Patent ID: 7055209
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: F23J,F28G

Abstract:
1. A method of converting a sootblower from a single motor to a dual motor drive, said sootblower having a movable lance tube with a hollow interior for ejecting a cleaning fluid under pressure from a distal end thereof and having a detachable proximal end portion configured as an original tubular rotary drive hub received in a rotary bearing housing which is secured to a carriage assembly driven by a traversing motor for driving said lance tube axially to both extend and retract said lance tube, a termination end portion of said original drive hub exposed at a proximal end of said bearing housing for connection to a source of cleaning fluid under pressure to the hollow interior, and a translational drive connected for causing rotational driving of said original tubular rotary drive hub for said lance tube in said bearing housing as said lance tube is being axially driven for thereby rotating said lance tube about its axis; the method comprising: disengaging said translational drive by removing said original drive hub and replacing it with a substitute tubular rotary drive hub which is not in driving engagement with said translational drive when installed; mounting a rotational motor on said carriage assembly and connecting said rotational motor through a gear drive to portions of said substitute hub exposed exteriorly of said housing for independently rotating said substitute hub and thereby independently rotating said lance tube about its axis.