Air Blast Only (e.g., Boiler Soot-blower) Patents (Class 15/316.1)
  • Patent number: 11262146
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soot blower including: a lance tube which includes one end that reciprocally moves in one direction on a surface of an inlet port of a flow path of the tubular heat exchanger; a drive unit which is connected to the lance tube and reciprocally moves and rotates the lance tube in the one direction; a first nozzle which is connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges steam to the inlet port; and a second nozzle which is disposed adjacent to the first nozzle and connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges solid particles to the inlet port, and the present disclosure relates to a method of cleaning a tubular heat exchanger by using the soot blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GEESCO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung-Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 10857981
    Abstract: A vehicle rinsing assembly includes at least one blower unit having a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet is in communication with a motor unit to draw air into the housing. The rinsing assembly also includes a fluid nozzle disposed on the blower unit and in communication with a fluid source to direct fluid onto the vehicle exterior. The rinsing assembly includes an actuator in communication with the at least one blower unit to direct air emitted from the air outlet in different preselected directions with respect to the vehicle exterior. The rinsing assembly is in communication with a controller such that air from the air outlet and fluid from the fluid nozzle are emitted simultaneously onto the vehicle exterior surface to remove excess water therefrom. The controller is also in communication with the actuator to vary the direction of air flow in response to a location of the vehicle with respect to the at least one blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: PISTON OPW, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner, Jerry A. Kotrych
  • Patent number: 10696278
    Abstract: A vehicle wash system having an entrance end, an exit end, and a vehicle treatment area. The system including a dryer element disposed on a frame adjacent the exit end. The dryer element includes an air inlet, a plurality of air outlets, and a housing constructed of a translucent material. The dryer element includes light source disposed in the housing and configured to emit light in a plurality of different colors. The light source has a plurality of modes each corresponding to a different system condition. The system also includes a controller in communication with the light source and configured to enable the plurality of modes in response to a detected system condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PISTON OPW, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. Belanger
  • Patent number: 10605529
    Abstract: An installation has a process chamber defining an inner space having a tunnel-like form defining a receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has a portal for the supply or discharge of workpieces and has a device for introducing gaseous fluid into the inner space. The device has a nozzle for producing a fluid stream curtain between the portal and the receiving region. A device supplies fresh air introduced into the receiving region at a side of the fluid stream curtain facing away from the portal. The installation has a pivotable guide contour projecting into the inner space and the nozzle or aperture is in the form of a slot which supplies the gaseous fluid to the inner space via the ceiling with a flow direction oblique relative to the floor. The gaseous fluid supplied via the nozzle to the inner space is guided on the guide contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Duerr Systems AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Wieland, Oliver Iglauer, Christof Knuesel, Marius Winkler
  • Patent number: 10508658
    Abstract: An air flow controller for an air cleaner and an air cleaner are provided. The air flow controller may include a fan, and a housing, the fan being provided in the housing and the housing being movable from an initial horizontal position in which the air flow controller directs air flow in a vertical direction to an inclined position in which the air flow controller directs air flow in a diagonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaekyun Park, Hyunpil Ha, Soonki Jung, Yeongcheol Mun, Soohyun Bae
  • Patent number: 10501849
    Abstract: The film forming apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate subjected to film forming processing can be placed, a gas supplier provided in an upper part of the reaction chamber, having a portion where gas is introduced and gas supply holes to face the substrate, a source-gas introducing line introducing a source gas into the gas supplier, a replacement-gas introducing line introducing a replacement gas into the gas supplier, a discharge line discharging the replacement gas along with a remaining source gas which is the source gas remaining in the gas supplier from the gas supplier; and a controller controlling one of an introduction amount of the replacement gas and a discharge amount of the remaining source gas and the replacement gas to be an amount corresponding to the other amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Daigo, Kiyotaka Miyano
  • Patent number: 10476416
