# US 9,517,496 B2 · Fire-tube boiler cleaner

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- Number: US 9,517,496 B2
- Document ID: US9517496B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/939,188
- Filed: 2015-11-12
- Published: 2016-08-04
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-14
- Assignees: Crossford International, LLC
- Applicants: Crossford International, LLC
- Inventors: Timothy J. Kane; George Cruz; David L. Walsh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517496B2

## CPC

- B08B 9/0436: {provided with mechanical cleaning tools, e.g. scrapers, with or without additional fluid jets (B08B9/045, B08B9/047 take precedence)}
- F28G 1/02: having brushes ({F28G1/12 takes precedence;} brushes A46B)
- A46B 2200/3013: Brushes for cleaning the inside or the outside of tubes
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)

## Abstract

A tube cleaning machine in which cleaning interior tube surfaces occurs by a forward non-cleaning pass of cleaning implement through work tube followed by reverse cleaning pass where implement engages and cleans interior surface. Cleaning implement has first position for forward pass producing minimum engagement of interior fire-tube surface, and a second position for reverse pass of full cleaning engagement with interior fire-tube surface. A distance indicator enables operator to select distance of forward pass of cleaning implement to correspond with tube length.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tube cleaner comprising, a machine housing defining space for mounting a tape reel, a tape attached to the tape reel for forward and reverse movement of the tape through a length of a tube, a drive train for imparting forward and reverse movement to the tape reel and the tape, the machine housing having a tape outlet member for directing the tape into the tube, means for removably securing a first end of the tape to the tape reel, a brush assembly attached to a second and opposite end of the tape, the brush assembly comprising a brush head, means for securing the second end of the tape to the brush head, the brush head comprising a brush subassembly comprising a brush and a brush post secured to the brush head, the brush subassembly having a first normal position wherein the brush encounters minimum resistance between the brush and an interior surface of the tube on forward movement of the tape and the brush through the tube, the brush subassembly having a second cleaning position wherein the brush fully engages and cleans the interior surface of the tube on reverse movement of the tape and the brush through the tube, and the brush head comprising an end socket, the brush post nested in the end socket and secured in the end socket by a pivot pin so the brush is free to move from the first normal position to the second cleaning position.

### Claim 2

A tube cleaner comprising, a machine housing defining space for mounting a tape reel, a tape attached to the tape reel for forward and reverse movement of the tape through a length of a tube, a drive train for imparting forward and reverse movement to the tape reel and the tape, the machine housing having a tape outlet member for directing the tape into the tube, anchor pins for removably securing a first end of the tape to the tape reel, an access panel in the machine housing for moving the anchor pins for disconnecting and reconnecting the tape to the tape reel, a brush assembly attached to a second and opposite end of the tape, the brush assembly comprising a brush head, means for securing the second end of the tape to the brush head, the brush head comprising a brush subassembly comprising a brush and a brush post secured to the brush head, the brush subassembly having a first normal position wherein the brush encounters minimum resistance between the brush and an interior surface of the tube on forward movement of the tape and the brush through the tube, the brush subassembly having a second cleaning position wherein the brush fully engages and cleans the interior surface of the tube on reverse movement of the tape and the brush through the tube, and the brush head comprising an end socket, the brush post nested in the end socket and secured in the end socket by a pivot pin so the brush is free to move from the first normal position to the second cleaning position.

### Claim 3

A tube cleaner comprising, a machine housing defining space for mounting a tape reel, a tape attached to the tape reel for forward and reverse movement of the tape through a length of a tube, a drive train including a drive motor for imparting forward and reverse movement to the tape reel and the tape, the machine housing having a tape outlet member for directing the tape into the tube, means for removably securing a first end of the tape to the tape reel, a brush assembly attached to a second and opposite end of the tape, the brush assembly having a first normal position wherein a brush of the brush assembly encounters minimum resistance between the brush and an interior surface of the tube on forward movement of the tape and the brush assembly through the tube, the brush assembly having a second cleaning position wherein the brush fully engages and cleans the interior surface of the tube on reverse movement of the tape and the brush through the tube, a distance indicator for matching the distance of forward movement of the brush assembly with length of the tube, the distance indicator powered by the drive train, the distance indicator having an adjustable actuator cooperating with a first switch means for stopping the drive train when the brush assembly forward movement matches the length of the tube, the distance indicator having a fixed actuator cooperating with a second switch means for stopping the drive train when the brush assembly reverse movement withdraws the brush assembly from the tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A tube cleaner as defined in claim 3 further comprising, a main switch enabling an operator to determine forward, reverse, and stop positions of the drive motor.