of moving either trolley along the track to adjust the distance therebetween.
2 more elements
An assembly for analyzing a plurality of tubes on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
- a first track;
- a first trolley and a second trolley each disposed on the first track and each capable of moving between adjacent tubes on a row on the x-axis of the tube sheet;
- a second track;
- a positioning device disposed on the second track and capable of moving between adjacent rows of tubes on the y-axis of the tube sheet;
- and
- an analyzing device disposed on the positioning device, the analyzing device being alignable with the tube to be analyzed on the tube sheet.
3 more elements
A method of cleaning a first tube and a second tube on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a track;
- providing a first trolley and a second trolley on the track with a distancer therebetween for moving the first trolley and the second trolley between an open respective orientation and a closed respective orientation;
- providing a cleaning device disposed on either the first trolley or the second trolley;
- locating the first trolley and the second trolley on the track adjacent the tube sheet so that the cleaning device is aligned with the first tube and the first trolley and a second trolley are in the closed respective orientation;
- cleaning the first tube with the cleaning device;
- moving the first trolley so that the first trolley and the second trolley are in the open respective orientation;
- moving the second trolley so that the first trolley and the second trolley are in the closed respective orientation and the cleaning device is aligned with the second tube;
- and
- cleaning the second tube with the cleaning device.
6 more elements
A method of cleaning a first tube and a second tube on a tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a track;
- providing a first trolley and a second trolley on the track with a distancer therebetween for moving the first trolley and the second trolley between an open respective orientation and a closed respective orientation;
- providing a cleaning device disposed on either the first trolley or the second trolley;
- locating the first trolley and the second trolley on the track adjacent the tube sheet so that the cleaning device is aligned with the first tube and the first trolley and a second trolley are in the open respective orientation;
- cleaning the first tube with the cleaning device;
- moving the first trolley so that the first trolley and the second trolley are in the closed respective orientation;
- moving the second trolley so that the first trolley and the second trolley are in the open respective orientation and the cleaning device is aligned with the second tube;
- and
- cleaning the second tube with the cleaning device.
6 more elements
A method of cleaning a first tube and a second tube on the tube sheet of a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a track;
- providing a first trolley and a second trolley on the track;
- providing a first braking device on the first trolley and a second braking device on the second trolley;
- providing a cleaning device disposed on either the first trolley or the second trolley;
- locating the first trolley and the second trolley on the track adjacent the tube sheet so that the cleaning device is aligned with the first tube and the first braking device and the second braking device are engaged;
- cleaning the first tube with the cleaning device;
- disengaging the first braking device on the first trolley;
- moving the first trolley along the track until it is adjacent the second tube;
- engaging the first braking device on the first trolley;
- disengaging the second braking device on the second trolley;
- moving the second trolley along the track until it is adjacent the second tube;
- engaging the second braking device on the second trolley;
- and
- cleaning the second tube with the cleaning device.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.