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the direction of a defrost device for refrigeration coils includes measuring the current drawn by or the torque produced by a permanent magnet motor, wherein the permanent magnet motor powers a defrost device recurrently back and forth along refrigeration coils and reverses the direction of the permanent magnet motor when the measured current drawn or measured torque produced are at or above a first limit. The method omits the use of switches and sensors to signal when the defrost device is reversed to reduce failures and stoppages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Harrell, Alan McGinnis, John D. Woodburn
  • Patent number: 10093285
    Abstract: A lighted dryer assembly for a vehicle wash system including a housing portion, having a head portion, a body portion, and an outlet portion. The head portion includes an air inlet portion for drawing air into the head portion and an outlet for passing the air to the body portion. The outlet portion has a plurality of exit nozzles that are configured to emit high velocity air therefrom for removing water from an exterior surface of a vehicle while disposed in a vehicle treatment area. The body portion includes an upper portion where air is received from the head portion and a lower portion disposed remote from the upper portion. A light source is disposed within the housing portion and configured to emit light that can be seen by a vehicle disposed in the vehicle treatment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: WashMe Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner, David L. Tognetti
  • Patent number: 9989323
    Abstract: A method for automatically cleaning a vehicle's heat exchanger or air filter is provided. In use, once the system determines that the heat exchanger/air filter should be cleaned, for example based on total operational time or the number of use cycles or air flow, the system temporarily reverses the direction of the corresponding fan assembly, thereby reversing the flow of air through the heat exchanger/air filter and forcing out dust, dirt and other debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9802580
    Abstract: A vehicle wash component for a vehicle wash system, including a frame portion and an air delivery portion disposed on the air delivery portion. The air delivery portion is configured to emit high velocity air onto a vehicle exterior. A fluid delivery portion is disposed on the frame portion. The fluid delivery portion is configured to emit high pressure fluid onto the vehicle exterior. The fluid delivery portion is disposed rearward from the air delivery portion with respect to a direction of travel of a vehicle. The air delivery portion and the fluid delivery portion are configured to emit the high velocity air and the high pressure fluid onto the vehicle exterior simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: WashMe Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Turner, Michael J. Belanger, David L. Tognetti, Mark D. Morin
  • Patent number: 9625223
    Abstract: A self-cleaning fan assembly is provided that can be used to automatically clean the assembly's heat exchanger or air filter. In use, once the system determines that the heat exchanger/air filter should be cleaned, for example based on the total operational time or the number of use cycles for the system, or based on the air flow passing through the heat exchanger/air filter, the controller temporarily reverses the direction of the fan, thereby reversing the flow of air through the heat exchanger/air filter and forcing out dust, dirt and other debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20150075566
    Abstract: A method of controlling adherence of microparticles to a substrate to be processed includes applying voltage to an electrostatic chuck configured to electrostatically attract the substrate to be processed in a processing container before the substrate to be processed is carried into the processing container; and, after the applying of voltage to the electrostatic chuck, carrying the substrate to be processed into the processing container. Further, in the applying of voltage to the electrostatic chuck, the voltage is applied to the electrostatic chuck to reduce a potential difference between a focus ring and the substrate to be processed, the focus ring being provided to surround the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takehiro Tanikawa, Kazuki Moyama
  • Publication number: 20150075557
    Abstract: Cleaning mechanisms for optical elements are disclosed herein. Example apparatus disclosed herein to clean an optical element can include a cover positionable over a first side of the optical element. In some examples, the cover is controllable to transition between a first position and a second position. For example, the cover can form a gap between a first side of the optical element and the cover when the cover is in the first position, and the cover can provide the optical element with access to a field-of-view when the cover is in the second position. Such example apparatus can also include a flushing assembly controllable to inject cleaning fluid into the gap when the cover is in the first position. In some examples, the flushing assembly also includes a valve that is controllable to permit the cleaning fluid to exit the gap after having been injected into the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Theodorus Tjhang
  • Publication number: 20150059810
    Abstract: An improved apparatus, system, and method for removing debris from lightweight components are disclosed. The improved apparatus can include an air mover, a cyclonic chamber in fluid communication with the air mover, an enclosure component operably attached with the cyclonic chamber, and a debris collection component in fluid communication with the cyclonic chamber. The lightweight components positioned inside the cyclonic chamber can be moved, rotated, or carried by cyclonic airflow, causing the lightweight components to hit against one another or against the sidewall, so as to separate the debris clung thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: GARLOCK PIPELINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ian W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150013097
