Abstract: A flexible cleaning lance safety apparatus is described as including a tripod support structure located close to an opening into an object to be cleaned. A flexible lance drive is fastened to the support structure for driving a high pressure fluid through a lance to the object to be cleaned. A snout tube is connected between the lance drive and an opening into the object to be cleaned. One or more micro pressure valves on each leg of the tripod support structure is operative to sense a predetermined force applied between the support structure and a support surface supporting the tripod support structure. When the predetermined force is sensed this causes the high pressure fluid to be diverted from the lance and the object to be cleaned to atmosphere.

Abstract: A frame apparatus for holding a flexible lance positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced from a heat exchanger tube sheet includes an upper guide rail, a lower guide rail, a positioner rail supported from one of the upper and lower guide rails and guided by the other of the upper and lower guide rails, and a rail clamp assembly fastened to a portion of a tube sheet. This rail clamp assembly has a flat plate member fastened to the tube sheet, a base plate spaced from the flat plate by one or more threaded shafts, and one or more clamp fingers rotatably fastened to the base plate. Each clamp fingers is operable to rotate toward the base plate when the base plate is drawn against the flat plate or beam member by rotating the threaded shaft, thus drawing the rail securely to the flat plate of the clamp assembly.

Abstract: A lance drive support apparatus is adapted to be fastened directly to a heat exchanger tube sheet adjacent a selected number of tubes to be cleaned. One embodiment includes an angled flat base plate having an inner center corner, an outer center corner, a first outer end corner and a second outer end corner, a support post adjacent each outer end corner, and the inner center corner fastened at one end to the base plate, and a top plate fastened to an opposite end of each support post. An extensible scissor arm assembly pivotally fastened to the inner center corner post can position a lance drive mechanism at a distal end of the scissor arm assembly at precise X and Y coordinates adjacent the tube sheet. The precise X and Y coordinates are determined by positions of X and Y cylinders connected to a common scissor arm assembly extension hinge.

Abstract: A multiple flexible lance hose take-up drum apparatus or device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a base having three or more support legs and a hollow take-up drum assembly rotatably supported from the base. The drum assembly includes a hollow cylindrical shell, a bottom plate fastened to the shell, a high pressure fluid supply connection and a manifold positioned radially along a bottom plate of the shell for connection to one end of each of a plurality of flexible lance hoses. The base includes an L shaped support arm extending from the bases alongside the shell. A plurality of guide tubes are supported by the support arm and aligned over a rim of the shell for guiding flexible lance hoses into and out of the take-up drum assembly.

Abstract: A flexible lance drive device has at least one drive motor in a first portion of a housing and a drive axle projecting across a second portion of the housing carrying a cylindrical spline drive roller. A plurality of cylindrical guide rollers on fixed axles span across the second portion of the housing aligned parallel to the spline drive roller. An endless belt wrapped around the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers has a generally smooth outer surface and a transverse splined inner surface having splines shaped complementary to splines on the spline drive roller. A bias member supports a plurality of follower rollers each aligned vertically above one of the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers operable to press each follower roller toward one of rollers to frictionally grip a flexible lance hose when sandwiched between the follower rollers and the endless belt.

Abstract: A multiple flexible lance hose take-up drum apparatus or device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a base having three or more support legs and a hollow take-up drum assembly rotatably supported from the base. The drum assembly includes a hollow cylindrical shell, a bottom plate fastened to the shell, a high pressure fluid supply connection and a manifold positioned radially along a bottom plate of the shell for connection to one end of each of a plurality of flexible lance hoses. The base includes an L shaped support arm extending from the bases alongside the shell. A plurality of guide tubes are supported by the support arm and aligned over a rim of the shell for guiding flexible lance hoses into and out of the take-up drum assembly.

Abstract: A compact flexible lance propelling apparatus is disclosed that is mountable on a pipe end. The apparatus includes a drive mechanism, an adaptable support that can be fastened directly to the pipe end which carries the drive mechanism, a remote control console, and a hose take-up drum spaced from the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a driven roller and a follower roller sandwiching the flexible lance hose therebetween and a rotary cam lift mechanism for linearly raising the follower roller to permit insertion of the flexible lance hose and lowering the follower roller against the driven roller.

Abstract: A flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance drive apparatus includes a guide rail having a longitudinal axis adapted to be positioned within a boiler water box and aligned in a fixed position with respect to a central axis of the water box. A tractor drive module is mounted on the guide rail, a helix clad high pressure fluid hose drive module is mounted on the guide rail operable to propel a flexible lance helix clad hose through the drive module along an axis parallel to the guide rail longitudinal axis, and a right angle guide rotator module is mounted on the guide rail and connected to the tractor module for positioning a rotatable high pressure nozzle carried by the helix clad hose within a guide tube attached to the rotator module.

Abstract: A process for assembling a coil clad hose includes suspending a spring wire helix between carriages mounted on a rail, rotating one of the ends of the helix to expand the helix, inserting a hose through the expanded helix, contracting the helix onto the hose, installing an end fitting onto each end of the hose, fixing one end of the helix together with the ferrule and the hose at one end of the hose, adjusting a pitch of the helix along the hose to another end of the hose, and fixing the helix and the hose together with the ferrule at the another end of the hose. The apparatus includes a rail, a pair of carriages movably supported on the rail, each of the carriages having a through bore holding a tang clamp bushing therein, and a pair of cable clamp fixtures mounted one at each end of the rail.

