Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Removing Scale or Incrustation from Water Tubes of Boilers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM BAGOT PIERCE, of 327 Washington
Street, Buffalo, New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Removing Scale or
Incrustation from Water Tubes of Boilers.
I, CHARLES JUNGE, of Lincoln Chambers, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting 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:-
This invention relates to apparatus for removing scale or incrustation from water
tubes of boilers.
The incrustation, scale, deposits and accumulations upon the sides of water flues
of steam boilers interfere materially with their heat conductivity, consequently
requiring a greater consumption of fuel to maintain the steam at a given pressure,
and otherwise detracting from the efficiency of the boiler; hence the desirability
Chemicals and mechanical
of removing such deposits and incrustations.
appliances have been resorted to for loosening and removing the obstructing
matter and give more or less satisfactory results, the re-agents being slow in their
action, and the mechanical appliances operating fairly well when the scale is
comparatively soft, but failing when the incrustation is hard and smooth.
This invention aims to provide a tool which will operate after the principle of a
chisel and hammer, this being the most effectual way known for removing the
incrustation from large surfaces but which is not practiced for water tubes because
of the confined space not admitting of such operation.
The vital feature of the invention is a cutter or scale loosener which is vibrated
rapidly, either by an oscillating or a reciprocating motion, and caused to impact
against the inner sides of the water tube and chip the scale and incrustation there-
from, the loosened scale being driven off by the blast employed for actuating the
cutter, and means for driving the cutter through the instrumentality of steam,
compressed air, or like medium. When the scale is on the outside of the tube the
vibration set up by the tool operating within the tube loosens the scale and causes
it to strip off.
In its organization the tool comprises, essentially, a head having a chamber, a
piston operating within the chamber and having the scale loosener connected
therewith, inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the aforesaid chamber,
and a valve controlled by the piston for regulating the admission and exhausting
of the motive medium from the chamber.
For a full understanding of the merits, advantages, and details of the invention
reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a water tube showing the invention
applied.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the cleaner, parts being broken away.

page_text: Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the mechanism for advancing the cleaner
through a tube, the dotted lines showing a pivoted arm thrown outward as required
to place the cleaner within a tube or remove it therefrom when the feeding
mechanism is in place.
Figure 4 is a view of the feeding mechanism from its inner end.
Figure 5 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a detail view of a scale-loosener for removing the incrustation from
the outside of a tube.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of a pivoted arm.
Figure 8 is a detail view of a modified form of cleaner.
Figure 9 is a section on the line Z-Z of Figure 8 looking in the direction of
the arrow.
Figure 10 is a detail view showing the scale-loosening device or cutter in
duplicate, and a single piston.
Figure 11 is a detail section about on the line Y-Y of Figure 10 looking to the
left as indicated by the arrow.
1. T
The cleaner.comprises a shell or hollow body 1 closed at one end by a cap 2
to which a hose or other pipe 3 is fitted and having a chambered head 4 at its
..opposite end. A piston 5 reciprocates within the chamber 6 of the head and has a
tiansverse mortise or opening 7 through which passes a vibrating arm 8 pivoted to
the head at 9 and bearing a scale-loosener 10 at its outer end. The mortise or
opening 7 flares towards its ends at a middle point to afford clearance for the
vibrating arm 8 when the cleaner is in operation. A rocking bearing 11 is
mounted in a bore in the piston at right angles to the mortise 7 and has a trans-
verse opening for the passage of the vibrating arm 8. This arm has a relative
sliding movement in the rocker bearing by reason of its pivot 9 being fixed and the
piston reciprocating in a straight line thereby permitting of the point of engage-
ment between the said rocker bearing and arm adapting itself so as to permit the
piston to reciprocate freely without any binding between it and the parts 8 and 11.
The piston and rocking bearing. are constructed of different metals of such
nature as to obviate the necessity of a lubricant between them. If the piston is
constructed of iron or steel the rocking bearing will be formed of brass or like com-
position for the purpose specified. Ports 12 lead into. the ends of the chamber 6
and open into the shell 1 through the rear end of the head 4, and these ports are
controlled by a slide valve 13 which is operated by a rear extension of the vibrating
arm 8. The vibrating arm has a limited play relative to the slide valve whereby
a rebound of the scale-loosener will uncover the inner end of a port by moving the
piston without shifting the slide valve thereby admitting the steam or other
motive medium behind the piston to drive it before the said slide valve is shifted, the
parts being so proportioned that the opposite port is closed by the piston an instant
prior to the shifting of the slide valve for uncovering the said ports. Thus it will
be seen that the ports are alternately closed and opened at their opposite ends by
means of the slide valve and pistons, this construction being necessary to the
successful operation of the tool.
The scale-loosener is of circular form and is mounted upon a tapering portion of
the vibrating arm 8 and is held thereon by a nut 14. When the diametrically
. opposite points of the scale-loosener or cutter are dulled or become unfit for further
effective work the nut 14 is loosened and the cutter turned so as to bring new
points in position for active. service after which the nut is. retightened so as to hold
the cutter in the adjusted position. For cutting or loosening scale, incrustation
etc, from the inner sides of a tube the scale-loosener has a cutting edge 15, but
where the scale is to be removed from the outer, side of a tube the device has a
rounded or blunt edge 16 which impacts against the inner sides of a tube and
causes the latter to vibrate to such an extent as to dislodge and cause the scale to
"peel or strip.