    Abstract: A snow and ice removal system for removing frozen precipitation from an exterior surface of a vehicle, including a base including a device for pressurizing air and a conduit for conveying pressurized air from the device to an upper exterior surface of a vehicle. The system is portable and self-contained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Calvin W. ROTH, Henry THISSEN
  • Patent number: 8924024
    Abstract: A controller determines and adjusts system parameters, including cleanliness levels or sootblower operating settings, that are useful for maintaining the cleanliness of a fossil fuel boiler at an efficient level. Some embodiments use a direct controller to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower operating settings. Some embodiments use an indirect controller, with a system model, to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower settings. The controller may use a model that is, for example, a neural network, or a mass energy balance, or a genetically programmed model. The controller uses input about the actual performance or state of the boiler for adaptation. The controller may operate in conjunction with a sootblower optimization system that controls the actual settings of the sootblowers. The controller may coordinate cleanliness settings for multiple sootblowers and/or across a plurality of heat zones in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Curt Lefebvre, Daniel W. Kohn
  • Patent number: 8864913
    Abstract: A filter cleaning system for cleaning a filter element is provided. The filter cleaning system includes a set of pulse nozzles and a compressed air supply, which rotate together during a cleaning cycle to release pulse blasts at predetermined time intervals to clean the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: United Air Specialists, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Haynam, Matt Stehlin, Cathy Haglund
  • Patent number: 8858730
    Abstract: A beverage can cleaning apparatus for cleaning beverage cans before they are dispensed from vending machines. The apparatus has a can holder, a hinged platform, tubes, a first nozzle, a second nozzle and a sensing block that matches the profile of the can top periphery. The sensing block is depressed a compressed distance, the distance being dependent on the orientation of the can, and cleaning fluid or compressed air is selectively directed through the first or second nozzle. Subsequent to air or cleaning fluid being dispensed against the top of the beverage can, the can holder releases the hinged platform sending the beverage can into the vending machine's dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Chapman
  • Patent number: 8844094
    Abstract: Tubes are used to perform a focused cleaning of a sensor tip. By surrounding the tip with burn-off “jets,” the tip is invariably cleaned by a purge procedure even when strong atmosphere currents are present in a furnace. In dirty environments, an additional purge port, without a focused tube, is used to ensure cleaning of the upper portion of the sheath to prevent soot causing seizure of a sensor element. Alternatively, a means for saturating a sensor's active element with cleaning air is provided, such that a single tube directs air into a multi-port ring at a sensor's tip or into the tip of a sheath, which has channels/holes directing air for purposes of saturating the tip from multiple directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Process Control Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Boltz, Justin Matthew Clark
  • Publication number: 20140283878
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nozzle cleaning unit includes: a cleaning nozzle unit; a gas supply unit; and a regulator. The cleaning nozzle unit has a first ejection hole that opens in a ring shape to an inner wall surface of an insertion part into which the nozzle is inserted. The gas supply unit supplies gas to the first ejection hole. The regulator reduces a pressure of an atmosphere of the insertion part on a side opposite a side in which the nozzle is inserted, sandwiching a position where the first ejection hole is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichi OOSHIRO, Tsuyoshi Sato, Hiroaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8826488
    Abstract: A system for fluidizing ash in a duct of a selective catalytic reduction system. The system includes a duct, a source for generating compressed air, and an air injection header joined with the source and joined with the duct via one or more holes in the duct. The air injection header is adapted to inject compressed air from the source to the areas of the duct prone to dust build-up. The air injection header includes a sub-header joined with a plurality of injection lances. Each of the plurality of injection lances has an end nozzle. The end nozzle may have a mushroom cap or an angled end configuration to direct air in a particular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Michael G. Varner
  • Patent number: 8806773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for folding an airbag (1) for placement in an airbag module for a motor vehicle. The method involves folding the airbag (1), exposing the airbag (1) to moisture, compressing the airbag (1), and simultaneously extracting the moisture. Moisture in liquid or vapor form can be introduced before or after folding the airbag. Further disclosed is a device for folding the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Raimund Nebel, Oliver Adolph, Jürgen Mackensen
