Indexer and method of use thereof

A method of cleaning equipment having a plurality of tubes;

• said method comprising:
• providing a fluid jet cleaning device;
• linking a controller to the fluid jet cleaning device, wherein the controller is configured to control a cleaning operation of the equipment using the fluid jet cleaning device;
• engaging a mounting assembly of the fluid jet cleaning device with a region of the equipment;
• defining a pattern of openings in a face plate of the equipment, wherein each opening of a plurality of openings defined in the face plate provides access to a bore of an associated tube of the plurality of tubes;
• connecting a lance of the fluid jet cleaning device to a remote fluid source;
• controlling, with the controller, movement of the lance relative to the plurality of openings defined in the face plate of the equipment and in accordance with the pattern of openings,
• wherein controlling the movement of the lance with the controller includes controlling linear motion of the lance towards and away from the mounting assembly and controlling rotational motion of the lance about an axis of the mounting assembly, where the axis is oriented at right angles to the face plate;
• aligning, with the controller, a nozzle on the lance with a selected opening in the face plate;
• delivering, under control of the controller, a jet of cleaning fluid under pressure through the selected opening and into the associated tube, thereby cleaning the associated tube;
• withdrawing, under control of the controller, the lance from the selected opening;
• moving, under control of the controller, the lance to a next selected opening in the face plate by following the pattern of openings in the face plate;
• and
• sequentially delivering, under control of the controller, the cleaning fluid under pressure through the lance and into each opening of the plurality of openings defined in the face plate until substantially all tubes of the plurality of tubes are cleaned.

A system for cleaning equipment which includes a plurality of tubes extending from a face plate, wherein the face plate defines a plurality of openings therein and each tube of the plurality of tubes is aligned with a dedicated opening of the plurality of openings, and each dedicated opening places the associated tube in fluid communication with an environment surrounding the equipment, wherein said system comprises:

• a mounting assembly adapted to be selectively engaged with the equipment;
• a lance operatively engaged with the mounting assembly and adapted to be connected to a remote fluid source;
• wherein the lance has at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom relative to the mounting assembly;
• wherein the first degree of freedom is rotational movement of the lance about an axis oriented at right angles to a mounting plate of the mounting assembly, wherein the axis is adapted to be oriented parallel to the plurality of tubes;
• wherein the second degree of freedom is linear movement of the lance in one of a first direction towards the mounting assembly and a second direction away from the mounting assembly, and the linear motion is adapted to be parallel to the face plate;
• and
• a controller operable to control the rotational movement and the linear movement of the lance relative to the mounting assembly.