The feeding mechanism consists of a tube 17 having outer flanges 18 and 19
between its ends and is adapted to be secured in an opening in the head sheet of a

page_text: boiler opposite the tube to be cleaned by suitable means, preferably by clips 20
bolted to the head sheet and engaging the flange 18. The flange 19 is formed with
a series of openings 21 in which pins 22 are removably fitted whereby the relative
speed of the feeding mechanism can be varied by placing the pin in each or every
alternate opening as will be readily understood. A tubular head 23 is rotatably
mounted upon the outer end of the tube 17 and has a hand wheel 24 secured
to its outer edge to be grasped for rotating the head, and the inner end of
the head is flanged as shown at 25 and is engaged by a clip 26 secured to the
flange 19 so as to retain the head 23 in place. Arms 27 are located at diametri-
cally opposite points and have pivotal connection at their inner ends with the
tubular head and are provided at their outer ends with bearing sleeves 28 in which
are journaled shafts 29 bearing feed pulleys 30 at their inner ends and worm
wheels 31 at their outer ends which intermesh with a worm 32 on a shaft 33 journaled
in bearings 34 projecting from a side of the head 23. A star wheel 35 is secured
to the inner end of the shaft 33 and its points or cogs engage with the pins 22 as the
head 23 is rotated thereby imparting movement to the shaft 33 and to the feel
pulleys 30 through the intermediate instrumentalities as herein described. The
feed pulleys 30 have approximately V-shaped peripheral grooves so as to ensure
a sufficiently firm gripping action between them and the pipe 3 to feed or advance
the cleaner through the tube. The outer ends of the pivoted arms 27 operates
through openings in the head 23 and have notches 36 to receive a clamp ring or
band 37 by means of which they are held in place and the feed pulleys 30 caused
to grip the opposite sides of the pipe 3. This clamp band 37 has a binding
screw 38 by means of which the pressure of the feed pulleys against the sides of
pipe 3 can be regulated. When it is required to place the cleaner in position or
remove it from a tube after the feeding mechanism is in place the clamp band 37
is disconnected from the arms 27 and the latter are thrown outward as indicated
by the dotted lines in Figure 3 whereby an unobstructed passage is afforded for
the entrance or exit of the cleaner. After the cleaner has been introduced into a
tube to be cleaned and the feed pulleys 30 have been caused to grip the sides of an
operating pipe 3, and the steam or other motive medium being supplied to the
shell and the scale-loosener set in operation in the manner set forth, the cleaner.
is advanced by turning the hand wheel 24 which rotates the head 23 upon the
tube 17 and by reason of the star or spur wheel 35 engaging with the pins 22 the
feed pulleys 30 are rotated in the manner set forth and engaging frictionally with
the sides of the pipe 3 move the latter and the cleaner carried thereby. The feed
can be regulated either by turning the hand wheel 24 more or less rapidly, or if
the said hand wheel is to be rotated at a uniform speed the feed can be regulated
by changing the position of the pins 22 either by placing them in each opening 21
or at any required distance apart having one or more openings intervening.
As shown in Figures 8 and 9 the head is formed with parallel chambers 6" each
being supplied with a piston 4b and as shown in Figures 10 and 11 the head' has
a single chamber 6 in which reciprocates a piston 4. A. port 39 extends parallel
with each chamber 6 and communicates therewith at its rear end by a transverse
port 40 and has a longitudinal port 41 extending through a side of the head to receive
the steam or other motive medium for positively driving the piston. Each piston 4b
fits snugly within its chamber (b and has a recess 42 in which is fitted a rocker
bearing 43 the latter being apertured to receive an arm 44 of a vibrating lever 45
fulcrumed to the head 4. The lever 45 is provided at its outer end with a scale
loosening device or cutter 14 which may be of any desired form according to the
nature of the work to be performed.
The side of the head through which the port 41 extends is flattened and forms a
seat for a slide valve 46 which latter controls the admission and the exhausting of
the steam from the chamber. This slide valve has inner lugs 47 between which
operates a pin 48 projecting laterally from an extension of the lever 45, a slot 49
being formed in the valve seat for the pin 48 to operate in and providing an escape
for the spent or exhaust steam.

page_text: The steam or motive medium for vibrating the scale-loosening device is admitted
into the shell 2 in the usual way and passing through a port 41 enters a chamber 6"
and drives the piston therein forwardly, at the same time the other piston is moved
to the rear, or to a starting position by reason of the arm 44 engaging therewith,
the air in the chamber in the rear of the piston escaping through the port 40 and
into the slide valve by way of the ports 39 and 41, thence into the slot 49 and out
through the head either by way of the opening in which the lever 45 vibrates, or
out through a nozzle 50. After the piston has been impelled to the limit of its
forward stroke the scale-loosening device will have struck the side of the tube and
rebounded sufficiently to shift the slide valve so as to close the port 41 previously
opened and open the port previously closed, thereby admitting the steam in the
rear of the second piston, when the operation thus described will be repeated.
