Conduit Cleaner Patents (Class 134/168C)
  • Patent number: 4691723
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning radioactive tube banks which have open ends contained in a plane, preferably for cleaning the tube banks of tube bank condensers, includes a high-pressure hose, which is pushed through each of the tubes and which at its free end carries a spray nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid. The hose is disposed between and positively or non-positively coupled to two feed wheels and is advanced and retracted by the feed wheels in a direction which is parallel to the tubes. The feed wheels are provided with a hose drive and mounted in a cleaning carriage, which is movable by a carriage drive in a plane which is defined by a frame. The cleaning carriage is fixed in cleaning positions, and the frame is provided with a device for fixing the frame to the tube bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Ernst Schmutz GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Mierswa, Friedrich Schmutz
  • Patent number: 4690159
    Abstract: An improved rotary cleaning device for cleaning the inner surface of a cylindrical housing is disclosed, characterized by a unique mounting and fluid distribution shaft. A flixed support is axially arranged within the housing and the shaft is mounted on the support for longitudinal displacement along the housing axis. A swivel device is rotatably connected with the shaft and a pair of cleaning lances are connected with the swivel. High pressure cleaning fluid is delivered to the lances via the shaft and the swivel to abrasively clean the inner wall surface of the cylindrical housing. A drive mechanism is connected with the swivel to rotate the swivel and cleaning lances about the shaft. When the drive mechanism is operated to rotate the swivel and when the shaft is axially displaced along the support, the cleaning lances traverse both orbital and linear paths to direct the cleaning fluid against th entire interior surface area of the cylindrical wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Vadakin, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Vadakin, Thomas A. Hoenigman
  • Patent number: 4637378
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a liquid feeding unit, a connector detachably connected to an endoscope and a connecting unit for guiding a detergent solution fed from the feeding unit to the connector. The connector has a support plate, an air/liquid mouthpiece and a suction mouthpiece which are movably supported by the plate, and a slider supported by the plate to be movable between first and second positions. The mouthpiece has a ring-member which engages with a frange of an air/liquid cylinder of the endoscope. The mouthpiece has a ring-member engaging with a frange of a suction cylinder of the endoscope. When the slider is moved to the second position, a first holding portion and a second holding portion thereof hold the franges, in cooperation with the ring-members, by using an urging force or urging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sasa
  • Patent number: 4603661
    Abstract: An externally controllable apparatus for cleaning the slag deposits from the inner surfaces of a cyclone burner includes a support structure having a carriage slidably mounted thereon. A fluid-conducting swivel is mounted on the carriage for providing a rotatable coupling to a pipe extending through the cyclone. The carriage is moved along the support by a suitable movement mechanism so that fluid lances movably mounted on the pipe are properly disposed at selectable longitudinal positions within the cyclone burner. The fluid lances are transversely movable so that they can be moved toward or away from the side wall of the cyclone burner. A plurality of pairs of nozzles are used for directing a spray of cleaning fluid toward respective portions of the cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Nelson, Cris R. Lehman
  • Patent number: 4527515
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a cleaning apparatus used for cleaning a steam generator includes a valve manifold which is controlled by a control console to direct a pressurized fluid to either a jetting outlet or a flushing outlet of the cleaning apparatus associated with the steam generator. The control console also controls a motor controller which defines the incremental distance that the jetting outlet is moved within the steam generator to clean different portions of the steam generator. The motor controller is remotely controllable from a platform control device so that the position of the jetting outlet can be changed by a person located on or near the steam generator during initial alignment and limit switch positioning. The control console also controls an evacuation circuit which extracts the fluid pumped into the steam generator and the sludge or other substances loosened therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Hester, II
  • Patent number: 4509544
    Abstract: Tube bundle cleaning apparatus is disclosed in which cleaning is effected by high pressure water jets impinging upon the tubes of the bundle. The tube bundle is supported on power rollers and a pair of carriages are disposed on opposite sides of the bundle. Each carriage supports a rotatable cleaning head and a non-rotatable cleaning head, both of which are adjustably positionable on the carriage for obtaining optimum location relative to different size tube bundles. The non-rotatable cleanig head includes plural sets of jet nozzles, each set being adjustable in the vertical direction to provide optimum spacing relative to different size tubes to be cleaned. The carriages are mounted on respective tracks for reversibly traversing the tube bundle in repeated cycles to clean a selected swath of the bundle. When the selected swath is cleaned, the tube bundle is rotated to another angular position by the power rollers for cleaning of another swath. The process is repeated until the entire tube bundle is cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: Gilbert L. Mains, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4503811
