US 2017/0364096 A1 · INDEXER, INDEXER RETROFIT KIT AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger's face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An indexer for a water-jet cleaning system, wherein the indexer comprises:

a first arm;
a second arm that is orientable orthogonally to the first arm;
wherein the first arm is movable relative to the second arm and wherein the second arm is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a device to be cleaned;
a trolley engaged with the first arm;
wherein the trolley is movable relative to the first arm;
one or more lances engaged with the trolley, wherein each of said one or more lances is adapted to deliver a water jet to the device to be cleaned;
and
a sensor provided on the indexer, said sensor configured to determine a location of the trolley during operation of the water-jet cleaning system.

5 more elements

A method of cleaning a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle of a heat exchanger, wherein each tube has a bore having an opening thereto defined in a face plate provided at one end of the tube bundle;

said method comprising:
providing a water-jet cleaning system including n X-Y indexer having a first arm and a second arm that are oriented at right angles to each other;
a trolley;
one or more lances provided on the trolley, and a sensor that measures distance;
engaging the X-Y indexer on the heat exchanger so that the one or more lances of the trolley are adjacent the face plate;
moving the trolley relative to the face plate;
measuring a distance the trolley moves relative to the face plate with the sensor;
determining, with the aid of the measured distances, a set of x/y coordinates for at least two horizontally spaced apart openings from a plurality of openings defined in the face plate and a set of x/y coordinates for at least two vertically spaced apart openings from the plurality of openings in the face plate;
mapping a pattern of the plurality of openings in the face plate;
and
initiating a cleaning operation using the mapped pattern.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/689,483Filed 29 Aug 2017

Priority

9 May 2013

Published

21 Dec 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G05D 7/0617
Characterised by the use of electric means: specially adapted for fluid materials
B24C 3/327
For internal surfaces, e.g. of tubes: by an axially-moving flow of abrasive particles without passing a blast gun, impeller or the like along the…
B24C 7/0015
The abrasive material being fed in a liquid carrier: with control of feed parameters, e.g. feed rate of abrasive material or carrier
F28G 1/163
Using jets of fluid for removing debris: from internal surfaces of heat exchange conduits

Family

Application61/821,433Us provisional application · filed 9 May 2013

Application14/204,265Continuation in part · filed 11 Mar 2014

Application14/204,350Continuation in part · filed 11 Mar 2014

Application14/204,451Continuation in part · filed 11 Mar 2014

Application62/381,390Us provisional application · filed 30 Aug 2016

Application15/689,483Continuation in part

US 10,040,169 B2Related patent

US 10,265,834 B2Related patent

US 10,401,878 B2Related patent

US 2014/0336793 A1Published application

US 2014/0336827 A1Published application

US 2014/0336828 A1Published application

US 2017/0364096 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Indexer, indexer retrofit kit and method of use thereof

Life of this patent

Indexer, indexer retrofit kit and method of use thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20