Indexer and method of use thereof

A method of controlling a fluid jet machine comprising:

• providing a communication device that is portable;
• programming the communication device with software for controlling the fluid jet machine;
• holding the communication device in a first hand of a human operator when the human operator is spaced a distance away from the fluid jet machine;
• linking the communication device to the fluid jet machine;
• selecting a first one of a plurality of options provided on a user interface of the communication device using a second hand of the human operator;
• moving, in response to the selection of the first one of the plurality of options, a nozzle on a lance of the fluid jet machine into alignment with a tube opening in a face plate of equipment to be cleaned with the fluid jet machine;
• selecting a second one of the plurality of options provided on the user interface of the communication device using the second hand of the human operator;
• causing a jet of pressurized fluid to flow out of the nozzle, through the tube opening, and into an associated tube of the equipment to be cleaned;
• and
• cleaning the associated tube of the equipment to be cleaned with the jet of pressurized fluid.

A system adapted to activate and deactivate an operation of a portable fluid jet machine, the system comprising:

• a fluid jet machine that is portable;
• a handheld communication device having a user interface and a first wireless module;
• a control unit that is stand-alone and portable, said control unit having:
• a housing;
• a second wireless module located within the housing;
• a valve control body disposed in the housing of the control unit, wherein the valve control body is selectively operable in an open position and a closed position;
• a connector provided on the housing;
• said connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively engaged with the valve control body, and wherein the second end is removably connected to a working unit via a pump of the fluid jet machine;
• a wireless communication link between the first wireless module and the second wireless module;
• wherein the communication device is operable by a human operator contacting the user interface to control and move the valve control body in real time between the open position and closed position via the wireless communications link and to thereby control the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine;
• wherein the operation of the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine is activated when the valve control body is in one of the open position and the closed position;
• and
• wherein the operation of the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine is deactivated when the valve control body is in the other one of the open position and the closed position.

A method of cleaning deposits from a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle, wherein each tube terminates in a dedicated opening in a face plate provided at one end of the tube bundle;

• wherein the method comprises:
• sequentially aligning a lance of a fluid jet machine with each of a sample group of openings in the face plate;
• determining, with at least one sensor, the X-Y location of each of the sample group of openings when the lance is aligned therewith;
• saving, in a database of a communication device, the X-Y locations of all openings of the sample group of openings;
• calculating, with programming provided in the communication device, a pattern of all of the openings in the face plate based on the saved X-Y locations;
• saving the pattern in the database of the communication device;
• connecting the lance to a remote fluid source;
• performing a cleaning operation by sequentially:
• a) moving the lance relative to the face plate to a first opening in the pattern using the at least one sensor;
• b) aligning the lance with the first opening;
• c) delivering a pressurized fluid through the lance and into the tube through the first opening;
• d) removing deposits from the tube;
• e) moving the lance relative to the face plate to another opening in the pattern;
• and
• f) repeating steps b) through e) until all tubes in the tube bundle are cleaned of deposits.