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.

Abstract: A sootblower to project a blowing medium into a boiler is disclosed herein. The sootblower includes a hub, in which a first end of the hub is configured to receive a lance and a second end of the hub is configured to receive the blowing medium. The sootblower further includes a drive assembly configured to convert bidirectional rotation from a drive shaft to bidirectional rotation for the hub. The drive assembly then includes a rotation delay mechanism configured to delay a transition between a first directional rotation and a second directional rotation of the bidirectional rotation for the hub with respect to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is transitioning from a first directional rotation to a second directional rotation of the bidirectional rotation for the hub.

Abstract: A sootblower to project a blowing medium into a boiler is disclosed herein. The sootblower includes a hub, a first motor, a second motor, a gear train, and a drive shaft. The hub comprises a first end to receive a lance and a second end to receive the blowing medium. Further, the gear train is configured to convert rotation of the first motor into rotation of the lance, and the drive shaft is configured to convert bidirectional rotation of the second motor into translational motion of the lance.

Abstract: A sootblower to project a blowing medium into a boiler and a method of cleaning a boiler using a sootblower are disclosed. The sootblower includes a hub disposed within a housing, in which ends of the hub are configured to receive a lance and the blowing medium. A drive shaft of the sootblower is then configured to rotate the lance with respect to the boiler in a rotational direction at a first ratio relative to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction, and is configured to rotate the lance with respect to the boiler in the rotational direction at a second ratio relative to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: Foreign objects such as carbide and so forth are prevented from being adhered, solidified, accumulated in the interior of a drying cauldron every time drying treatment of night soil is completed, and heat transfer by a cauldron bottom heater caused by the accumulation of foreign objects is not prevented, thereby smoothly implementing treatment of next cycle and succeeding treatment.

Abstract: A sootblower for cleaning a plurality of surfaces within an interior volume of a combustion device is provided. The sootblower includes a combustion assembly configured to generate a pressure wave and a delivery assembly having an outlet for delivering the pressure wave into the interior volume of the combustion device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for cleaning a lubricant for dry-type wire drawing. The apparatus comprises a case provided with a cover and piercing holes at opposite sides of the case such that a steel wire can pass through the case, a plurality of driving motors provided at one side of the exterior of the case, rotating members located at an inside of the case and connected to the driving motors, respectively, by belts serving to rotate them, support plates for supporting the rotating members, and cleaning members coupled to the rotating member and adapted to provide a path through which the steel wire passes. The dry lubricant on the surface of the steel wire can be effectively cleaned by friction between the lubricant on the steel wire and the cleaning members.

Abstract: A tabletop wood-waste-collecting machine includes a support frame, a machine base, a guide shade, a work faceplate and a dust-collecting unit. The machine base has its opposite upper side bored with plural transverse assistant guide grooves and its central portion bored with a longitudinal lower main guide groove communicating with a connecting opening in the front center. The guide shade covered on the lower main guide groove is formed with an upper guide groove. The work faceplate fixed on the topside of the machine base is bored with numerous wind-sucking vents. When the dust-collecting unit is started to operate, every wind-sucking vent of the work faceplate and the wind-sucking space in the machine base will receive a balanced suction force to let the wood waste produced completely sucked out.

Abstract: A valve plate (54) is slidably moved on a frame (52) by an actuator (62) between open and closed positions to control the supply of air sucked into the inlet (44) of a blower system (40) that supplies pressurized air through an outlet (46) to a plenum (12) for distribution to said nozzle (16, 18). By disposing the valve plate (54) at the inlet, the blower motor (49) may run continuously without a load as the impeller is not pumping air when there is no demand to blow the water from a vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic cleaning system includes a pressure tank and a pressurizer thermally coupled to the pressure tank that increases the pressure of air within the pressure tank based on transferring heat from absorbed solar energy to the air within the pressure tank. A release valve coupled to a jet directs expelled air based on a positive differential between an internal pressure of the pressure tank and an ambient pressure of an ambient environment.

