US4095305A — Cleaning apparatus for tubes and tube bundles

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction comprising frame means, means for securing said frame means relative to a tube to be cleaned, lance advancing and rotating means including motor means for advancing and rotating a lance, first mounting means for mounting said motor means on said frame means, carriage means for attachment to the end of said lance remote from said tube, swivel means on said carriage means for permitting rotation of said lance, carriage-supporting means for supporting said carriage means for movement toward and away from said tube, and second mounting means for mounting said carriage-supporting means, said motor means being located between said carriage means and said tube.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 110 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction comprising frame means, means for securing said frame means relative to a tube to be cleaned, lance advancing and rotating means including motor means for advancing and rotating a lance, first mounting means for mounting said motor means on said frame means, carriage means for attachment to the end of said lance remote from said tube, swivel means on said carriage means for permitting rotation of said lance, carriage-supporting means for supporting said carriage means for movement toward and away from said tube, and second mounting means for mounting said carriage-supporting means, said motor means being located between said carriage means and said tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

A construction as set forth in claim 1 including indexing means for indexing said lance advancing and rotating means relative to a tube bundle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said carriage supporting means comprises track means, and wherein said second mounting means includes means for adjusting the position of said track means to correspond with the indexed position of said lance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

A construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said indexing means comprises a template, and means for positioning said template relative to said tube bundle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises first motor means for advancing said lance axially and second motor means for rotating said lance about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

A construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second motor means comprise fluid motors.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

A construction as set forth in claim 6 including rotating seal means for effecting communication between a fluid pressure source and said first motor means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 74 words

A construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first mounting means comprise a first base, and wherein said lance advancing and rotating means include a second base journalled for rotation on said first base, means mounting said first motor means for rotation with said second base, means mounting said second motor means on said first base, and means coupling said second motor means to said second base for rotating said second base.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

A construction as set forth in claim 8 including a hollow tube coupled to said second base and located between said second base and said tube-to-be-cleaned for guiding said lance to said tube-to-be-cleaned.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A construction as set forth in claim 1 including a high pressure fluid connection on said carriage means for providing high pressure fluid to said lance.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein said motor means are positioned substantially adjacent said tube-to-be-cleaned.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

A construction as set forth in claim 1 including a hollow tube between said motor means and said tube-to-be-cleaned for guiding said lance to said tube-to-be-cleaned.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 87 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction comprising frame means, lance advancing and rotating means for advancing and rotating a lance, means for mounting said lance advancing and rotating means on said frame means proximate a tube to be cleaned, carriage means remote from said lance advancing and rotating means for mounting an end portion of said lance means for rotation, means for supporting said carriage means, and means for coupling the end of said lance means supported by said carriage means to a high pressure fluid source.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 87 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction comprising frame means, lance advancing and rotating means for advancing and rotating a lance, means for mounting said lance advancing and rotating means on said frame means proximate a tube to be cleaned, carriage means remote from said lance advancing and rotating means for mounting an end portion of said lance means for rotation, means for supporting said carriage means, and means for coupling the end of said lance means supported by said carriage means to a high pressure fluid source.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

A lance reciprocating construction as set forth in claim 13 including first means for adjusting the elevation of said lance advancing and rotating means, and second means for adjusting the elevation of said carriage means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

A lance reciprocating construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for supporting said carriage means comprises track means, and standard means for supporting said track means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

