Fluid jet decoking tool

A decoking tool comprising:

• a valve body equipped with a pressurized fluid inlet and a plurality of drilling nozzles and cutting nozzles, said body having an axis and a diversion body installed on said axis with a plurality of axially extending fluid passages, said diversion body including drilling fluid passages extending substantially the full length of said diversion body to conduct fluid to said drilling nozzle sockets, and cutting fluid passages extending approximately half as far as said drilling fluid passages to conduct fluid to said cutting nozzle sockets, said drilling and cutting fluid passages being disposed alternatingly on a circular locus about an axial centerline of said diversion valve body;
• a plurality of nozzles installed one in each of said nozzle sockets;
• a diverter plate interposed between said diversion body and said pressurized fluid inlet and having axial fluid passages disposed on a circular path congruent with said circular locus, the disposition of said axial fluid passages being such that said passages align either with the drilling fluid passages or with the cutting fluid passages of the diversion body;
• and
• means for rotating said diverter plate to selectively provide fluid communication to either the drilling fluid passages or the cutting fluid passages.

A diversion valve device for replacing a reciprocatable diverter valve member in a decoking tool having an inlet for pressurized fluid, said diversion valve device comprising:

• a cylindrical diversion body, said diversion body having a plurality of axially extending fluid passages, including drilling fluid passages extending substantially the full length of said diversion body to conduct fluid to drilling nozzles, and cutting fluid passages extending approximately half as far as said drilling fluid passages to conduct fluid to cutting nozzles, said drilling and cutting fluid passages being disposed alternatingly on a circular locus about an axial centerline of said diversion valve body;
• a diverter plate interposed between said diversion body and said inlet for pressurized fluid and having axial fluid passages disposed on a circular path congruent with said circular locus, the disposition of said axial fluid passages being such that said passages align either with the drilling fluid passages or with the cutting fluid passages of the diversion body;
• and
• means for rotating said diverter plate to selectively provide fluid communication to either the drilling fluid passages or the cutting fluid passages.

In a decoking tool, of the type having a pressurized fluid inlet, a valve body with a cylindrical axial bore and with a plurality of drilling nozzles and a plurality of cutting nozzles axially displaced from said drilling nozzles, a cylindrical diverter valve member disposed in said axial bore, said diverter valve member having an axial internal chamber in fluid communication with said pressurized fluid source and at least one radially directed port in fluid communication with either said drilling nozzles or said cutting nozzles, and a mechanism for aligning said at least one radial port, selectively, with either said drilling nozzles or said cutting nozzles by axially displacing said diverter valve member, the improvement resulting from replacement of said diverter valve member with a device comprising:

• a cylindrical diversion body disposed fixedly within the cylindrical axial bore of said valve body, said diversion body having a plurality of axially extending fluid passages, including drilling fluid passages extending substantially the full length of said diversion body to conduct fluid to said drilling nozzles, and cutting fluid passages extending approximately half as far as said drilling fluid passages to conduct fluid to said cutting nozzles, said drilling and cutting fluid passages being disposed alternatingly on a circular locus about an axial centerline of said diversion valve body;
• a diverter plate interposed between said diversion body and said pressurized fluid inlet and having axial fluid passages disposed on a circular path congruent with said circular locus, the disposition of said axial fluid passages being such that said passages align either with the drilling fluid passages or with the cutting fluid passages of the diversion body;
• and
• means for rotating said diverter plate to selectively provide fluid communication to either the drilling fluid passages or the cutting fluid passages.