Abstract: A tool and a process for removing particles from a reticle are described. The tool is disposed in front of a pellicle particle detector, including at least a gas spray member toward a surface of the reticle for removing particles and a supporting member supporting the gas spray member in front of the pellicle particle detector. The supporting member can further fix the tool onto the pellicle particle detector. In the particle removing process, when particles are detected on the reticle, the tool is turned on and the reticle is loaded into the pellicle particle detector through the gas spray member in order to remove the particles from the reticle before the pellicle particle detector detects the particles.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus has a compressor (12), an electromagnetic valve (33) connected to the compressor (12), and first to third timers (27 to 29). The first timer (27) sets an open/close time and a close time for repeatedly opening and closing an electromagnetic valve (33). The second timer (28) sets a time for feeding compressed air into a pipe (35). The third timer (29) stops the operation of the second timer (28) until an activation inhibition time elapses from a point at which the pressure of the compressed air has reached a predetermined upper limit, and further permits the operation of the second timer (28) after the activation inhibition time elapses.

Abstract: A debris blower apparatus for entrances to garages and working and living spaces comprises a blower assembly connected to an elongated nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly mounts to the floor or doorsill of the protected space and comprises a plurality of nozzles along the length of the nozzle assembly. The nozzles are positioned to direct air outward and upward from the entrance dislodge leaves, dirt and debris from a person or vehicle entering the space. The blower assembly is activated by opening the door or, alternatively, by manual operation of a switch.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus for the cleaning and maintenance of coal fired boilers, which is designed to operate in the high temperature environment of the combustion gasses to effectively clean and remove slag deposits of the boiler heat transfer surfaces by use of a precision directed, low pressure, low flow rate water stream. The robotic cleaning apparatus is comprised of lightweight carbon fiber structural elements, attached to the exterior of the boiler, and cooled by annular pressurized water sheaths impingent on a thin metal skin covering the lightweight structural elements. Multiple articulated joints allow for complete access to the heat transfer surfaces of the boiler. A variety of payloads can be delivered to specific points within the boiler, including imaging systems, cutting, and welding apparatuses. A mathematical state space control matrix allows for optimal positioning and feedback control of motions.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a heat exchanging coil in an air conditioning unit using a low-pressure cleaning system to remove foreign particles that have accumulated on the heat exchanging coil. The low-pressure cleaning system discharges air at a low pressure, high velocity, and a high volume in order to clean the heat exchanging coil. Further, the low-pressure cleaning system can inject a substance into the discharge air flow to aid in cleaning the heat exchanging coil.

Abstract: A retort cleaning apparatus 10 (RCA 10) comprising a blow-off nozzle (12) having an air inlet port (14) and an orifice (16). An air passage extension tube (22) has an inward coupler (24), and a heat-resistant outward coupler (26) that attaches to the air inlet port (14) on the blow-off nozzle (12). An air hose (42) has an air inlet coupler (44), and an air outlet coupler (46) that attaches to the inward coupler (24) on the air passage extension tube (22). An air compressor (60) has a compressed air fastener (62) that attaches to the air inlet coupler (44) on the air hose (42). The air compressor is equipped with a power switch (64) that controls the operation of an electrical motor (66). When the power switch is closed, power from a power source (80) is applied to the motor (66) which then allows pressurized air to flow through the air hose (42), the air passage extension tube (22), and into and out of the orifice (16) on the blow-off nozzle (12).

Abstract: Disclosed is a lance system for inter-tube inspecting and lancing as well as barrel spraying of heat transfer tubes of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant, so that foreign substances piled up around heat transfer tubes in the steam generator are removed using high-pressure water.

Abstract: A single motor rack and pinion driven sootblower is converted to a dual motor version. The single motor version includes a lance tube which is advanced and retracted transversely on a carriage and is further rotationally driven by a translational mechanical drive which rotates the lance tube as it is being axially driven. The conversion is accomplished by disengaging the translational drive by removing the original drive hub within the drive housing of the carriage and this original drive hub is substituted with a tubular rotary drive hub which is not in driving engagement with the translational drive when installed. A second rotational motor is then mounted on the carriage assembly and connected to externally exposed portions of the substitute hub through a gear drive for independently rotating the substitute hub and thereby independently rotating the lance tube about its axis.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a sootblower design incorporates a downstream nozzle positioned on a nozzle block body and an upstream nozzle positioned longitudinally from the position of the downstream nozzle farther from a distal end of the nozzle block than that of the downstream nozzle. The upstream nozzle has a geometry that is different than the geometry of the downstream nozzle. By having nozzles of different geometries, each nozzle can be individually optimized for the flow conditions each nozzle experiences.