A lance reciprocating construction as set forth in claim 15 wherein said standard means include means for permitting said track means to move laterally to accommodate the lateral position of said lance means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 135 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprising base means, spaced wheel means on said base means for engaging a lance, first motor means for driving said wheel means to advance said lance axially, second motor means for causing said wheel means to revolve about the axis of said lance for rotating said lance, said wheel means comprising first and second wheels and said first motor means comprising a first motor for rotating said first wheel in a first direction and a second motor for rotating said second wheel in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction, means for adjustably mounting said first and second wheels for movement toward and away from each other to receive lances of different sizes, and means for resiliently biasing said first and second wheels toward each other.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 135 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprising base means, spaced wheel means on said base means for engaging a lance, first motor means for driving said wheel means to advance said lance axially, second motor means for causing said wheel means to revolve about the axis of said lance for rotating said lance, said wheel means comprising first and second wheels and said first motor means comprising a first motor for rotating said first wheel in a first direction and a second motor for rotating said second wheel in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction, means for adjustably mounting said first and second wheels for movement toward and away from each other to receive lances of different sizes, and means for resiliently biasing said first and second wheels toward each other.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 47 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein said base means is mounted on a hollow member having an opening therein for receiving said lance, and wherein said first and second wheels drive said lance through said opening in said hollow member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction for cleaning a tube comprising base means, lance-engaging means on said base means for engaging a lance, motor means coupled to said lance-engaging means for rotating said lance and advancing it axially, means for mounting said lance-engaging means substantially adjacent a tube which is to receive said lance, and means for indexing said lance relative to a tube bundle.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction for cleaning a tube comprising base means, lance-engaging means on said base means for engaging a lance, motor means coupled to said lance-engaging means for rotating said lance and advancing it axially, means for mounting said lance-engaging means substantially adjacent a tube which is to receive said lance, and means for indexing said lance relative to a tube bundle.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction as set forth in claim 19 including means for varying the rate of rotation and the speed of axial movement of said lance.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction as set forth in claim 19 wherein said lance-engaging means comprises wheel means, and lance guide means positioned between said wheel means and the entrance of said tube.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 35 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating construction as set forth in claim 19 including a lance for engagement by said lance-engaging means, and tip means on said lance for applying resistance to movement of said lance.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 86 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, attachment means for attaching said frame means relative to the end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism for advancing a lance, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and indexing means on said carriage laterally spaced from said lance for entering an aperture associated with said tube bundle to thereby align said lance with a tube to be cleaned.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 86 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, attachment means for attaching said frame means relative to the end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism for advancing a lance, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and indexing means on said carriage laterally spaced from said lance for entering an aperture associated with said tube bundle to thereby align said lance with a tube to be cleaned.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism as set forth in claim 23 wherein said aperture comprises a tube in said tube bundle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 42 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism as set forth in claim 24 including means for adjusting the position of said indexing means on said carriage to effect alignment for different tube bundles having different spacing between the respective tubes thereof.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 135 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, intermediate connecting means connecting said frame means to said clamp means, said frame means comprising first and second spaced racks, and said intermediate connecting means comprising first plate means and second plate means, said first and second plate means having first and second spaced portions, said first portions of said first and second plate means being rigidly connected to said first and second racks, respectively, and said second portions of said first and second plate means being mounted on said clamp means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 135 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, intermediate connecting means connecting said frame means to said clamp means, said frame means comprising first and second spaced racks, and said intermediate connecting means comprising first plate means and second plate means, said first and second plate means having first and second spaced portions, said first portions of said first and second plate means being rigidly connected to said first and second racks, respectively, and said second portions of said first and second plate means being mounted on said clamp means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism as set forth in claim 26 wherein a plurality of clamp means are attached to each of said first and second plate means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 82 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and universal connection means between said clamp means and said frame means to permit said frame means to be moved to a desired position relative to said tube bundle.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 82 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and universal connection means between said clamp means and said frame means to permit said frame means to be moved to a desired position relative to said tube bundle.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 77 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprising base means, spaced wheel means on said base means for engaging a lance, first motor means for driving said wheel means to advance said lance axially, second motor means for causing said wheel means to revolve about the axis of said lance for rotating said lance, means for attaching said base means relative to a tube-to-be-cleaned, and means positioned immediately adjacent said tube-to-be-cleaned for guiding said lance into said tube.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 77 words

A lance reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprising base means, spaced wheel means on said base means for engaging a lance, first motor means for driving said wheel means to advance said lance axially, second motor means for causing said wheel means to revolve about the axis of said lance for rotating said lance, means for attaching said base means relative to a tube-to-be-cleaned, and means positioned immediately adjacent said tube-to-be-cleaned for guiding said lance into said tube.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 76 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and intermediate connecting means connecting said frame means to said clamp means, said intermediate connecting means being pivotally mounted on said clamp means.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 76 words

A frame for mounting a lance advancing mechanism comprising frame means, clamp means for attaching said frame means to the rim of an end plate of a tube bundle, a carriage for mounting a lance advancing mechanism, means on said frame means for mounting said carriage for movement transversely of said end plate, and intermediate connecting means connecting said frame means to said clamp means, said intermediate connecting means being pivotally mounted on said clamp means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-06-19	1981-12-19	1982-06-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-06-19	1985-12-19	1986-06-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-06-19	1989-12-19	1990-06-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cleaning apparatus for tubes and tube bundles

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