US 5,179,757 AGranted

Apparatus for descaling a process vessel

AssigneeLouis A. Grant, Inc.

InventorLouis A. Grant, Jr.

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Abstract

Apparatus for removing deposits from the interior surface of a vessel wall including an elongated support column having its upper end attached to a cable to position the support column vertically within the vessel. A hammer assembly pivotally and rotatably attached to the lower end of the support column and a plurality of cylinders having one end pivotally connected to the lower end of the support column and a contact member at the other end for contacting the inner surface of the vessel wall to position the hammer assembly horizontally within the vessel. A motor on the lower end of the support column to rotate the hammer assembly about the longitudinal axis of the support column and hydraulic cylinders connected to the hammer assembly to pivot the hammer assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the support column and to slide the hammer assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the support column to position the bit on the hammer relative to the inner surface of the vessel wall.

Cleaning apparatus for removing deposits from the inner surface of the wall of a vessel having a vertical longitudinal axis and a dome at the upper end with an access opening therein, said apparatus comprising:

a) an elongated support column having an upper end and a lower end,
b) means at the upper end of said support column adapted to be attached to an end of a cable extending through the access opening and connected to a movable rigging located exteriorly of the vessel to adjustably position said support column within said vessel along the vertical longitudinal axis of the vessel,
c) a hammer assembly having a reciprocating hammer with a removable bit,
d) means for pivotally and rotatably attaching said hammer assembly to the lower end of said support column,
e) a plurality of cylinders having a first end pivotally connected adjacent the lower end of said support column and including adjustable contact means on a second end for frictionally engaging the inner surface of the wall of the vessel to position said hammer assembly horizontally within the vessel,
f) means for pivoting each of said cylinders between a first position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support column and a second position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support column,
g) means for rotating said hammer assembly about the longitudinal axis of said elongated support column to position said bit for contact with the inner surface of the vessel wall,
h) means for pivoting said hammer assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of said elongated support column to angularly position said bit for contact with the inner surface of the vessel wall, and
i) means for sliding said hammer assembly relative to the longitudinally axis of said elongated support column to laterally position said bit for contact with the inner surface of the vessel wall,
whereby said bit is adjustable to contact the complete inner surface of the vessel wall.

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Abstract

Claims9