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deslagging boilers and the like while steaming, wherein a quenching-type stream of water is first applied to the outer surface of the hot slag to induce the formation of fissures by embrittlement and contraction of the slag and thereafter while the fissures are still present the fissured surface of the slag is impacted by a high velocity pulsed jet which drives water into the fissures, whereby dislodging of the slag is aided by the expansive force of water which vaporizes in the fissures. A generally conventional blower is illustrated, equipped with dual liquid supply and projecting means, and pulsing mechanism for interrupting the flow of blowing medium to one of the projecting means, to create the pulsed jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Charles W. Hammond
  • Patent number: 4443908
    Abstract: A sewer cleaning vehicle has a swilling or clean water tank for supplying a sewer cleaning hose having a sewer cleaning nozzle and designed to be lowered into a sewer to be cleaned, a waste tank and a pumping connection joining the waste tank with the swilling water tank. Furthermore, there is a water cleaning unit as part of a system for topping up the swilling water tank with water from the waste tank. For producing a high level of setling effect in the swilling water tank, this tank has generally upright separating walls for causing a division into a number of spaces placed hydraulically in series, the most upstream space being that joined up with the pumping connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Inventor: Karl Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 4422210
    Abstract: With the object of reducing handling time in connection with the internal cleaning of recently drawn metal tubes and with the further object to reduce consumption of cleaning agents and obtaining a well cleaned internal surface a number of tubes (14) is gathered immediately after the drawing installation and they are connected to connecting means (16, 17) for cleaning fluids. The installation comprises a container (22) for chlorinated hydrocarbon and a container (31) for alkali solution with complex formers as additives, a steam generator (28) and preferably also a container (37) for de-ionized water.A control device (21) is programmed to arrange that the tubes are first flushed with chlorinated hydrocarbon, whereafter the tubes are blown clean with steam. The tubes are flushed with alkali solution after the blowing operation. The tubes are finally submitted to flushing with deionized water and drying with compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Goteborgs Maskinkonsult Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Arne Bergsand, Henryk Marsland
  • Patent number: 4322868
    Abstract: A sewer and catch basin cleaner includes a system for injecting water under pressure into a sewer for cleaning same and a vacuum loading system for removing water and debris from the sewer catch basin. The cleaner includes a water storage tank for providing the cleaning water and a body for receiving the material removed from the catch basin or manhole. A water reclamation system is provided for replenishing the water tank from the body to facilitate uninterrupted operation of the device. The cleaner further includes a system for directing water from the body to the catch basin when sufficient water is in the water tank and a sensing arrangement for automatically keeping the desired amount of water in the respective containers. The body of the sewer cleaner of the present invention also includes a tailgate and an ejector plate for pushing debris from the body when cleaning is completed or when the body is full of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Super Products Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Wurster
  • Patent number: 4234980
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for cleaning a sewer or other chamber. The apparatus includes a wheeled vehicle having a frame. A water reservoir tank is mounted near the front of the vehicle frame and is adapted to hold a supply of water. A hose unit is mounted at the rear of the vehicle frame. The hose unit has a hose connected to the water reservoir tank and adapted to be inserted into the chamber to discharge water into the chamber. A debris holding tank is mounted on the vehicle frame between the water reservoir tank and the hose unit. The debris holding tank is adapted to receive and hold debris. A boom is mounted on top of the debris holding tank and adapted to extend rearwardly over the hose unit. The boom has a conduit connected to the debris holding tank and adapted to be lowered into the chamber to be cleaned to transport material from the chamber into the debris holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Aquatech, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo DiVito, Benjamin P. Fisco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4216910
