Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a flexible lance hose into and out of tubes in a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a housing and an upper endless belt drive assembly and a lower endless belt drive assembly spaced apart by a gap for receiving a flexible lance hose therein. One of the drive assemblies is fixed to the housing. The other drive assembly is movable within the housing toward and away from the one endless belt drive assembly. The apparatus further includes a drive motor fastened to the housing configured to engage at least one of the upper and lower endless belts and drive a flexible lance hose disposed in the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

Abstract: A multiple flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance drive apparatus includes at least a first drive motor having a first drive shaft, a spline drive roller mounted on the first drive shaft, a plurality of cylindrical guide rollers extending parallel to the spline drive roller, an endless belt wrapped around the spline drive roller and the plurality of guide rollers, and one or more follower roller modules each supporting a plurality of follower rollers for pressing against a single flexible lance. Each follower roller module independently presses its follower rollers toward the endless belt to grip the flexible lance sandwiched therebetween. Each module has an elongated block shaped housing having a central axis, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders and a piston rod carried in each pneumatic cylinder supporting a pair of spaced follower rollers that ride on the flexible lance captured between the endless belt and the follower rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances includes a frame removably fastened parallel to a row of tubes in a tube sheet within a domed end of a heat exchanger. A chassis support member is mounted on the frame for movement in an X direction. A chassis having spaced apart parallel box rail members is movably mounted on the chassis support member for movement of the chassis in a Y direction. A rotary arm extends from the chassis, and a flexible lance guide hand fastened to a distal end of the rotary arm is configured to maintain a plurality of flexible lance guide tubes in parallel alignment with the row of tubes irrespective of an angle between the rotary arm and the frame. The system may include a lance drive and a snout connected between the lance drive and the positioning apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

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: An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

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 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: Embodiments of a threaded component locking apparatus for preventing inadvertent disconnection of the male and female connection are disclosed. One embodiment includes an annular groove around the male member spaced from its threads and a ring shaped retainer disposed in the annular groove. A rear lip on the female threaded component interferes with the ring shaped retainer to prevent loosened connection between the components from becoming completely disconnected. Another embodiment utilizes a C-clip retainer member to limit loosening of the connection. Another embodiment utilizes a canted spring ring to interfere with and limit loosening of the connection. Another embodiment has a pair of collar halves that fit around the male member each having an annular groove for receiving a canted spring ring or ring shaped retainer to interfere with a rear lip on the female threaded component to limit loosening of the connection.