Improvements in Tube Cleaners.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Cleaners.
1, WILLIAM FRANKLIN BRADBURY, of 8th and Santa Fe Streets, Kansas City,
in the County of Jackson and State of Missouri, one of the United States of
North America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement for cleaning the
tubes of boilers, intended more especially for use in water tube boilers, but which
may be used for cleaning tubes and flues of any description in which scale or soot
is formed therein; and my invention consists of a tube cleaner comprising a rigid
head and suitable cutting rollers journalled therein.
Fig. I, represents a longitudinal section of a tube showing scale formed therein,
and my improved device within the tube whereby the scale is cut and removed
from the same.
Fig. II, represents a trausverse view of the tube and an end view of the
cleaner.
Fig. 111, represents a slight modification of the tube cleaner in which three
rollers are used instead of four, this form being preferable where the scale is
heavy.
Fig. IV, is an enlarged detail view of the rod for operating the cleaner and a
sleeve coupling for connecting said rod with the cleaner head.
Fig. V, is an enlarged view of the eye bolt which may be coupled into the sleeve
where it is desired to use a chain or cable for cleaning the flues in place of the rod
as shown in Fig. IV.
REFERRING TO THE DRAWINGS:
1, represents a flue; 2, the scale formed therein, and 3, represents a rigid head
to which a series of rollers 4, are journalled. There may be any number of rollers
Where
desired, according to the thickness of the scale formed within the tube.
the scale is not heavy, I use the four cutting rollers, as shown in Fig. II; but
where the scale is thicker, as shown in Fig. III, three cutting rollers may be used
as there would be less resistance with three than with four, and the diameter of the
rollers, as shown at Fig. III, may be less than that shown in Fig. II, so that a
portion of the groove 5, cut in the scale may be formed with one cleaner, and then
a cleaner used with the cutting rollers of greater diameter travelling in the same
groove cutting the rest of the way through the scale.
In an ordinary thickness of scale, as shown in Fig. II, one passage of the cleaner
through the tube will cut away the scale, it only being necessary to use a cleaner
with rollers of a diameter that will cut to the outside of the scale; but as said
before, if desired different sized cleaners may be used to first cut away a portion of
the scale, forming a portion of the groove, and then completing the cutting by
using a cleaner having rollers of greater diameter.
The rollers 4, are bevelled on each side to the center, thus forming a V shaped
notch 5, in the scale when the cleaner has been forced through the tube. This
destroys the arch formed within the tube by the scale, and allows the segments of
scale to drop down and be washed out of the tube.
The cutting rollers being wedge shaped, in addition to cutting out the V shaped
notch in the scale, press laterally against the scale and thus loosen it in its con-
nection with the tube, so that when the instrument is withdrawn the arch of the
scale being destroyed the scale will readily drop from its position as formed within
the tube.

page_text: To the head 3, is secured a short screw threaded rod 6, to which may be con-
nected either a hand rod 7, by means of a threaded coupling 8, or an eye bolt 9, to
which a chain or cable may be attached for the purpose of forcing the cleaner
through the tube.
I am aware that it is not broadly new to cut the scales from boiler tubes by means
of V-shaped rollers, but I am not aware that the cutting rollers have ever before
been journalled directly to a rigid head as in my improved device, so that they can
be forced through the incrustated tubes and each cutter will serve as rigid abutment
for the others and hold them firmly to their work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
İn a tube cleaner, the combination of a rigid head, with cutting rollers
unyieldingly journalled therein, and each adapted to serve as a rigid abutment for
the others while removing scale from a tube; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of October 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.