Device for maintaining in position one end of an element mounted for rotational motion in a tube, and use thereof

Apparatus for continuously cleaning a tube, comprising:

• a tube adapted to have a fluid flowing therein;
• a movable element positioned within said tube and adapted to be driven in rotation by fluid flowing in said tube;
• and
• a device for maintaining said movable element in position within said tube, one end of said movable element being connected to said device and another end being free;
• said device including bearing means adapted to be shallowly inserted at an open end of said tube, and to be strongly secured to said tube, said bearing means being formed of a material which is elastically deformable and including at least one base in the form of a flat construction having a central part and two flanges, said flanges being disposed at each end of said base and extending on the same side of said base, in a slightly opened angle, such that said flanges are force fittable into said open end of said tube to be shallowly inserted in said tube and to bear elastically on the inner wall of said tube so as to be strongly secured to said tube;
• and connection means mounted for permitting a free rotation relative to said bearing means and adapted to be connected to said one end of said movable element, said connection means being formed as a pivot including a head portion and a shank portion, said pivot being disposed in an orifice located in the central part of said bearing means.