Abstract: A speed retarding device for a rotary nozzle includes a hollow cylindrical housing and a rotatable tubular shaft rotatably carried by the housing. The shaft has an enlarged drag sleeve portion carried in the housing and a shaft end extending through at least one end of the housing to receive a rotary nozzle thereon. A pair of support bearings support the drag sleeve portion of the shaft in the housing. An annular inner seal between each of the support bearings and the drag sleeve portion defines a cavity within the housing receiving a viscous fluid confined within the cavity. The support bearings are separated from the cavity confining the viscous fluid and an outer annular seal on the shaft adjacent each support bearing prevents environmental contamination such as water and debris from entry into the support bearings.

Abstract: A frame apparatus for holding a flexible lance positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced from a heat exchanger tube sheet includes an upper guide rail, a lower guide rail, a positioner rail supported from one of the upper and lower guide rails and guided by the other of the upper and lower guide rails, and a rail clamp assembly fastened to a portion of a tube sheet. This rail clamp assembly has a flat plate member fastened to the tube sheet, a base plate spaced from the flat plate by one or more threaded shafts, and one or more clamp fingers rotatably fastened to the base plate. Each clamp fingers is operable to rotate toward the base plate when the base plate is drawn against the flat plate or beam member by rotating the threaded shaft, thus drawing the rail securely to the flat plate of the clamp assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for retarding rotation of a nozzle includes a hollow housing, a rotary shaft within the housing, a rotatable rotor on the rotary shaft free to move axially along the shaft, and a cam assembly coupling the rotor and shaft together in the housing such that rotor rotation on the shaft causes the cam assembly to displace the rotor axially on the shaft in a first direction. A set of springs on the shaft biases the rotor in a second direction opposite the first direction on the shaft. Finally, a viscous fluid disposed between the rotor and the housing generates a drag on rotor rotation with the shaft. Relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the shaft in conjunction with a variable gap between the rotor and housing are used to slow and thus control rotary nozzle speed.

Abstract: A flexible lance drive device is disclosed that has, in a compact housing, a drive motor between an inner and an outer wall, a linear array of pairs of driven upper and lower drive rollers outside the outer wall coupled to the drive motor via shafts extending through both of the inner and outer walls. Each driven roller is fastened to its shaft via a quick release device. A drive sprocket is fastened to each shaft outside the inner wall. The drive motor is coupled to each of the drive sprockets via a serpentine belt carried outside the inner wall. The lower driven rollers are rotatably carried by the inner and outer walls. The upper driven rollers are rotatably carried by a block positioned between the inner and outer walls and coupled to the lower driven rollers by a pair of parallel links releasably biased by a piston driven linkage.

Abstract: A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.

Abstract: A flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance drive apparatus includes a guide rail having a longitudinal axis adapted to be positioned within a boiler water box and aligned in a fixed position with respect to a central axis of the water box. A tractor drive module is mounted on the guide rail, a helix clad high pressure fluid hose drive module is mounted on the guide rail operable to propel a flexible lance helix clad hose through the drive module along an axis parallel to the guide rail longitudinal axis, and a right angle guide rotator module is mounted on the guide rail and connected to the tractor module for positioning a rotatable high pressure nozzle carried by the helix clad hose within a guide tube attached to the rotator module.

Abstract: A high pressure nozzle manipulator includes a wheeled chassis, a pair of parallel manipulator elevator rails supported by an elevator rail rotator fastened to the chassis, a horizontal extensible arm rail disposed between and carried by the manipulator elevator rails, a rotary actuator fastened to a distal end of the horizontal extensible arm rail, and a linear actuator fastened between the first rotary actuator and a hinged nozzle support bracket. This bracket holds a high pressure cleaning nozzle. The linear actuator is configured to rotate the nozzle and the bracket through an arc. The elevator rail rotator is configured to rotate the elevator rails through an arc of about 180 degrees about a horizontal axis. The rotary wrist actuator is configured to rotate the hinged nozzle support bracket about a horizontal axis through the extensible arm rail.

Abstract: A flexible lance drive device has at least one drive motor in a first portion of a housing and a drive axle projecting across a second portion of the housing carrying a cylindrical spline drive roller. A plurality of cylindrical guide rollers on fixed axles span across the second portion of the housing aligned parallel to the spline drive roller. An endless belt wrapped around the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers has a generally smooth outer surface and a transverse splined inner surface having splines shaped complementary to splines on the spline drive roller. A bias member supports a plurality of follower rollers each aligned vertically above one of the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers operable to press each follower roller toward one of rollers to frictionally grip a flexible lance hose when sandwiched between the follower rollers and the endless belt.

Abstract: A process for assembling a coil clad hose includes suspending a spring wire helix between carriages mounted on a rail, rotating one of the ends of the helix to expand the helix, inserting a hose through the expanded helix, contracting the helix onto the hose, installing an end fitting onto each end of the hose, fixing one end of the helix together with the ferrule and the hose at one end of the hose, adjusting a pitch of the helix along the hose to another end of the hose, and fixing the helix and the hose together with the ferrule at the another end of the hose. The apparatus includes a rail, a pair of carriages movably supported on the rail, each of the carriages having a through bore holding a tang clamp bushing therein, and a pair of cable clamp fixtures mounted one at each end of the rail.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly comprises a hollow nozzle body having a central bore and a plurality of ports extending through the body from the central bore; and a switching valve cartridge disposed in the central bore that directs fluid flow to ports upon application of fluid flow above a predetermined threshold to the inlet and direct fluid flow to different ports upon fluid flow having subsequently dropped below the predetermined threshold and then exceeding the predetermined threshold. The cartridge comprises a cylindrical cartridge case having a front portion and a cup shaped rear portion, a cylindrical poppet slidably disposed within the cup shaped rear portion of the cartridge case, and a biasing member within the cartridge case between the front portion of the case and the poppet urging the poppet away from the front portion of the cartridge case.