Abstract: A test fixture for an electronic device is provided that removes debris from a socket of the test fixture using back side air blow off. In general, the test fixture includes a circuit board, a socket on a front side of the circuit board, and an air manifold on a back side of the circuit board. Pressurized air is provided to the air manifold through an air supply inlet coupling the air manifold to an external pressurized air supply. At least one via formed through the circuit board fluidly couples the air manifold on the back side of the circuit board to the socket on the front side of the circuit board. Accordingly, the pressurized air from the air manifold flows through the vias and up through the socket such that debris is removed from the socket.

Abstract: The sonic soot blower includes a sonic wave oscillator that oscillates sonic waves by compressed air or steam, a frequency-regulating portion that varies the frequencies of the sonic waves oscillated by the above-described sonic wave oscillator, a resonance tube that resonates the oscillated sonic waves, and a horn that amplifies the same, wherein powdery dust adhered to members installed inside a boiler furnace, etc., are removed, and are prevented from adhering to the above-described members. The above-described frequency-regulating portion is a gas mixer which is connected to the upstream side of the sonic wave oscillator and is provided with two or more gas conducting flow channels for conducting a compressive gas whose temperatures and/or densities are different from each other, or a slide mechanism that varies the length of the above-described resonance tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for keeping optical elements clean in motor vehicles, especially sensor or camera covers. This is done according to the present invention by applying a directed stream of gas, for example a stream of air, to the transparent cover in such a way that when the cover moves relative to the surroundings no ambient atmosphere, e.g., no ambient air, reaches the surface of the cover. According to one embodiment, by using a nozzle pressurized air is blown in, producing a transverse air stream. It is also possible, using a cover, to form a buffer space in front of the cover in addition to the transverse air stream. In a further refinement, a cleaning nozzle and a heater for the cover can be provided, in order to also be able to perform cleaning when soiling has occurred during stationary operation and to remove icing at low temperatures. To this end the cleaning fluid and/or the supplied air may also be pre-heated.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for purging unwanted gasses from the Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP). It consists of a purging wand which is inserted into the chamber for an optimal purge. The purging wand moves back and forth along a simple axis activated by a linkage robot. The wand is carried along a track with the FOUP and when its reaches its optimal position inside the FOUP, the source of cleaning gas is allowed to flow into and spray out of the wand thereby purging the FOUP. After the purging is completed, the linkage robot withdraws the wand from within the FOUP to its original position.

Abstract: An injection lance for injecting a fluid over a predefined target area within a system includes a support block with an inlet side and an outlet side. A plurality of channels are disposed non-parallel with respect to each other within the support block and extend between the inlet and outlet sides of the support block so as to receive fluid at the inlet side and deliver fluid through the support block for injection from the outlet side of the support block over the target area. At least two channels extend from the inlet side toward the outlet side in a direction away from a central axis of the support block, where the central axis intersects the outlet side. The target area includes a plurality of consecutively aligned sectors, and the channels are oriented within the support block so that a central axis of a fluid stream injected from each channel over the target area is centered between longitudinal boundaries defined by a respective sector.

Abstract: A bearing system for a water lance of a water lance blower contains a ball joint having a ball with a surface and a diameter. The ball further has a passage, on and/or in which the water lance can be disposed. The bearing system is characterized in that a ball seat is provided and contains two axially interspaced bearing shells each of which has an opening, whereby the ball protrudes at least partially into the openings. A method for operating the bearing system that seals gaps, which can occur as the ball rotates, between the surface of the ball and the spherical contact surface of the at least one bearing shell. The bearing shells enable the bearing system to be easily assembled, and the small contact surfaces reduce the amount of friction during operation. In addition, the bearing system is also suited for use as a seal.

Abstract: A multi-media rotating sootblower that includes multiple rotating and individually controlled cleaning fluid applicators, such a set of steam nozzles and two sets of water nozzles, and an automatic boiler cleaning system using these sootblowers. The boiler superheater typically includes a system of these sootblowers to clean a number of large platens that are arranged in rows. The boiler may also include additional boiler cleaning equipment, including water cannons to clean the furnace, and conventional steam sootblowers to clean other heat exchangers of the boiler. A number of sensors, including heat transfer gauges that measure the heat transfer at the furnace wall, strain gauges that measure the weight of slag deposits on platens, and boiler cameras are used to monitor slag accumulations within the boiler. A control system uses this sensor data to automatically operate the boiler cleaning system to implement an automatic boiler cleaning regimen.

