Method and apparatus for cleaning tubes in a rotary path
AssigneePeinemann Equipment B.V.
InventorsMichael K. Brumfield, Kristen E. Gromes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device includes a drive motor configured to rotate a gearbox, a slip clutch and a support beam about a first axis. The support beam carries a thread rod, a second motor, and one or more carriage assemblies. The carriage assemblies move linearly as the second motor rotates the threaded rod. The carriage assemblies include a support tube for receiving an ultra-high pressure tube therethrough. The carriage assemblies adjust relative to the heat exchanger such that the UHP tube may be inserted through the support tube into a hole of the heat exchanger. Therein the UHP tube may be advanced to clean sediment from the heat exchanger tube.
Claims20
A cleaning device comprising:
- a central first axis;
- a gear assembly driven by a first motor;
- a support beam operatively connected to the gear assembly so as to be rotatable about the central first axis in response to the first motor driving the gear assembly;
- and
- a first carriage assembly carried by the support beam adapted to be positioned above holes formed in an end plate of a heat exchanger or other device forming a plurality of pipes or tubes that periodically need cleaned.
A method of cleaning a heat exchanger comprising:
- rotating a support beam carrying a first carriage assembly about a first axis extending parallel to cylindrical bores defined by a heat exchanger;
- rotating a screw carried by the support beam about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- moving, linearly, the first carriage assembly along the support beam in response to rotation of the screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.