US2199109A - Tube cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1940. MAXWELL ET AL 2,199,109

TUBE CLEANING DEVICE Filed 001:. 31, 1938 I N VE NTORS 07/414061! Waw I ATTORNEY5 Patented Apr. 30, 1940 PATENT.

TUBE CLEANING DEVICE Clyde Maxwell, Glen Ellyn, and Horace .E. Marshall, Chicago, -Ill., assignorsto Boiler Tube Skivers, Inc'.,fChic'ago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application 00120118131, 1938, Serial No. 237,800

3 Claims. (01. 15-10410) This'- .1invention relates to a tube cleaning de- Vice,;and it,v has to do' more'particularly with a device adapted for the removal of scale, carbon, lime and other deposits fromthe inner walls of boiler tubes, flues,,or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved and sturdy tube cleaning device which is quite simple in construction, is inexpensive. to manufacture, and is so constructed and arranged that tubes, fines and the like may be thoroughly cleaned with ease in a minimum of time and with a minimum of expense.

' Anotherobject is .to provide a device of the foregoing character havingdisk members: with toothed peripheries, which disk members are loosely insertable within the tube to be cleaned and-Which are adapted to be rotated with a vibratory or chatter-like or bouncing action whereby the scale or other deposit is quickly removed by a combined impact and chipping action.

, Aiurther object is to provide a tool of the'foregoing-character having a rotatable support car'- rying a plurality of axially spaced cleaning disks; which disks are adjustable laterally relative to the axis ofthe support to accommodate tubes of different diameters as .well as varying deposit thicknesses. I

Still another object is to provide a ,tube cleaning devicerhaving a rotatable support upon which disks are frictionally supported in such a mane ner thatthey rotate with the support as a unit under normal tube cleaning conditions, but automatically shift and adjust themselves back and forth laterally of the support when abnormal pressures are exerted on their peripheries as when blisters or excessive scale thicknesses, or tube disalignment is encountered in moving a rotating toolthrough a tube. q .5

Additional objects areto provide a tool of the foregoing character having a tensioned mounting' for the cleaning disks permitting them to shift laterally of the axis of their support, thereby preventing injury to the disks and breakage of; the device ;as a whole; and to provide a devicefor-cleaning tubes which is readily adaptable for cleaning long tubes, whether they be hot orcold; and which tends to prevent excessive heating '.orsticking of the;rotating tool as it'is passed through the tube, whatever its length may-be. .1

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as thisdescriptionprogresses and by ref er'ence to the drawing'wherein,

55, Figure '1 is a side elevational view ofone form are mounted spaced-apart cleaning disks, whichof tube cleaning device embodying my. invention,

the same being illustrated in a normal position of'rest within a tube;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through one end of the tool support,.as-along line ing a modified form. of tool embodying the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5, of Fig. 4. I

Referring to the tube cleaning device In shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it is driven rotatably by a motor ll through a flexible drive shaft H. The drive shaft i2 is of such length that-it accommodates length of the tube l3.

The tube cleaning device Ill includes an elongated, rigid and circular supporting body l4 having threaded ends M and li A coupling member 15 is threaded upon the support end M Which coupling member may be permanently secured to the adjacent end ofthe flexible-drive shaft l2 so as to form, in-effect, a part thereof. A plurality of cleaning disks it are mounted upon and driven with the support l4. All ofthe disks lfiare of similar construction and each is provided at its center with a concentric opening ii of larger diameter than the support M which extends therethrough. The enlarged disk openmore fully hereinafter. 1 q

The disks l5 have toothed peripheries l8 and they are so mounted on the support [4 that the peripheral teeth l8 of all disks extend in the direction of rotation of the device. Also, the disks are, preferably, made of a highly durable materialcapable of withstanding the pounding and chipping action imposed thereon during the operationof the tool; and I have found, for example, that excellent'results may be obtained by employing disks formed of tem red carbon steel. The disks 16 are of less diameter than the tube to be cleaned and while this dimensional requirement may be varied it should, in every instance, be such that the desired vibratory, chat ter-like or bouncing action willtake place as the device is rotated. For example, I have'found; that excellent results may be obtainedibyv employing the movement of the device [0 throughout the 35 ings l'l permit the disks to shift or be shifted laterally of the support M, as will be explained disk is confined, said members of each pair havby merely removing the spring washers 33 and 35 and inserting the requisite number of the same in the disk openings as above explained.

It is believed that the operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. As the device is rotated and passed through the tube l3, it tends to gyrate within the tube with a bouncing, vibrating or chatter-like action, during which the teeth of the disks engage the scale, etc., on the tube wall with a chipping or skiving-like action, quickly loosening and removing the same. This action takes place throughout the length of the.

device and any abnormal irregularities in the tube or the surface being cleaned are accommodated by the shifting of the cleaning disks to the end that the removing and, cleaning action is positive and quite rapid. 'Also, this action takes place with less drag on the' motor I I, even though there is a tendency toward heating up of the tool as friction increases in the continued operation thereof. It has been found that, if the disks are set up rigidly, the excessive friction and heat developed would soon break the tool, particularly in the cleaning of a long tube'. This invention avoids that condition. Also, the arrangements of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.

We claim: 1. In a tube cleaning tool, a support adapted to be rotated, disks having central openings larger than said support and through which said support extends, and means for supporting said disks for rotation normally with said support, including a pair of members between which each ing friction surfaces engaging the opposite side of said disk adjacent the central opening therein,

and means including a spring tensioning element for resiliently urging said members and disks axially of said support and for frictionally locking them to said support for rotation nor mally therewith, while permitting said disks to shift back forth laterally of said support as abnormal obstructionto rotation thereof is offered. 1 I

2. A device of the class described comprising an elongated support adapted to be driven rotatably, a plurality of disks mounted upon said support in spaced relation, said disks each having a central opening of larger size than said support, compression spring members of less diameter than the openings in said disks carried by said support and disposed in said disk openings whereby said disks have a slight lateral movement relative to the axis of said support, and means for securing said disks to said support for rotation therewith including shoe members, one pair for each disk, engaging the opposite sides of each disk, and means for urging said members into frictional engagement with said disks and at the same time compressing said spring members axially and placing them under compression. 1

3. A device of the. class described comprising an elongated support adapted to be driven rotatably, a plurality of disks mounted upon said sup-port in spaced relation, said disks each having a central opening of larger size than said supplacedunder compression as said members and disks are frictionally engaged.

CLYDE HORACE E. MARSHALL.

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