Abstract: A pneumatic power generator configured for generating less than about 100 W for providing on demand power to a device connected to the power generator includes a pneumatic motor coupled to an alternator with a coupling member. The pneumatic motor has an inlet port configured to receive pressurized gas to rotate an output shaft. Rotation of the output shaft is transmitted to an inlet shaft of the alternator via the coupler member. As the pressurized gas causes the pneumatic motor, the inlet shaft of the alternator rotates to produce AC power. An electronics housing is coupled to the alternator and has an electronic board and at least one power storage device. The electronic board includes a rectifier configured to convert the AC power output from the alternator into DC power for storage in a power storage device, with power being provided from the power storage device on an on-demand basis.

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.

Abstract: A camera skid and thrust nozzle assembly for supporting a camera while being positioned in a tubular pipe or conduit spaced from any wall of the conduit and permitting movement of the assembly along the conduit. The assembly includes a cage rotatably fastened to a high pressure fluid tractor nozzle, wherein the cage can rotate about an axis through the tractor nozzle. A camera support structure is fastened within the cage for rotation of the support structure about the axis independent of rotation of the cage. The camera support structure has a weight attached thereto for urging rotational orientation of the camera support structure within the cage according to a sensed external gravitational force on the assembly.

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 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 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: An apparatus for propelling a plurality of coil clad hoses simultaneously includes a plurality of modules. Each module includes a primary driven bull gear. A follower bull gear is rotatably fastened to a follower axle extending parallel to the drive axle and the follower bull gear meshes with the primary bull gear. A plurality of secondary bull gear/sprocket modules are fastened to each of the axles, each of the modules having a secondary bull gear having teeth extending to a first outer diameter and a sprocket gear having teeth extending a distance less than the first outer diameter. The secondary bull gear teeth of modules on the drive axle mesh with corresponding secondary bull gear teeth of modules on the follower axle to define between adjacent modules an opening width for receiving and passing therebetween a coil clad portion of a high pressure hose.

Abstract: A camera skid and thrust nozzle assembly for supporting a camera while being positioned in a tubular pipe or conduit spaced. from any wall of the conduit and permitting movement of the assembly along the conduit. The assembly includes a cage rotatably fastened to a high pressure fluid tractor nozzle, wherein the cage can rotate about an axis through the tractor nozzle. A camera support structure is fastened within the cage for rotation of the support structure about the axis independent of rotation of the cage. The camera support structure has a weight attached thereto for urging rotational orientation of the camera support structure within the cage according to a sensed external gravitational force on the assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose, including: a first rotatable drum with a helical groove; a second rotatable drum; and at least one actuator for rotating the first and second drums. For rotation of the first and second drums in first and second opposite directions, respectively, a hose and a cable are coilable into the helical groove such that the hose is in compressive engagement with the cable and the first drum. For rotation of the first and second drums in the second and first directions, respectively, the hose is uncoilable from the first drum and displaceable beyond the apparatus and the cable is coilable about the second drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion in an enclosed space, including: a tube with: first and second substantially straight portions including first and second ends of the tube, respectively; and a curved portion connecting the first and second portions. The apparatus includes: a plurality of nested segments at least partially disposed within the first substantially straight portion of the tube and connected to the first substantially straight portion; and a first actuator engageable with the tube to displace the first and second substantially straight portions of the tube into and out of the enclosed space through an opening into the enclosed space. The tube is arranged to accept a hose passing through the tube, and a distal segment from the plurality of nested segments is connectable to the hose.

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 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.

Abstract: A fluid bearing nozzle assembly is disclosed that has a hollow cylindrical body, an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body, and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body. The inlet nut has a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon. The shaft member has a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member. An inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft have complementary shapes forming a regulating passage therebetween. The shaft has helical grooves that spiral around the shaft to one or both ends to impart rotation to the shaft and spray head.

Abstract: A flow path switching valve is disclosed that can be operated remotely simply by turning flow on and off. A mid portion of the body has at least one passage therein leading from a central axial bore to one or more external ports each having a tractor nozzle. The valve outlet connects the axial bore to a cleaning nozzle. A poppet member is received in the central axial bore. In a first position, the poppet member directs fluid flow through the outlet to the cleaning nozzle connected to the outlet. The poppet member, when in a second position, closes the central axial bore through the outlet end of the valve body and permits fluid flow through the tractor nozzles. Selection of the different flow paths is made by simply reducing flow through the valve below a predetermined fluid flow threshold and then increasing the flow rate above the threshold.

Abstract: A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose is rotated. Relative rotation in one direction causes the first portion of the hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in an output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm. Relative rotation in an opposite direction causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for propelling a coil clad hose through a passage through a housing. A first driven pair of bull gears sandwiching a rotatable drive sprocket is rotatably fixed to a first rotatable axle in the housing orthogonal to the passage. A second pair of bull gears sandwiching a second drive sprocket are all rotatably fastened to a second axle in the housing parallel to the first axle. The second pair of bull gears mesh with the first pair of spaced bull gears. Teeth on the drive sprockets engage part of the coil clad hose when the fluid hose is inserted into the passage. A slip clutch between the pairs of spaced bull gears and the drive sprocket on each of the axles adjusts frictional grip on the coil when one of the bull gears is driven to propel the hose through the passage.

Abstract: A system and method for propelling a hose, including: a system housing and a tractor element disposed in the housing. The tractor element includes: a tractor housing with a through-bore; and a protrusion extending into the through-bore. The system includes: a hose assembly including a substantially helical coil disposed about a hose; and an actuator for rotating the tractor housing with respect to the system housing. The tractor element is fixed in the system housing with respect to axial movement; and the hose assembly can be disposed in the through-bore so that the protrusion contacts a portion of the coil. As the tractor housing is rotated in a rotational direction: the protrusion exerts a displacement force on the coil; and the hose assembly reacts to the displacement force by displacing in an axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for insertion in an enclosed space, including: a tube with: first and second substantially straight portions including first and second ends of the tube, respectively; and a curved portion connecting the first and second portions. The apparatus includes: a plurality of nested segments at least partially disposed within the first substantially straight portion of the tube and connected to the first substantially straight portion; and a first actuator engageable with the tube to displace the first and second substantially straight portions of the tube into and out of the enclosed space through an opening into the enclosed space. The tube is arranged to accept a hose passing through the tube, and a distal segment from the plurality of nested segments is connectable to the hose.

Abstract: A camera skid and thrust nozzle assembly for supporting a camera while being positioned in a tubular pipe or conduit spaced. from any wall of the conduit and permitting movement of the assembly along the conduit. The assembly includes a cage rotatably fastened to a high pressure fluid tractor nozzle, wherein the cage can rotate about an axis through the tractor nozzle. A camera support structure is fastened within the cage for rotation of the support structure about the axis independent of rotation of the cage. The camera support structure has a weight attached thereto for urging rotational orientation of the camera support structure within the cage according to a sensed external gravitational force on the assembly.