US3703905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger cleaning system
Assignee: Hydro Vel Services Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-26
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger cleaning system includes a pair of dollies each comprising powered rollers for receiving and supporting a tube bundle and a boom pivoting assembly. A boom is supported on the pivoting assemblies for rotation about a tube bundle, and in turn supports a cleaning head that discharges cleaning material. In the use of the cleaning system, the distance between the dollies, the horizontal positions of the pivoting assemblies, the vertical position of the axis of rotation of the boom, and the distance from the axis to the boom are adjusted in accordance with a particular tube bundle configuration. Then, a tube bundle is mounted on rollers, the boom is rotated to successive positions arcuately of the tube bundle, and the cleaning head is moved back and forth along the boom. During its movement from position to position, the boom is pivoted about an axis extending longitudinally through it to optimize the angle at which cleaning material is discharged from the cleaning head.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles O Ice Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:12
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28G; F28G9/00; F28G1/00; F28G1/12; F28G13/00; F28G15/00; F28G15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: means forming a heat exchanger cleaning station; a cleaning head, and means for automatically moving the head linearly along a plurality of paths each extending in a pre-determined angular relationship to and located at arcuately spaced points around the axis of a tube bundle positioned at the cleaning station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: means forming a heat exchanger cleaning station; a cleaning head, and means for automatically moving the head linearly along a plurality of paths each extending in a pre-determined angular relationship to and located at arcuately spaced points around the axis of a tube bundle positioned at the cleaning station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 1 wherein the head moving means includes a boom extending along the cleaning station and means for supporting the cleaning head on the boom and for moving the head linearly along the boom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 2 wherein the head moving means further includes a pair of arms for supporting the boom and means for rotating the arms about an axis extending through the cleaning station and thereby moving the head arcuately relative to the cleaning station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 3 further including means for rotating the boom relative to the arms and thereby maintaining an optimum angular relationship between the cleaning head and the cleaning station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 3 further including means for varying the lengths of the arms and means for varying the position of the axis of the rotation of the arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: mutually independently positionable means each for receiving and supporting one end of a heat exchanger tube bundle; a pair of arms each extending from one of the receiving and supporting means; means for rotating the arms relative to the receiving and supporting means; a boom extending between the arms, and means for discharging heat exchanger cleaning material from the boom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: mutually independently positionable means each for receiving and supporting one end of a heat exchanger tube bundle; a pair of arms each extending from one of the receiving and supporting means; means for rotating the arms relative to the receiving and supporting means; a boom extending between the arms, and means for discharging heat exchanger cleaning material from the boom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 6 wherein each of the arms include means for varying the distance between receiving and suPporting means and the boom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 6 further including means for varying the vertical position of the axis of rotation of the arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 6 wherein the means for rotating the arms includes rotating mechanisms mounted on the receiving and supporting means and further including means for varying the vertical positioning of the rotating mechanisms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 8 wherein each arm rotating mechanism comprises a motor and a worm gear type speed reducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 6 further including means on the receiving and supporting means for rotating tube bundles with respect thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 6 wherein the rotating means further comprises means for skewing the boom relative to a tube bundle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: a tube bundle supporting dolly; a pivoting mechanism mounted on the dolly; an arm extending from the pivoting mechanism and supported thereby for pivotal movement about an axis extending through a tube bundle supported on the dolly; a boom supported on the arm and extending generally perpendicularly with respect thereto; a cleaning material discharge head mounted on the boom; and means for moving the head on the boom toward and away from the arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A heat exchanger cleaning system comprising: a tube bundle supporting dolly; a pivoting mechanism mounted on the dolly; an arm extending from the pivoting mechanism and supported thereby for pivotal movement about an axis extending through a tube bundle supported on the dolly; a boom supported on the arm and extending generally perpendicularly with respect thereto; a cleaning material discharge head mounted on the boom; and means for moving the head on the boom toward and away from the arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 wherein the dolly further comprises wheels and spring loaded means for facilitating movement of the dolly on the wheels when it is unloaded and for preventing movement of the dolly on the wheels when it is loaded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 wherein the dolly includes at least one powered roller for rotating tube bundles with respect to the dolly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 wherein the pivoting mechanism includes a motor and a worm gear type speed reducer mounted on the dolly for vertical movement with respect thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 further including means for adjusting the vertical distance between the dolly and the pivoting mechanism.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 further including means for adjusting the length of the arm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 13 further including means for moving the head longitudinally of the boom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heat exchanger cleaning system according to claim 19 wherein the moving means comprises a motor and a drive chain coupled between the motor and the head.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for cleaning a heat exchanger having a predetermined exterior contour comprising: a pair of independently positionable dollies for receiving and supporting the opposite ends of the heat exchanger; an elongated boom having opposite ends supported by the dollies, said boom extending between the dollies parallel to the heat exchanger; means for positioning the boom at points located at intervals along a path extending parallel to the exterior contour of the heat exchanger; a cleaning fluid discharge head supported on the boom for movement there along parallel to the heat exchanger; means for moving the head back and forth along the boom while the boom is positioned at each of the points; and means for simultaneously discharging cleaning fluid from the head and thereby cleaning the heat exchanger.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for cleaning a heat exchanger having a predetermined exterior contour comprising: a pair of independently positionable dollies for receiving and supporting the opposite ends of the heat exchanger; an elongated boom having opposite ends supported by the dollies, said boom extending between the dollies parallel to the heat exchanger; means for positioning the boom at points located at intervals along a path extending parallel to the exterior contour of the heat exchanger; a cleaning fluid discharge head supported on the boom for movement there along parallel to the heat exchanger; means for moving the head back and forth along the boom while the boom is positioned at each of the points; and means for simultaneously discharging cleaning fluid from the head and thereby cleaning the heat exchanger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |