Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus includes water and wax containers to supply water and wax, a pump to discharge a mixture of water and wax, a combustion chamber to receive the discharged mixture in an internal pipe and to spray the mixture through a nozzle such that the mixture can be discharged along the pipe, a burner to heat the pipe of the combustion chamber with a fuel from a fuel container to convert the mixture into steam having high temperature and high pressure, a steam gun to discharge the high temperature and pressure steam from the combustion chamber to an outside, and a controller to control the water container, wax container, pump, combustion chamber, fuel container, and burner and to allow the mixture to be discharged to the outside after being converted to the high temperature and pressure steam. A method of driving the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A rapping hammer system adapted for periodically rapping and cleaning tubes of a heat exchanger unit to remove undesired deposits from outside the tubes. A plurality of rapping hammers are each pivotably attached to a radial arm extending outwardly from and spaced apart along a rotatable shaft. A spring device is attached to each radial arm and arranged to contact the rapping hammer with sufficient force so as to substantially restrain repeated striking movements of the rapping hammer against an impact stem of the heat exchange unit following an initial impact of the hammer. A method is also disclosed for operating the rapping hammer system for periodically rapping and cleaning the outside surface of heat exchanger tubes such as boiler tubes of accumulated ash and soot deposits.

Abstract: A storage tank having a vertical, cylindrical tank, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, includes a collector outlet dip tube for collecting hot fluid evenly across a horizontal cross section of the tank and thereby foil convection currents that cause mixing of hot and cold fluid so that more hot fluid is recovered at the outlet over time. A dispersing inlet dip tube may be also employed to introduce cold fluid evenly. The tank may comprise a hot water heater where the water stored in the tank is heated within the tank by means disposed internally or externally of the internal storage chamber. Alternately, the water may be heated externally of the tank and stored within the tank.

Abstract: An improved water heater has a submerged combustion chamber providing increased efficiency, lowered production of oxides of nitrogen and ease of manufacture. The water heater has a horizontal cylindrical combustion chamber and a flue tube having a closed bottom penetrating through a major portion of the combustion chamber along a diameter of the combustion chamber causing turbulent combustion.

Abstract: A model steam generator including a system for facilitating the inspection of the sample tubes within the boiler vessel of the model generator is disclosed herein. The system includes means for detachably connecting the tubesheet from the primary and secondary sides of the boiler vessel. In the preferred embodiment, both end of the tubesheet and the abutting ends of the primary and secondary sides of the boiler vessel are circumscribed by tapered flanges. The tubesheet is detachably connected from the primary and secondary sides of the boiler vessel by means of Grayloc.RTM.-type annular clamps which are circumscribed by grooves for receiving the abutting flanges at the tubesheet joints. Additionally, the system includes a frame for suspending the secondary side of the boiler vessel, a wheeled cart having a jack for both laterally and vertically moving the primary side of the boiler vessel and the tubesheet into a clamping position onto the secondary side of the boiler vessel.