Patent GB-190319309-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Removing Scale or Incrustation from Water or the like Pipes or Tubes.
Inventor: ALLEN THOMAS
Filed: 1903-09-08
Granted: 1904-09-08
Abstract: 19,309. Allen, T. Sept. 8. Cleaning pipes and tubes. -Relates to improvements in apparatus for removing scale from the pipes of fuel - economizers &c. The machine is shown in front view in Fig. 1, in side view in Fig. 11 as applied to a fuel-economizer, and in plan in Fig. 2, details being shown in the elevation and plan of Figs. 9 and 10. The invention consists in suspending the cutter-bars, in regulating their forward movement or feed, and in stopping automatically the feed in the event of the cutter-bars failing to act. A cross-beam c is suspended by chains, which, passing over pulleys t, are wound around the barrel q whereby the beam may be raised and allowed to descend. The beam is pressed upon by weighted collars a, one of which is secured to each cutter-bar, a second collar b being secured below the beam. Each of the cutterbars is rotated, after having been inserted in place within a tube of the economizer, through a wormwheel d<3> and worm d<2>, the worm being mounted upon the shaft 15 which receives a rotatory motion. To stop the rotation of the barrel q in the event of a cutter-bar becoming inoperative, the following arrangements are provided. The barrel is fitted at one end with the clutch w which allows the barrel to rotate freely when raising the beam, but which engages the barrel with the cutter mechanism when the beam is failing. When the cutter-bars are being rotated, the cam 14 drives the shaft p through the pendulum lever 11, link 10, lever-arm 6, pawl n, ratchet-wheel 9, spindle 4, worm 3, wheel 2, and clutch w which contains the spring-pressed pin y. The barrel q is thus turned and the chains unwound. But if a cutter is not pressed forward or fed, the beam causes a finger f, which is hung from the beam so as to rest upon the lower collar b of the cutter, to lift, and by suitable connections partially to rotate, the vertical rod i which in its turn operates the lever m and causes it to disengage the pawl n so that the rotation of the barrel is arrested and with it the descent of the beam and the cutters. To facilitate the removal of any of the cutter-bars from the beam, they may be passed through holes in the beam which are provided with caps. Weights 17 may be added. To move the cutter-bars from one row of tubes to another, the bars are raised clear of the economizer top through a rotation by hand of the barrel, a dummy-bar for this purpose being inserted in holes x in the clutch. Instead of raising and lowering the beam by the means shown, it may be done by operating a wormnut which surrounds each cutter-bar threaded for that purpose, or by a pinion engaging with a rack on the bar. The fingers f may rest upon the bottom collars b instead of upon the upper collars. To assist in breaking away scale, the cutter-bars may be raised and dropped. For this purpose, the top collar a is formed with clutch teeth on its underside, the teeth engaging in corresponding teeth upon the upper side of a fixed ring and washer upon the beam. The rotation of the cutter-bar causes the bar to slide over the teeth, and to be raised several times during each revolution.