Abstract: A retractable sootblower, having a movable carriage and lance tube assembly for cleaning inside surfaces of a boiler, includes a stationary starter switch for initiating operation of the sootblower and a cable disposed between the movable assembly and the starter switch for transmitting electrical current from the starter switch to the moveable assembly. A limit switch is mounted to and moveable with the moveable assembly. A stationary switch control device is disposed proximate the boiler and configured to cooperate with the limit switch so as to reverse the direction of movement of the moveable assembly during sootblower operation by reversing the direction of the current to the movable assembly.

Abstract: A frame for housing a retractable sootblower, having a movable carriage and lance tube for cleaning inside surfaces of a boiler, includes a front end wall disposed proximate and a rear end wall disposed distal to the boiler. A pair of opposed side walls, each having one end connected to the front end wall and the other end connected to the rear end wall, are also provided so as to generally define a rectangular box. Also included are one or more top panels, each configured to extend between the opposed side walls with the panels in a closed position to thereby provide protection to the sootblower from above and to be moveable to an open position to provide substantially unobstructed access to the carriage from above the frame.