  • Patent number: 8756827
    Abstract: The current invention discloses a novel spray booth containing a plurality of spacers disposed on the walls or ceiling, and a plurality of fans attached to the spacers. A spacer allows a fan to be disposed at an angle and at a certain distance away from the wall or ceiling, allowing sufficient airflow for spraying or curing an object within the housing. Having fans emit airflow toward both the top and the sides of an object allows optimal coating and heating of the object. A ceiling fan may also be disposed within a plenum in the ceiling of the spray booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Paint Booth Guys, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Calabro, James P. Calabro
  • Publication number: 20140047664
    Abstract: A screen intake system has a body with an open end and a chamber. A flat screen is disposed at the open end of the body. To keep the screen clear of debris, an airburst system has pipes disposed in the chamber. The pipes dispose parallel to one another adjacent the flat screen, and each of the pipes has orifices in a side facing the flat screen. Directors are disposed along the backs of the pipes in a lattice, and each of the directors has a channel in which the pipe disposes. Compressed air released by valves from a tank dispersed from the pipe's orifices. Each of the directors directs the resulting water/airburst from the orifices toward the adjacent flat screen to clear it of debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Bilfinger Water Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Schuler, Michael Ekholm
  • Patent number: 8621707
    Abstract: A vehicle wash system may have a drying station that may have a frame and a blower mounted on the frame. The blower may be used blowing liquid from the surface of a vehicle and may have a plenum with a cavity opening, an exit port, and an interior cavity. An impeller may be positioned inside the cavity, and when driven by a motor, may be operable to draw air into the cavity compress the air, and then emit an airflow from the plenum through the exit port. The blower may have an inlet region formed proximate the cavity opening and be in communication with the cavity. The inlet region may have a generally tubular inlet opening. A movement apparatus may be provided that is movable axially relative to the inlet opening to vary the size of the tubular inlet opening. The system may also include a sensor system operable to detect the presence and/or absence of a vehicle at drying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ryco Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. MacNeil
  • Patent number: 8613147
    Abstract: A support having an inverted U-shape defining a top plenum for distributing air and extending along a top plenum axis and a pair of legs extending downwardly from the top plenum in a spaced and parallel relationship. The top plenum of the support defines an attachment opening at an attachment angle. A bag extends downwardly at the attachment angle from the top plenum to a distal end in an inflated position. A nozzle is disposed the distal end of the bag to define a nozzle opening extending along a nozzle plane. The bag includes a major length and a curved portion. The curved portion of the bag includes a minor length and a filler length. The filler length positions the nozzle to be slanted open at a first nozzle acute angle of 20° forwardly in the inflated position and at a second nozzle acute angle of 20° rearwardly in an up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventors: Lucian G. McElroy, Christopher P. McElroy
  • Patent number: 8578551
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of rebuilding a sootblowing system of a recovery furnace, said sootblowing system including a plurality of sootblowers (1), and each sootblower (1) including a frame (10), a moveable carriage (14) supported by the frame (10), a motor (2) for moving the carriage (14), a lance tube (11) mounted on the carriage (14) to be insertable into and retractable from the recovery furnace (8), said lance tube (11) having at least one nozzle (12), and a steam feed tube (45, 35, 15) connected to the lance tube (11) for feeding sootblowing steam to be ejected through said at least one nozzle (12) into the recovery furnace, said steam feed tube (45, 35, 15) having a first valve (3) arranged to admit steam through said at least one nozzle (12) only when the carriage with the lance tube (11) is in an activated position, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Soottech Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Erik Dahlén, Daniel Eliasson
  • Patent number: 8499409
    Abstract: A cleaning device (1) for hose filters comprising a cleaning head (5) having at least one nozzle (11) rotating about a longitudinal axis (L), is characterized in that the cleaning head (5) comprises a fixed jacket (15) having a smooth outer surface which surrounds the at least one rotating nozzle (11) at a distance and in which a series of through holes (17) are formed, said holes being distributed over the circumference of the jacket (15) and being arranged with respect to each nozzle (11) such that a jet emerging from each nozzle (11) during operation can pass through a through hole (17) at least intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Christian Reining
  • Patent number: 8499410
