US2653334A - Expandable condenser tube cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1953 T, J, BAY- 2,653,334y

EXPANDABLE CONDENSER TUBE CLEANER Filed Sept. 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Shaftl l 3mm/vtm THOMAS J. BAY

Sept. 29, 1953 T. J. BAY 2,653,334

EXPANDABLE CONDENSER TUBE CLEANER Filed Sept. 50, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THOMAS J. BAY

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Patented Sept. 2.9,

vv 22",@52L33'1i EziNn AQL CNSENSER TUBE (JLNR` T'ioiiafsi; ay, United States Navy Application September 30, 1947, Serial No. 777,99 soiie.' (c1. 15L10`4y114' (Grantedumir Title 35,U. si C'ae (1952),'

Sec. 266) 5:.

t. .V -`Y M fA'...-.Yf-.,1-' A.. M This invention relates to cleaner for pipes tainapplic'at'ions- One f theprincipai objections and tubes and particularly to' a` cleaner'for Water to the use ofrubbe'r plugs at present is associcooled tubes of steam surface" eondensers`. atedwith the Wideuseof i'zoi'idensery tube protec- Deposits of slimeand `other fore1gn matt'er to` rs Which are inserted in theinlet end of the on the inside surfaces of steam' condenser tubes 5 condenser tubes to preventcorrosion and impingtend to decrease -the''w of heat f ro'riithe con ent erosion. Such anl assembly .is shown in my densing steam in contact With the Aoutside of the Patent'No. 2,225,6i5, whiclfiinsert has a restricted tubes, through the' metallic tube wa1l, toI the neck portion adjacent its inlet end. This obcooling Water flowing through-the tubes. 'Ifh usv jection will be clearly observed by Ireference to the eiectivenessv o fnvthecondenser isvgradually 10 said patent. Under these conditions it vis exdecreased and it bec'o s neces'sary tclean the treinely difficult to insert a rubber plug tube inner surfaces of the t cleaner into the tube through the restricted neck to maintain reasonably portionof t l 1e i ns ert unless the rubber plug is with satisfactory andecrent operatioi f s'tefai'nf eithertod all orttoo soft to exert sufficient turbines and other apparatus served bythe con'- 15 pressure' Aagainst the tub"e surface beyond the densing equipment. insert to'proyide for proper cleaning of the metal In tropical watersslim'efor'a n o' condens e1 tube surface, tube surfaces is m'ucl1 'e' rapid than co" 'Oner of theobjects of the present invention is th e ,proyi sion of a, collapsible and expansible' cleaner of Athe rotary type which v vill pass freely through the resi; ed' t lr.j `a ,t,y ornek portion of a; @dansante or tor andrwhichwi11thereafter expand intor Innatercontact with the Wall of tl 1e tub`e' ink order tov remove foreign matter therefroinl further Yof' this inventionis to pro- Vide an impro d cleaner of thetype generally shown my prior Patent No. 2,313,042 of March Waters and the relatiyely h ightemperature of circulating water has ,adirect eifect ir red of the condenser vacuur'rf o btainable High perature circulating Water combi e limits unless the tube surfacesar'ek p slime coatings and oth'e'rdeposits' of foreign"1r1at' ter.

Periodic remover f foreign deposits'wfrojr'V the", interior surfaces ofv condensrtubeslli quired in the pastprincip'a'lly asf a mea minimizing corrosion o attack or selective-pit surfaces underneathp'a The standard method of' c leaning conier'iserjty has been by use 0f.di1 A. l flance sweep out foreigr1 depo'sits.` In cases offegitrei'n fouling, as often occur in the'trpicarubber p1 have been employed f o'r cleani'rgth Th amusement withqeifdepariiee fromme matureV and scope'oij the invention', as' dene'd inA the appas@ dams;

rubber plugs are s ligltlylarger than the 'ns1 order ti diameter of the tubes-aramid@ .therein und@ we diem/ing,A In

tubes by use of air or waterpre 'ure' to s' a ffA the slime andother foreign rotating metallicwirebrus types of metallic condenser tube clea ous types for cleaning' Yc'Iileri t hibited because the metalsc devices scratch andotherwi surfaces of the'tubes by damaging theft-hin, adi' herent protective coatingand renderigthetubes 56" Fig. 2"v a Sectio vi'vg'iz showing the hose e52- subject to acceleratedcrrsion)pitting'and'early' panded u'r'ide cent gal force'.

cleaner ofl this intention.

service failure. rig. 3 is: a partly seetia'1=L View; similar' to The rubber plug cleaning' r r 1 etliod'mentioned Fig above has beenl found satisfactory for removing` Fig; fisvr al; patlys'e'ctinal' View of a' modified Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a modied form of hose with diagonal slits.

