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US 9,541,287 B2Granted
Combustion furnace auto cleaner
AssigneeLeco Corporation
InventorsGordon C. Ford, Joshua N. Wetzel, Kevin R. Brushwyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic cleaning assembly for an analytical furnace is detachable from the filter chamber above the combustion tube. The cleaning assembly includes a rotating brush which is lowered through the filter chamber and into the combustion tube while a vacuum is drawn through the lower seal of the combustion tube. This results in a higher vacuum pressure differential and improved flow rate for removing dust from the filter of the furnace and the combustion tube.
Claims38
A cleaning system for cleaning the combustion tube of an induction furnace of an analytical instrument, the cleaning system comprising:
- an induction furnace having a first end and a second end;
- a combustion tube, said combustion tube positioned between said first and second ends of said induction furnace, said combustion tube having an inner cylindrical wall and first and second ends;
- a vacuum source selectively coupled to said first end of said induction furnace for drawing a vacuum on the induction furnace at said first end;
- an induction coil surrounding said combustion tube for combusting an analytical sample positioned within said combustion tube;
- a mechanical cleaning brush for abrading said inner cylindrical wall of said combustion tube;
- a source of pressurized gas selectively coupled to said second end of said induction furnace and wherein said vacuum source is coupled to said first end of said induction furnace by a pinch valve, which is momentarily opened when said source of pressurized gas is coupled to provide a pressure differential between said second and first ends of said combustion tube;
- and
- a drive coupled to said mechanical cleaning brush for selectively moving said cleaning brush into the combustion tube from said second end while said vacuum source removes debris from the induction furnace through said first end.
5 more elements
A cleaning system for the combustion tube of an induction furnace, the cleaning system comprising:
- a combustion tube having an inner cylindrical wall;
- upper and lower seal assemblies coupled to said combustion tube;
- an induction coil surrounding said combustion tube;
- a source of pressurized gas coupled to said combustion tube at said upper seal assembly;
- a vacuum source selectively coupled to the lower seal assembly for drawing a vacuum on the combustion tube from a lower end thereof;
- a rotatable brush positioned above said combustion tube in the area of said upper seal assembly, said brush having a diameter selected to engage said inner cylindrical wall of said combustion tube when said brush is moved into said combustion tube;
- and
- a drive coupled to said brush for selectively lowering and rotating said brush into said combustion tube for abrading said inner cylindrical wall while said combustion tube is pressurized and a pinch valve coupled to said vacuum source is momentarily opened to provide a pressure differential between said second and first ends of said combustion tube to remove debris from a lower end of said combustion tube through said lower seal assembly.
5 more elements
An auto cleaner for use in an analytical induction furnace, the auto cleaner comprising:
- an induction furnace including a combustion tube;
- an induction coil surrounding said combustion tube;
- a cleaner housing including a quick disconnect fitting for engaging an end of said induction furnace;
- a piston mounted in said cleaner housing;
- a source of pressurized fluid selectively coupled to said cleaner housing for moving said piston;
- said piston coupled to a lead screw wherein said cleaner housing further includes a fixed drive nut threadably engaging said lead screw such that upon movement of said piston said lead screw rotates;
- at least a first cleaning brush coupled to said lead screw remote from said piston such that upon movement of said piston, said cleaning brush rotates and extends linearly for cleaning said combustion tube in the induction furnace;
- a source of pressurized oxygen coupled to an upper end of said combustion tube;
- and
- a vacuum source selectively coupled to a lower end of said combustion tube for drawing a vacuum on the combustion tube, wherein said combustion tube is pressurized by said source of pressurized oxygen and a pinch valve coupled to said vacuum source is momentarily opened to provide a pressure differential between said upper and lower ends of said combustion tube to remove debris from said combustion tube.
7 more elements
A cleaning system for the cylindrical wall of an induction furnace of an analytical instrument, the cleaning system comprising:
- an induction furnace having a combustion tube with an internal cylindrical wall and a first end and a second end;
- an induction coil surrounding said combustion tube;
- a source of pressurized gas coupled to said second end of said combustion tube;
- a pedestal movable into said combustion tube through said first end for placing a sample holding crucible into said combustion tube for combustion of a sample for analysis;
- a vacuum source selectively coupled to said first end for drawing a vacuum on said combustion tube at said first end;
- a mechanical cleaning device for extending into said combustion tube from said second end;
- and
- a drive coupled to said mechanical cleaning device for selectively moving said cleaning device into the combustion tube from said second end a distance sufficient for cleaning said internal cylindrical wall and dislodging any crucible which may be stuck in said combustion tube while said combustion tube is pressurized and a pinch valve coupled to said vacuum source is momentarily opened to provide a pressure differential between said second and first ends of said combustion tube to remove debris from the induction furnace through said first end.
5 more elements
A cleaning system for the combustion tube of an induction furnace having a combustion tube and upper and lower seal assemblies for the combustion tube, said cleaning system comprising:
- a combustion tube having first and second ends;
- a source of pressurized gas coupled to said second end of said combustion tube;
- a vacuum source selectively coupled to the lower seal assembly for drawing a vacuum on the first end of said combustion tube from a lower end thereof;
- a rotatable brush positioned above the second end of said combustion tube in the area of the upper seal assembly;
- a drive coupled to said brush for selectively lowering and rotating said brush into said combustion tube for abrading debris from said combustion tube while said combustion tube is pressurized and a pinch valve coupled to said vacuum source is momentarily opened to remove debris from a lower end of said combustion tube through said lower seal assembly;
- and
- a filter housing positioned above the combustion tube and wherein said filter housing includes a gas inlet, and pressurized gas is introduced into said filter housing when said brush is moved toward the combustion tube, and wherein said rotatable brush is mounted in a housing coupled to said filter housing by a quick disconnect coupling.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.