    Abstract: A deposit removing device capable of efficiently removing deposit on a plate-like member such as a metal plate or resin plate by reducing a spacing distance between the plate-like member and an injection nozzle, and also capable of coping with the removal of deposit on the plate-like member rolled or conveyed at a high speed. This deposit removing device removes the deposit adhered to the plate-like member (T) by jetting compressed air from at least one jetting hole (101) of a nozzle body (100) in which the at least one jetting hole (101) is formed. This device is configured so that the nozzle body (100) is supported so as to be movable in a direction (W1) substantially perpendicular to the surfaces (T1 and T2) of the plate-like member (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Kenichi Uesugi, Taisuke Miyazono, Koichi Honke, Toru Okada
  • Patent number: 8498746
    Abstract: A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert James, John McDermott, Stephen Piche, Fred Pickard, Neel J. Parikh
  • Patent number: 8447431
    Abstract: A controller determines and adjusts system parameters, including cleanliness levels or sootblower operating settings, that are useful for maintaining the cleanliness of a fossil fuel boiler at an efficient level. Some embodiments use a direct controller to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower operating settings. Some embodiments use an indirect controller, with a system model, to determine cleanliness levels and/or sootblower settings. The controller may use a model that is, for example, a neural network, or a mass energy balance, or a genetically programmed model. The controller uses input about the actual performance or state of the boiler for adaptation. The controller may operate in conjunction with a sootblower optimization system that controls the actual settings of the sootblowers. The controller may coordinate cleanliness settings for multiple sootblowers and/or across a plurality of heat zones in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Curt Lefebvre, Daniel W. Kohn
  • Patent number: 8419862
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for at least partially removing a contamination layer (15) from an optical surface (14a) of an EUV-reflective optical element (14) by bringing a cleaning gas into contact with the contamination layer. In the method, a jet (20) of cleaning gas is directed to the contamination layer (15) for removing material from the contamination layer (15). The contamination layer (15) is monitored for generating a signal indicative of the thickness of the contamination layer (15) and the jet (20) of cleaning gas is controlled by moving the jet (20) of cleaning gas relative to the optical surface (14a) using this signal as a feedback signal. A cleaning arrangement (19 to 24) for carrying out the method is also disclosed. The invention also relates to a method for generating a jet (20) of cleaning gas and to a corresponding cleaning gas generation arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH, ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Heinrich Ehm, Arnold Storm, Johannes Hubertus Josephina Moors, Bastiaan Theodoor Wolschrijn, Thomas Stein, Edwin te Sligte
  • Patent number: 8239998
    Abstract: A modular canopy having standardized side panels, trusses and tracks. The modular canopy includes parallel opposing sidewalls formed from multiple standardized side panels. Each sidewall extends from a front mounting structure to a rear mounting structure and carries a track that typically extends the almost entire length of the sidewall for supporting the carriage of the sootblower within the canopy. Trusses connect adjacent side panels together and extend from one sidewall to the other over the top of the sidewalls. The modular canopy may also include standardized removable or permanently attached covers. The canopy is typically assembled with permanent fasteners, such as lockbolts, that cannot be removed without destroying the fasteners. A sootblower canopy of any desired length can therefore be manufactured or repaired from a common set of component parts with one of the sections, typically an end section, cut to the desired length as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Clyde Berhemann, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Schwade, Steve Weinkle, Tony Watkins
  • Patent number: 8220420
    Abstract: A system and associated method for removing accumulated debris from a surface of a vessel. The system includes an impulse cleaning device defining a combustion chamber in which combustible fuel and air are mixed and ignited to produce combustion that is directed at the surface to be cleaned within the vessel, and an eductor assembly surrounding a downstream end of the chamber for inducting surrounding atmosphere into the combustion to widen the area being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Warren Taylor, David Chapin, Terry Farmer, James Easel Roberts
  • Patent number: 8056180
    Abstract: A mobile leaf blower includes a main blower assembly driven by an engine or motor. The blower has a deflector box at the blower outlet with deflector plates which enable the air flow to be either directed laterally and forwardly of the blower unit or to a flexible blower tube attached to the unit. The operator may either cause the air flow to flow through the flexible blower tube or forwardly and laterally of the blower unit along the ground. When not in use, the flexible blower tube can be wound around a hose reel attached to the main handles of the ground blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ariens Company
    Inventor: Fernando R. Iacona
  • Publication number: 20110061611