    Abstract: Pipes, coated with paraffin, scale or otherwise, are cleaned by internally spraying the pipe with a conic sheet of paraffin solvent or scale remover or other fluid. The reaction of the discharge of the sheet of fluid is the propelling force for advancing the nozzle through the opening. An axial jet of fluid clears the tube in front of the nozzle so that the nozzle can advance through the tube. The conic sheet is formed by a pair of sleeves around a mandrel, the sleeves meeting with correlative conic surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Inventor: Wade L. Kimbrough
  • Patent number: 4207647
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus for cleaning sewers, catch basins and the like includes a debris collection chamber mounted on the rear of a vehicular chassis. A vacuum conduit communicates with the chamber and is adapted to be lowered into the sewer. A vacuum fan also communicates with the chamber and draws air through the conduit and chamber thereby picking up debris from the sewer. As the debris enters the chamber, the configuration thereof creates a rapid decrease in the air flow velocity and otherwise interrupts the flow so that material entrained in the air is deposited in the chamber. The configuration of the chamber also permits facile discharge of the debris out of the bottom of the chamber in that one end wall of the chamber is swingable to open the bottom thereof. This same end wall also carries a hose reel for use in flushing the sewer. Because the debris which is picked up may well include water, means are provided to drain the water from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: McNeil Corporation
    Inventor: Philip C. Masters
  • Patent number: 4199837
    Abstract: A sewer cleaning unit is disclosed which comprises a single tank assembly mounted on a wheeled vehicle. The single tank assembly has a substantially horizontal fixed divider forming a first tank portion adapted to carry and discharge a supply of water, and a second tank portion adapted to receive and hold debris, thus obviating the disadvantages of tank designs of the prior art. The unit may also be provided with hand-operated control means near the intake end of the conduit connected to the second tank portion and a control means connected to the reel for the hose from which water is discharged from the first tank portion, the reel control means and the hand-operated control means capable of being operated simultaneously by a single operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: Aquatech, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin P. Fisco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4157096
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning pipe ends having a closed system, for recycling cleaning fluid by removing contaminants, which includes independently positionable pin end and box end wash heads each of which can be used alone or simultaneously with the other; each wash head providing a high pressure spray of cleaning fluid impinging on the exposed threads of the pipe end being washed within a sealed wash chamber formed by the wash head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: John A. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4134174
    Abstract: A sewer and catch basin cleaner includes a system for injecting water under pressure into a sewer lateral for cleaning same and a vacuum loading system for removing the cleaning water and resultant debris from the sewer catch basin or manhole. The cleaner includes a water storage tank for providing the cleaning water and a body for receiving the liquid and debris removed from the catch basin or manhole. Water filtration and reclamation means are provided intermediate the body and water tank to provide a continuous supply of cleaning water without the need for interrupting operation of the cleaner to load water. This feature reduces the total amount of clean water which is consumed during sewer cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Super Products Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Flynn, James C. Wurster
  • Patent number: 4110092
    Abstract: A cooling method and apparatus wherein in the process of continuously hardening a metal pipe by heating the metal pipe as it passes through a heating unit and then cooling the inner surface of the metal pipe, an annular cooling nozzle having a large number of nozzle openings is placed in the metal pipe, and the spray direction of jets of cooling medium from the nozzle openings is selected so as to maintain a dip angle of between 30.degree. and 70.degree. and a transversal angle of between 30.degree. and 90.degree. and either cooling water or a mixture of cooling water and compressed air is sprayed with a jet velocity of greater than 5 meters per second onto a large number of points on the circumference of the inner wall of the metal pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kunioka, Takao Noguchi, Hiroaki Sato
  • Patent number: 4025360
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for injecting foam into a pipeline. Foam is produced and delivered under pressure to the inlet of a flexible foam-conducting tube. An inflatable plug slidably encircles the tube, so that the tube can be adjusted to extend any desired distance beyond the plug. The plug can be enlarged by inflation to bear against the wall of the pipe and also against the wall of the tube, so as to prevent the foam from flowing back beyond the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Airrigation Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick F. Horne, Gerald G. Vanderlans