US856628A - Boiler-tube cleaner. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

. W. S. ELLIOTT.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED 111N114. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 WITNESSES THE NORRIS PErzrRs ca, wnsnmraolv. nc.

No. 856,628. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

* W. s. ELLIOTT.

BOILER TUBE CLEANER.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 4, 1906. v

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-TUBE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed June 4, 1906. Serial No. 319,998.

To (bf/Z whom, it 7Tb6tZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Boiler-Tube Cleaners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of a cleaner embodying my invention, looking at the cleaner in two different positions; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a modification; Fig. 5 is an end view of the form shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a plan view showing another modification, and Fig. 7 a detail showing another modification.

My invention has relation to boiler tube cleaners, and is designed to provide a cleaner having a plurality of rotating cutters which are so arranged as to enable them to adapt themselves readily to inequalities in variation of the scale, and also to provide a cleaner head in which the weight is so disposed as to effectually assist in the cutting action of the cutters.

YVith these objects in view, my invention consists in a rotary, centrifugally acting cleaner head having a plurality of freely swinging centrifugal acting arms provided with cutting wheels at or near their free extremities, the said wheels being carried by shafts or spindles which are capable of an independent movement relatively to the freely swinging arms.

My invention also consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts all substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring first to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 2 designates a slotted head, in which are pivoted the freely swinging arms 3, said arms be ing secured in the slots of the head by means of the'pivot bolts 4. Pivotally secured to the free end portion of each arm 3 by a pin or bolt 5 is a stirrup 6, which is provided with bearings for spindles 7 j ournaled therein and carrying the cutter wheels 8. In the ar rangement shown in these figures, two of the spindles 7 are carried by each stirrup, and each spindle has thereon two cutter wheels, one at each end portion. The stirrups 6 are capable of a rocking motion upon the pins or pivot 5 independently'of the swinging movement of the arms 3, and as a result of this movement the cutter wheels are enabled to adapt themselves to inequalities and variations of thickness of scale.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. -.l and 5, each of the freely swinging arms 3 is formed with a slotted jaw f), at its free end. portion, in which is pivoted a clip 10 carrying the cutter-spindle or shaft 11 upon which two of the cutter wheels 8 are mounted. The modification shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Fig. 4, with the exception that the freely swinging arms are of different lengths, so as to bring the cutter wheels 8 into alternating or staggered relation, thereby enabling them to cut in different circumferential planes. This same modification may also be applied to the form of head shown in Figs. 1, 2 and It will be noted that the weight of the parts which are mounted on the freely swinging arms, and which carry the cutters is contralized with respect to the central axis of the head and that the weight of these parts at this point is thus made effective in increasing the centrifugal action of the cutters.

In Figs. 1 to 6 I have shown the pins or pivots 5 which secure the clips or saddles 6 and 10 to the freely swinging arms as passing centrally through such clips or saddles. i may, however, arrange these pins nearer to one end or the other of the clip or saddle, as shown in Fig. 7, for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the throw of either of the cutter wheels.

The shafts or spindles 7 are preferably headed at one end as shown at 7, and. at their opposite ends are provided with collars 7 which retain in place the additional cutter 9 wheels, and which are secured to the spindles by means of the pins 01' rivets 7 This collar gives an extended bearing for the pins 7, and forms secure retaining means. Instead of making these spindles or shafts continuous, however, it is obvious that each cutter wheel may be mounted upon an independent shaft or spindle.

The cleaner head is preferably connected to the driving means by a universal joint 12, as shown in Fig. 4. A universal joint is of especial advantage in connection with this formof head, for the reason that it permits the unrestrained movement of the head within the tube, whereby the freely swinging arms together with the cutters may assume various angles with respect to the axis of the tube, and thus increase the effectiveness of the cutters.

By the term freely swinging arm as used herein and in the claims, I refer to an arm which is so connected to its head or carrier as to be free to act centrifugally when rotated within a tube to be cleaned.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, since What I claim is 1. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a freely swinging pivoted arm, a cutter-carrier connected to said arm and free to swin independently thereof, and a rotary cutter carried by the said arm; substantially as described.

2. A boiler tube cleaner having a pivoted, freely swinging arm, a plurality of cutters carried by the arm to swing therewith, and a carrier for said cutters mounted on the arm to have an independent rocking movement; substantially as described.

3. A rotary tube cleaner having a freely swinging, pivoted, centrifugally acting, arm, a shaft or spindle pivotally secured to said arm, and a cutter mounted on theshaft or spindle; substantially as described.

4. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a plurality of freely swinging arms, clips or stirrups pivotallysecured to said arms, and having cutter supports, and cutters carried by the supports; substantially as described.

5. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a plurality of pivoted, freely swinging arms, cutter carriers mounted on said arms to swing therewith, and also to have an inde pendent rocking or swinging movement, and a plurality of cutters mounted on said carriers, said cutters being arranged in alternating or staggered relation; substantially as described.

6. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a slotted head, adapted to be rotated at a high speed within the tube, arms pivoted in the said head and free to swing at right angles to the axis of the tube, and a plurality of cutter wheels carried by said arms upon pivotal supports which are capable of an independent swinging movement in the planes of said arms; substantially as described.

7. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having an arm free to swing at right angles to the axis of the tube, and adapted to be rotated at a high speed within the tube, a clip or stirrup pivotally secured to the free portion of the arm and having cutter wheel bearings, and

cutter wheels carried by the said bearings at opposite sides of the clip or stirrup pivot; substantially as described.

8. A boiler tube cleaner having an arm free to swing at right angles to the axis of the tube, a clip or stirrup pivotally secured to the free portion of the arm and having cutter wheel bearings, and cutter Wheels carried by the bearings at opposite sides of its pivot, and unequally distant from the pivot; substantially as described.

9. A rotary boiler tube cleaner havingv a pivoted, freely swinging arm, a cutter carrier connected to said arm and free to swing independently thereof in a parallel plane; a cutter mounted on the cutter carrier, and a universal joint connecting the cleaner head to the driving means therefor; substantially as described.

10. A rotary boiler tube cleaner consisting of a head having a plurality of pivoted centrifugally acting arms which are free to swing in a plane longitudinal of the axis of the tube, shafts or spindles carried by the said arms and capable of an independent rocking or swinging movement, in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the arms, and toothed cutters carried by the shaft or spindles; substantially as described.

11. A rotary boiler tube cleaner having a freely swinging centrifugally acting arm, a freely swinging saddle or clip carried by the arm and having wheel journals, and cutter wheels mounted on the said journals; substantially as described.

12. A boiler tube cleaner having a pivoted, vibratory, centrifugally acting arm free to swing outwardly from the axis of the tube, a cutter carrier pivotally secured to the said 100 arm and capable of an independent swinging movement, and a rotary cutter wheel mounted on each end portion of the carrier; substantially as described.

13. A boiler tube cleaner having a head re 5 adapted to be rotated at a high speed within the tube to be cleaned, a plurality of vibratory, centrifugally acting, freely swinging arms pivoted to the head, a cutter carrier pivotally secured to the outer end portion of each of the arms, and a plurality of cutters mounted on each carrier and having their cutting edges in different longitudinal planes; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 1 I5 my hand.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT. Witnesses:

A. L. ELLIOTT, J. IRWIN GREEN.

Images