GB907283A - Cleaning apparatus for the heat exchange surfaces of boilers - Google Patents

Abstract

907,283. Cleaning pipes. CHAUDRONNERIES A.F. SMULDERS S.A. March 3, 1961 [March 15, 1960], No. 7880/61. Class 99 (2). Apparatus for cleaning the heat exchange surface of boiler water tubes and especially tubes of a regenerative boiler has a poker 6 with a head 6a carried on a carriage 7 which is driven to and fro along a track 9. The head 6a is wider than the distance between the walls of two adjoining tubes between which it passes only after having subjected them to an impact and opening out effect. As shown, the carriage 7, which is mounted in a rolling track 9 formed of U-section irons is driven by a reversible motor 13 via a reduction gear 12 and a chain 10 which passes over a driving wheel 11. At the end of each stroke the movement is stopped by an electromagnetic brake 15. On each forward movement the head of the poker penetrates between collars 3a. After an initial impact which imparts a rocking movement to the coils 3 which strike against adjoining coils, the rocking movement is limited by stops 14 provided on the tubes 3b which stops strike one against another. When the head is withdrawn from the flue it is kept in a sleeve 4 closed by a staffing box 5. In another embodiment, the carriage is connected to two chains, driven always in one direction, by a bar, connected at each end to one of the chains, which passes through a slot at each side of the carriage. A plurality of pokers may be mounted on the carriage and the head may be hollow and watercooled or may be a brush or other cleaning element. The poker may be made to act on different regions of the tubes after a certain number of strokes.