Abstract: The compressor cleaning system includes a track mounted about the inlet of the compressor. A circumferential position assembly mounts an insertion drive assembly which is driven about the track into selected circumferential positions. The insertion drive assembly carries a manipulator arm assembly mounting at its distal end a cleaning head. By using pairs of control cables, the proximal yaw, pitch and distal yaw sections of the manipulator arm can be moved to weave the cleaning head past the multiple stages of blading to locate the cleaning head adjacent a selected blade. By repeated extension and retraction of the cleaning head relative to the compressor inlet and about the compressor blades, each blade can be cleaned without disassembly of the compressor casing or removal of the rotor.

Abstract: Overhead support system for carwash component comprising wall brackets having wall plates and support trays which extend outwardly therefrom to receive a crossbeam in nesting relationship therewith. Clamps are provided for securing the crossbeam to the support brackets in such a way that it is not necessary to drill or otherwise form holes in the crossbeam. In one embodiment blower/dryers are mounted to the crossbeam using clamp type brackets. In another embodiment longitudinal rails are clampingly mounted between two parallel spaced cross rails or beams to receive a longitudinally movable high pressure spray washer.

Abstract: A front opening unified pod for preventing the contamination of wafers due to outgassing. The front opening unified pod includes a front opening unified pod body and a cleaning apparatus. The front opening unified pod has an opening section and a base plate within the opening section and the base plate facing each other. The cleaning apparatus has at least an air-blasting element installed inside the front opening of the unified pod body. An air supplying system connected to the air-blasting element provides a stream of air.

Abstract: A valve plate (54) is slidably moved on a frame (52) by an actuator (62) between open and closed positions to control the supply of air sucked into the inlet (44) of a blower system (40) that supplies pressurized air through an outlet (46) to a plenum (12) for distribution to said nozzle (16, 18). By disposing the valve plate (54) at the inlet, the blower motor (49) may run continuously without a load as the impeller is not pumping air when there is no demand to blow the water from a vehicle.

Abstract: A single motor rack and pinion driven sootblower is converted to a dual motor version. The single motor version includes a lance tube which is advanced and retracted transversely on a carriage and is further rotationally driven by a translational mechanical drive which rotates the lance tube as it is being axially driven. The conversion is accomplished by disengaging the translational drive by removing the original drive hub within the drive housing of the carriage and this original drive hub is substituted with a tubular rotary drive hub which is not in driving engagement with the translational drive when installed. A second rotational motor is then mounted on the carriage assembly and connected to externally exposed portions of the substitute hub through a gear drive for independently rotating the substitute hub and thereby independently rotating the lance tube about its axis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new design of the nozzle and the lance tube of a sootblower to clean the interior of a heat exchanger by impingement of a jet of cleaning medium. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention the sootblower design developed, incorporates a nozzle at the tip of the distal end of the lance tube (downstream nozzle). The lance tube also includes an upstream nozzle positioned opposite and longitudinally apart the distal end nozzle. This design allows for the flow of the cleaning medium to enter into the inlet end of the nozzle without coming to a halt at the end of the lance tube. Further, the present invention also provides for a converging channel to be disposed in the interior of the lance tube to direct the flow of cleaning medium passing the upstream nozzle into the inlet end of the downstream nozzle with minimal hydraulic losses and flow maldistribution.

Abstract: Device (11) for driving a flexible lance (4) for cleaning a heat exchanger duct, provided with a frame (1) in which a drive (12) driving a flexible lance (4) is arranged for moving this flexible lance (4) in the direction of an outlet opening. The drive (12) is provided with a member (27) which can be clamped round the flexible lance (4) and which is movable in the frame (1) towards and away from this outlet opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sootblowing a recovery boiler. Sootblowers of the recovery boiler are divided into sootblowing groups, and a sootblowing interval is determined for the sootblowers. A fouling index is produced for each sootblowing group of the recovery boiler, and relative frequency values are calculated.