Fig. 7 is a view on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a hose, with but two slits.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 53--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a modification with a spline-key added, applicable to any of the foregoing forms.

Fig. 11 is a plan view partly in section of a modified form of the device of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view partly in section of another modied form of the device of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line ld-M of Fig. 13.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the various figures, there is shown at i@ the complete cleaner head of this invention. This cleaner head l includes a spindle l l shaped as shown, including an internally threaded and externally hexagonal end l2 connected by a shoulder i3 to a reduced threaded portion Hl. This in turn is connected by a reduced spindle body l5 to a further reduced cylindrical neck It having a threaded end Il, the threaded end il having the same diameter and thread as the internal thread on the other end I2, whereby two or more spindles il may be connected in tandem, if desired. A knurled nut i8 is threaded to fit on the threaded end l1.

The cleaning element 26 consists of a piece of three or more ply fabricated or molded rubber hose or tubing 2l, which may be 'molded about the reinforcing spring metal cage 2S which is designed to add strength, stiffness and rigidity to the hose r tubing. This tubing 2i is provided with a plurality of parallel slits 22 'stopping short of its ends. As shown, the slits 22 are also parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose 2i, but may extend spirally instead, either clockwise, as shown at 23, Fig. '3, or counterclockwise.

A bushing 25, with a thread similar to that at ,1

lli on the spindle, nts -slidably over the cylindrical neck l5. In addition, the bushing 25 may have one or more longitudinal splineways 24 to cooperate with a spline-key 2l removably secured in a longitudinal groove 28 extending along the ,-1.

reduced neck it and threaded end il, the splinekey being held in position by the nut te, all as shown in Fig. 10. The use or" this removable spline-key 2l' permits the hose or tube 2i to be readily replaced, yet holds it against twisting while being rotated at high speed during the cleaning operation.

To assemble the cleaner head lil, the bushing 25 is threaded into one end of the hose or tubing 2 I, and the hose or tubing 2l is then passed over the spindle body I and has its other end threaded over the threaded portion Hi until it abuts the shoulder at the end. The knul-led nut i3 is threaded over the threaded end il. Should two or more cleaner heads be used in tandem, the threaded end il of one is threaded into the internally threaded hexagonal end l2 of the second spindle Il, and the nut IB is placed on the threaded end i' of the final spindle.

In operation, the cleaner head iii is connected to a exible power shaft, similar to that shown in the aforementioned Patent 2,313,042, by threading the end i2 of the spindle H tothe end of the shaft. After the cleaner head has been inserted into the tube to be cleaned,v it is rotated at high speed. Centrifugal force causes the slitted center portion of the hose or tubing 2l to move outwardly, the bushing moving on the neck I5 toward the shoulder to permit such action. The edges of the slitted portions act as squeegee Scrapers or wipers to clean the insides of the tubes or pipes of slime, which has collected therein. When removing the cleaner head from the tube being cleaned, the knurled nut serves to prevent the cleaner tubing or hose 2i from being broken by undue elongation and strain.

As shown in my prior patent referred to hereinabove, it is often desirable to pass flushing water through the tube cleaner and in such event, it is particularly desirable to prevent twisting of the hose or tube 2i during the cleaning operation as such twisting tends to close the slits in the hose thereby not only preventing the aforementioned sc ueegee action produced as the edges of the slits pass over the insides of the condenser tubes but also preventing the flow of flushing water from the slits. The arrangement of Fig. l0 will prevent such twisting of the hose which result may also be accomplished by the means illustrated in the modifications shown in Figs. 11, l2, 13 and 14.

Referring now to the structure of Figs. Il and 12, there is disclosed a condenser tube cleaner provided with a spindle il having a longitudinal bore 3l therein and intersecting apertures 32 to permit the passage of flushing iluid therethrough during the cleaning operation. In order to prevent closure of the slits in the hose or tube 2l carried by the spindle il caused by twisting of the hose in use, the spindle l is provided with a reduced cylindrical neck i5 provided with a hexagonal or other non-circular section 33 which is arranged to cooperate with a close-fitting hexagonal or other non-circular bore in the bushing 2&5 when the bushing is caused to slide on the neck i5 under the action of centrifugal force. The interengagement of section t3 with bore te prevents rotation of the bushing 25 with respect to the spindle il without in any way interfering with the rotation of bushing 25 when it is initially assembled in the hose or tube 2l by screwing therein. The operation of this modiiication is similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the previous figures.