    Abstract: A sootblower isolation wall box provided for sealing the wall box opening of a large scale boiler to provide sootblower lance tube access to the boiler. The wall box assembly includes a clamping seal assembly having radial sealing segments which are individually actuated. Applying fluid pressure to actuating cylinders causes the seal segments to be clamped against the outer circumference of the sootblower lance tube. During cleaning cycles, the segments are actuated to provide a radial clearance with the lance tube. Preferably, the clamping seal assembly is used in connection with another seal assembly which is relied upon to provide sealing during the cleaning steps. In a preferred embodiment, the additional seal assembly is in the form of a labyrinth-type seal assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen L. Shover, Tony F. Habib, Dennis K. McDonald
  • Patent number: 7891323
    Abstract: A boiler of a combustion plant has at least one heat exchanging device which can be traversed by a medium from an inlet to an outlet and is held in the interior of the boiler by means of at least one suspension device, wherein means for determining the temperature of the medium are provided at least at the inlet or at the outlet, and the at least one suspension device has means for determining the weight of the at least one heat exchanging device. Also proposed are a cleaning control device, a cleaning method and a method for operating a combustion plant which permit a considerable reduction in the cleaning expenditure, so that maintenance costs can be kept low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Clyde Bergemann GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Frach, Bernd Mussmann
  • Patent number: 7890214
    Abstract: A statistical process control system employs a consistent soot blowing operation for a heat exchange section of, for example, a fuel burning boiler, collects heat absorption data for the heat exchange section and analyzes the distribution of the heat absorption data as well as various parameters of the heat absorption distribution to readjust the soot blowing operation. The statistical process control system may set a desired lower heat absorption limit and a desired upper heat absorption limit and compare them, respectively, with an actual lower heat absorption limit and an actual upper heat absorption limit to determine the readjustment to be made to the soot blowing operation. Alternatively, the statistical process control system may be used to determine permanent slagging of the heat exchange section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Francino, Xu Cheng
  • Patent number: 7865996
    Abstract: A sootblower of the short travel rotary furnace wall type having features which permit indexing of the angular position of the screw tube assembly during successive operating cycles. Indexing of the arc swept by the sootblower nozzle is provided through the use of a novel cam plate component and operating the sootblower in a manner which provides for indexing between operating cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Diamond Power International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Elder, James H. Hipple, Michael P. Michael, Robert W. Honaker
  • Publication number: 20100275404
    Abstract: A method for removing hot gas deposits from a system via pressure pulses is provided. The method includes regulating a flow of a mixture of detonation fluid and oxidizer into an expansion chamber; and generating a detonation within the expansion chamber by igniting the mixture of detonation fluid and oxidizer in the expansion chamber producing a high-pressure wave, the high-pressure wave propagating along a fluid path of the system in a supersonic rate removing hot gas deposits in the fluid path while the system is in fired operation, the expansion chamber directing the high-pressure wave towards the fluid path of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Geoffrey David Myers, Michael John Hughes, Atul Kumar Vij
  • Publication number: 20100064470
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of rebuilding a sootblowing system of a recovery furnace, said sootblowing system including a plurality of sootblowers (1), and each sootblower (1) including a frame (10), a moveable carriage (14) supported by the frame (10), a motor (2) for moving the carriage (14), a lance tube (11) mounted on the carriage (14) to be insertable into and retractable from the recovery furnace (8), said lance tube (11) having at least one nozzle (12), and a steam feed tube (45, 35, 15) connected to the lance tube (11) for feeding sootblowing steam to be ejected through said at least one nozzle (12) into the recovery furnace, said steam feed tube (45, 35, 15) having a first valve (3) arranged to admit steam through said at least one nozzle (12) only when the carriage with the lance tube (11) is in an activated position, i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SOOTTECH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Erik Dahlén, Daniel Eliasson
  • Patent number: 7621019
    Abstract: A blower apparatus has a blower housing having a blower intake. A motor-driven blower is arranged in the blower housing and takes in air in a flow direction through the blower intake into the blower housing. A device for mechanical clearing of the blower intake is arranged at the blower intake. The mechanical clearing device is driven in rotation during operation of the blower apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Kremsler, Michael Hocquel, Klaus Langhans, Helmut Swistun, Uwe Gaese
  • Publication number: 20090235554