Abstract: The invention is a cleaning apparatus for cleaning elongated and cylindrical filters, commonly referred to as pleated bag filters or pleated bag replacements for fabric sock filter bags, that are open on one end and closed on the other end. The filter is being rotated within a hermetically sealed cleaning chamber, air jets are reciprocated along the length of the filter in close proximity to a circumference of the cylindrical filter. The cleaning chamber is provided with a negative air pressure while the interior of the rotating filter is supplied with a positive air pressure. The air jets tend to loosen and remove the dirt from within the pleats of the filter which dirt is carried away by the negative pressure within the cleaning chamber.

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 slate 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.

Abstract: A Hi Flow Air Fan Filter Cleaner Machine comprising of a retainer nut 1 that will lock the used air filter 2 to the air flow tube 3 which communicates with the high pressure air flow tube 4 attached to the hi flow fan 7 also a switch 8 to turn on and off the machine a vibrator 6 and a base 5 that supports this machine.

Abstract: An integral packing housing and packing material unit; a method for packing replacement, boiler cleaning; and a method for maintenance of a desired boiler output rating. The integral packing unit includes a housing for removably holding a sacrificial packing material that is configured to form a steam seal between a sootblower steam tube and lance spindle when the packing unit is installed in an operative position in association with the steam tube and the spindle and the packing material is loaded by applying compression to the packing material. A compression unit is typically coupled to the housing unit to apply such compression to load the packing material while the packing unit is installed in the operative position. The packing unit may also includes a detent mechanism, such set screws, for unloading the packing material to facilitate installing the packing unit on, and removing the packing unit from, the operative position.

Abstract: A multi-media rotating sootblower that includes multiple rotating and individually controlled cleaning fluid applicators, such a set of steam nozzles and two sets of water nozzles, and an automatic boiler cleaning system using these sootblowers. The boiler superheater typically includes a system of these sootblowers to clean a number of large platens that are arranged in rows. The boiler may also include additional boiler cleaning equipment, including water cannons to clean the furnace, and conventional steam sootblowers to clean other heat exchangers of the boiler. A number of sensors, including heat transfer gauges that measure the heat transfer at the furnace wall, strain gauges that measure the weight of slag deposits on platens, and boiler cameras are used to monitor slag accumulations within the boiler. A control system uses this sensor data to automatically operate the boiler cleaning system to implement an automatic boiler cleaning regimen.

Abstract: An apparatus and method useful for removing potential wafer-contaminating particles from semiconductor wafer pods. The apparatus includes a rotatable air sprinkler which is mounted in a housing and connected to a source of clean, dry air (CDA) . The air sprinkler rotates as the air is distributed under pressure through the sprinkler and ejected from nozzles in the sprinkler. The ejected air impinges against a semiconductor wafer pod placed on the housing, above the air sprinkler to dislodge or remove particulate contaminants from the pod and prevent or at least significantly reduce the likelihood of particle contamination during transport of the pod and/or processing of the wafers in the pod.

Abstract: A dry cleaning device, wherein a pad is moved towards a surface of a wafer, cleaning gas is injected into a space formed between the pad and the wafer to generate a high-speed gas flow along the surface of the wafer whereby particles left on the surface of the wafer are removed with the high-speed gas flow. In addition, in order to assist this physical cleaning action, either a chemical or an electrical cleaning method such as a plasma additionally may be used.

Abstract: A long retracting sootblower device for conducting different cleaning media types to the interior of a heat exchanger having a lance tube assembly (12), a feed tube, a carriage assembly (1), a first cleaning media supply, and a second cleaning media supply. The lance tube assembly includes a manifold (25), a hub (21) mounted to the manifold (25), a tube section (13) extending outward from the hub (21), and a nozzle assembly (18). The nozzle assembly includes nozzles (50, 52) adapted for directing a stream of cleaning media. The manifold (25) includes at least one cylindrical tube (32) with first and second ends, the first end (34) being permanently mounted to the manifold (25), and the second end (35) engaging the nozzle assembly (18). The manifold (25) and cylindrical tube (32) define a first high pressure passage for conducting cleaning media from the first cleaning media supply to the nozzle assembly (18).