Figs. 13 and lll illustrate an arrangement similar to that of Figs. l1 and 12, the difference residing in the provision of an entirely distinct arrangement for preventing twisting of the hose or tube 2i. This is accomplished by providing the reduced neck le of the spindle i i with a longitudinal slot li and providing the bushing 25 with a series of radial apertures l2 any one of which may be rotated into alignment with the slot li when the bushing 25 is assembled in the hose or tube El. After assembly of these elements is completed, a headed pin or cotter LS is inserted in the aligned aperture 42 and slot 5i, the pin or cotter being then bent, as shown, to retain it in position. It is obvious that the pin or cotter i3 will prevent rotation of the bushing 25 with respect to the spindle il while permitting slidable movement of the bushing on the neck iii as the pin i3 slides freely in the slot fl l.

It will be understood that, as previously stated, the above description and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes, in construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made Within the scope of the appended claims without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material xedly secured at one end about the spindle, and means rotatable with said spindle, for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said hose having a plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially therethrough intermediate its ends whereby the edges of said slits provide squeegee action under centrifugal force when the tube cleaner is rotated.

2. The tube cleaner ci claim 1 having a hose of iiexible and elastic material.

3. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material xedly secured at one end about said spindle, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing secured within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle, said bushing being slidably movable on said reduced neck, a nut threadedly secured on said reduced neck limiting the outward movement of said bushing, and spline key means engaging mating slots on said reduced neck and said bushing thereby preventing rotation of said bushing with respect to said spindle, said hose having a plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially therethrough intermediate its ends whereby the edges of the slits provide squeegee action under centrifugal force when the tube cleaner is rotated.

4. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material and provided with longitudinal slits intermediate its ends iixedly secured at one end about said spindle, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing inserted within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle,

said bushing being slidably movable on said rei tudinal groove in said neck by said nut and cooperating with a longitudinal groove in said bushing to prevent rotation of said bushing and hose relative to said spindle.

5. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material xedly secured at one end about said spindle, a plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially through and intermediate the ends of said hose, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing inserted within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle provided with a non-circular portion, said bushing being slidably movable on said neck and having a non-circular opening therein cooperating with the non-circular portion of the neck thereby to prevent rotation of said bushing and hose relative to said spindle.

6. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material fixedly secured at one end about said spindle, a plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially through and intermediate the ends of said hose, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing inserted within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle provided with a longitudinal slot therein, an aperture in said bushing substantially coincident with said slot, and a pin passing through said aperture and said slot when said bushing is mounted on said reduced neck whereby the bushing is permitted to slide upon said neck but is prevented from rotating thereon.

7. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material xedly secured at one end about said spindle, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing inserted within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle, said bushing being slidably movable on said reduced neck, and a threaded nut secured on said reduced neck limiting the outward movement of said bushing, said hose being provided with a. plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially therethrough intermediate its ends, the edges of said slits providing squeegee action under centrifugal force when the tube cleaner is rotated.

8. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle arranged to be rotated at high speed, a removable and replaceable hose of yieldable material xedly secured at one end about said spindle, means for slidably mounting and securing the other end of said hose to said spindle, said means including a bushing inserted within such other end of said hose, a reduced neck on said spindle, said bushing being slidably movable on said reduced neck, a nut threadedly secured on said reduced neck limiting the outward movement of said bushing, and a spline-key held in a-longitudinal groove in said neck by said nut and cooperating with a longitudinal groove in said bushing to prevent rotation of said bushing and hose relative to said spindle, said hose having a plurality of longitudinal slits extending radially therethrough intermediate its ends whereby the edges of said slits provide squeegee action under centrifugal force when the tube cleaner is rotated, said hose being of flexible material.

THOMAS J. BAY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 165,182 Smith July 6, 1875 347,671 Webb Aug. 17, 1886 614,861 Hamm et al Nov. 29, 1898 684,981 Drummond et al. Oct. 22, 1901 701,285 Brewington June 3, 1902 898,288 Volckening Sept. 8, 1908 968,902 Van Leir Aug. 30, 1910 1,035,994 Mueller Aug. 20, 1912 1,126,961 Denny Feb. 2, 1915 1,264,666 Ljungstrom Apr. 30, 1918 1,513,228 Crotto Oct, 28, 1924 1,959,940 Tyrrell May 22, 1934 2,020,442 Sturgis Nov. 12, 1935 2,146,644 Nelson Feb. 7, 1939 2,217,552 Horton Oct. 8, 1940 2,325,556 Taylor et al. July 27, 1943

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