    Abstract: A vehicle wash system may have a drying station that may have a frame and a blower mounted on the frame. The blower may be used blowing liquid from the surface of a vehicle and may have a plenum with a cavity opening, an exit port, and an interior cavity. An impeller may be positioned inside the cavity, and when driven by a motor, may be operable to draw air into the cavity compress the air, and then emit an airflow from the plenum through the exit port. The blower may have an inlet region formed proximate the cavity opening and be in communication with the cavity. The inlet region may have a generally tubular inlet opening. A movement apparatus may be provided that is movable axially relative to the inlet opening to vary the size of the tubular inlet opening. The system may also include a sensor system operable to detect the presence and/or absence of a vehicle at drying station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Daniel J. MacNeil
  • Patent number: 7591041
    Abstract: A pneumatic cleaning module for a magnetic ruler of a position measurement system is combined with a displacement transducer of the position measurement system by a screw so that when the displacement transducer moves along the magnetic ruler, the pneumatic cleaning module implements a high-pressure air to remove swarf, dirt and impurities from a surface of the magnetic ruler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventor: Don-Hua Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090229068
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel has an elongate combustion conduit extending from an upstream end to a downstream end. The downstream end is associated with an aperture in the wall of the vessel and is positioned to direct a shockwave toward the surface. At least one hanger supports the combustion conduit at least one location along a length of the combustion conduit. A penetration conduit is positioned between the wall aperture and an associated portion of the combustion conduit. Means couple the combustion conduit to the penetration conduit so as to accommodate relative longitudinal movement and/or relative angular movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SHOCKSystem, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond N. Henderson, Kirk R. Lupkes
  • Publication number: 20090229792
    Abstract: A method of in situ scale removal from a heat exchange body suspended in a wet cooling tower, wherein the method generates at least one air blast by means of a generator implementing controlled expansion via a nozzle of a mass of compressed gas in a nozzle towards a zone of the body, the generator being opened at a distance (H) from said zone, and the method consisting in repeating said operation after moving the generator under the body outside said zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Remi Gomez, Nicolas Laurent, Michel Degrange, Jean-Marc Meurville, Paule Blokbergen
  • Patent number: 7584521
    Abstract: A dust mitigation and cleaning system for cleaning a surface includes a system housing secured around at least a portion of a section including the surface to be cleaned. The system housing includes a hollow member extending within the system housing toward and in general alignment with the surface to be cleaned, where an outlet of the system housing is defined by the hollow member. A duct section is secured to a portion of the system housing and includes an inlet to receive a gaseous fluid, such as air from an ambient environment in which the system is disposed, and an outlet in communication with the system housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence T. Lobb, William T. Kornke, Wayne T. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7552504
    Abstract: A welding nozzle cleaning device includes a rotary hub and a plurality of flexible arms that extend outwardly from the hub. Each arm is formed of flexible resilient material and has an impact head at its distal end, the head being carried by the hub-and-arm assembly through a circular path of travel. As a welding nozzle to be cleaned is moved toward the cleaning device, the nozzle actuates a valve so as to provide pressurized air to the cleaning device, driving the head in the circular path, and to the welding nozzle, to blow dislodged material out of the nozzle. The arm is tubular and is bent so that its distal end defines an exhaust port that extends tangentially relative to the hub axis so that pressurized air passing through arm and out of the exhaust port drives the arms and hub about the hub axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: George W. Sorreles, Joel Valdez
  • Publication number: 20090064445
    Abstract: A pre-wash device for dishes and/or utensils includes a vacuum chamber comprising a collection vessel open to the vacuum chamber, a food material collection pan exhausting into the vacuum chamber at a location where material from the collection pan falls into the collection vessel at an end of the collection vessel open to the vacuum chamber, and a blower having an intake in the vacuum chamber and an exhaust directed and focused to force food material on plates and/or utensils into the collection pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Mark T. Arnold
    Inventor: Mark T. Arnold
  • Patent number: 7484316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle arrangement for a vehicle washing installation, a vehicle washing installation equipped with this nozzle arrangement, and to a method in which a drying nozzle (1) that can be rotated about a longitudinal axis (7) by a motor and two high-pressure hoses (2a, 2b) parallel to the longitudinal axis (7) are provided with several high-pressure nozzles (13a, 13b) for high-pressure cleaning. The high-pressure hoses (2a, 2b) are supported so that they can rotate about their longitudinal axes (8a, 8b) according to the invention and coupled to the drying nozzle (1) for common adjustment by means of a mechanism (14, 15a, 15b, 16; 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Wash Tec Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Wimmer, Norbert König