Abstract: Apparatus for dislodging an accretion of a substance from the vicinity of a vessel, includes apparatus for generating gas-borne shock waves in the vicinity of a vessel, thereby to expose a substance accrued on a surface thereof to separation forces causing at least partial separation of the substance from the surface, so as to facilitate removal of the at least partially separated substance therefrom; and support apparatus for supporting the apparatus for generating shock waves in a selected association relative to the vessel.

Abstract: A method of transporting rod-shaped tobacco smoke filters, which carry solid particles, along an elongated path from a sender to a receiving station, includes transporting the filters from the sender to the receiving station through the predetermined portion of the path. A plurality of jets of a pressurized gaseous fluid is directed across a predetermined portion of the path to expel from the portion of the path solid particles which are separated or separable from the filters. The expelled particles are collected in a chamber outwardly adjacent the predetermined portion of the path. The collected particles are evacuated from the chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a cleaning apparatus for cleaning elongated and cylindrical filters, commonly referred to as pleated bag filters or pleated bag replacements for fabric sock filter bags, that are open on one end and closed on the other end. The filter is being rotated within a hermetically sealed cleaning chamber. air jets are reciprocated along the length of the filter in close proximity to a circumference of the cylindrical filter. The cleaning chamber is provided with a negative air pressure while the interior of the rotating filter is supplied with a positive air pressure. The air jets tend to loosen and remove the dirt from within the pleats of the filter which dirt is carried away by the negative pressure within the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: An air filter cleaning device has en elongate, readily gripable handle having a through bore and a connector at one end for coupling to an air supply hose, and a rotary head is rotatably mounted on the other end of the handle. The rotary head has an internal air distribution chamber with small outlet openings in its outer peripheral wall for spraying air from the chamber. Rotor outlet passageways in the peripheral wall are arranged at an angle to cause the head to spin in a turbine-like fashion when air flow is directed from the chamber and out through the passageways. The rotating head sprays air outwardly across the surface of an air filter unit to dislodge dirt from filter paper in a filter unit.

Abstract: A cardon joint is provided for mounting in a wall of a boiler to accommodate a sootblower lance and to allow the lance to be manipulated with respect to the boiler wall. The cardon joint includes a wall box having a central opening. An outer ball having a substantially spherical outer surface and a central bore is mounted for axial rotation about a first axis within the central opening of the wall box. An inner ball having a substantially spherical outer surface and a central bore is mounted for axial rotation about a second axis within the central bore of the outer ball. The first and second axes are mutually orthogonal and the central bore of the inner ball is sized to accommodate the lance of a sootblower. As the lance is manipulated to clean an opposite wall of the boiler, the inner and outer balls rotate about their axes to accommodate the manipulation.

Abstract: A sootblower assembly for cleaning heated surfaces within a boiler or other combustion system of the long retracting oscillation type. A kinematic drive mechanism is provided for causing the sootblower lance tube to oscillate such that cleaning medium discharge from nozzles on the lance tube emit jets of clean medium against the surfaces to be cleaned. The kinematics of the oscillation drive mechanisms are related to the lance tube nozzle positions and the distance to the surfaces being cleaned in various positions to provide a constant or nearly constant rate of sootblowing medium jet progression along the surfaces to be cleaned.

Abstract: A system for cleaning the fouling and clogging of particulate matter associated with a fluidized gas bed. The system is particularly suited for use with Selective Catalytic Reduction reactors but its use is not limited thereto. The system includes a gas compressor to force cleaning gas through gas injection lines adjacent to retaining structures to be cleaned. The compressor produces sufficient pressure to cause the cleaning gas to dislodge the particulate from the retaining structures. A vacuum system withdraws the dislodged particulate and mixed gas from the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing an edge bead from a substrate. The apparatus includes rotatable substrate support member configured to support a substrate thereon and at least one fluid distribution nozzle positioned to distribute an edge bead removal solution onto the substrate. A conically shaped shield member is positioned above the substrate support member, the shield member having a fluid conduit formed therein and an annular gas distribution nozzle positioned on a lower portion of the shield member, the annular gas nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. The method includes rotating a substrate on a substrate support member, dispensing an edge bead removal solution onto an exclusion zone of the substrate with at least one fluid nozzle, and dispensing a gas flow from at least one gas nozzle positioned above the substrate radially inward from the at least one fluid nozzle, the gas flow radiating outward across the exclusion zone.