Patent ID: 7530363
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: B08B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for cleaning residue from a bore of a tube, comprising: a) a hose having a spray tip containing a plurality of orifices; b) a water source coupled to said hose and capable of delivering water to said hose at a pressure in excess of 1,000 psi; c) a first framework supporting i) transport means for extending and retracting said hose with a reciprocating motion along a longitudinal drive axis, ii) a reel having a hose storage space concentrically aligned to said longitudinal drive axis and whereat said hose is arranged in coils concentric to said drive axis, and iii) means for rotating said transport means, whereby said hose and spray tip are rotated as they extend and retract along a bore of said tube to remove said residue; d) a second framework remotely positioned from said first framework comprising a plurality of frame pieces mounted in a rectilinear configuration having first and second parallel frame members and third and fourth parallel frame members mounted transverse to said first and second frame members, a beam member mounted to span between and pivot relative to at least one of said third and fourth frame members, a hose support coupled to said beam member and to said first framework to support the extension and retraction of said hose, a hose support drive coupled for manipulating said hose support along said beam member, a beam drive coupled to said beam member and at least one of said third and fourth frame pieces to selectively vary the displacement of said beam member along at least one of said third and fourth frame pieces the angle of said beam member relative to the one of said third and fourth frame pieces, and wherein said hose support and beam drives are operable to selectively manipulate said hose laterally and angularly at said second framework to align said hose with each of a plurality of tubes being cleaned; and e) a controller responsive to a plurality of switch settings for coupling pneumatic control signals to said transport means and said rotating means for dynamically directing the axial and radial movement of said hose.