There is a limited play between the pin 45 and the lugs 47 to admit of a rebound
of the cutter or scale-loosening device prior to shifting the valve.
As shown in Figure 10 the scale-loosening device 51 is duplicated and is pivoted
to the head 4 near the side thereof and the inner end of each is adapted to be
struck by an extension 52 of piston 4ª whereby both cutters are operated simul-
taneously. Ports 53 and 54 communicate with the interior of the chamber 6b, the
ports 53 being at the ends thereof and the port 54 intermediate of the ends, and a
tappet 55 is located in the port 54 and has its ends engaging with the piston and
slide valve whereby the latter is positively actuated by means of the piston, the
latter being grooved intermediate of its ends to receive the inner end of the
A duct 56
tappet 55 and provide a passage for the escape of the exhaust steam.
is formed in a side of the head and communicates with the space formed by the
annular grooves of the piston. There is a limited play between the piston and
tappet, and the piston alternately closes the ports 53 and is moved so as to uncover
the port by the rebound of the scale-loosening mechanism and by the cushion
formed at the end of the chamber, thereby permitting the steam to enter in the
rear of the piston the instant the valve is shifted so that the piston may be driven
positively to the limit of its stroke in the opposite direction.
Inasmuch as the
work is performed at the forward stroke of the piston the steam acts on the full
area of the piston at its rear end and only on a portion of the front end because
of the extension 52.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me from
abroad, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head, a pivoted scale-
loosening device, a slide valve for controlling the admission and exhausting of
steam or other motive medium from the chamber, and a piston located in the
chamber and reciprocating therein and adapted to positively actuate the scale-
loosening device and slide valve, substantially in the manner set forth, for the
purpose specified.
2. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head having a port
extending lengthwise with the chamber, and having a transverse port at one end
communicating with the chamber, and a longitudinal port leading through a side
of the head, a piston operating in the chamber, a vibrating scale loosening device
having engagement with the piston, and a slide valve controlled by means of the
scale loosener, substantially as set forth.
3. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head, having inlet ports
communicating with the end portions of the chamber, a scale-loosener, a piston for
actuating the scale-loosener located in the chamber of the head and adapted to
alternately close the inlet ports, and a slide valve operatively connected with the
piston and adapted to act jointly therewith for controlling the proper admission
of the motive medium into the chamber for driving the piston, substantially as
set forth.
4. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head having ports com-

page_text: municating with the end portions of the chamber, a scale-loosener, a piston for
operating the scale lossener located in the chamber and adapted to alternately
close the inlet ports, a slide valve acting jointly with the piston for controlling the
inlet ports, and a vibrating connection between the piston and slide valve and
admitting of the latter parts having a limited play whereby an inlet port is closed
by the piston prior to being uncovered by the slide valve, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a water tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head, a piston
adapted to reciprocate in the said chamber, a lever fulcrumed to the head and
bearing a scale loosening device and having connection with and operated by
means of a piston, and means for admitting steam or other motive medium into the
chamber upon opposite sides of the piston to drive the latter positively in each
direction and controlled by the said piston, substantially as described.
6. In a water tube cleaner, a chambered head having inlet and exhaust ports,
a valve for controlling the said ports, a piston adapted to reciprocate in the
chambered head, a connection between the valve and piston for shifting the said
valve, and a lever fulcrumed to the head and bearing a scale-loosening device and
having connection with and vibrated by means of the said piston, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a water tube cleaner, a chambered head having inlet and exhaust ports,
a slide valve for controlling the ports, a piston adapted to reciprocate in the head
and alternately close the ports, a lever bearing a scale-loosening device connected
with and vibrated by the piston, and a connection between the piston and slide
valve for shifting the latter, and having a limited play whereby the piston will
uncover an inlet port prior to shifting the valve for closing the said port, sub-
stantially as specified.
8. In a water tube cleaner, a chambered head having inlet and exhaust ports, a
piston adapted to reciprocate within the head and alternately close the ports, a
lever connected with and vibrated by means of the piston and bearing a scale-
loosening device, and a slide valve for controlling the said ports, and having inner
extensions, to receive the inner end of the aforesaid lever, substantially in the
manner set forth, for the purpose described.
a
9. In a water tube cleaner, a chambered head having inlet and exhaust ports,
a piston adapted to reciprocate within the head, and alternately close the ports, a
scale-loosening device connected with and operated by means of the piston, a lever
fulcrumed to the head and having connection with the piston, and a slide valve
for controlling the ports and having inner extensions between which the opposite
end of the lever has a limited play, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a water tube cleaner, a head having transverse chamber
between its ends, and having ports extending through the ends of the
head and communicating with the chamber, a piston adapted to reciprocate
within the chamber and alternately close the inlet ports and reduced midway of
its ends to provide an annular space, a scale-loosened device connected with and
operated by means of the piston, and a slide valve for controlling the ports and
operated by means of the piston, substantially as set forth.
11. In a water tube cleaner, a chambered head having inlet and exhaust ports,
a piston adapted to reciprocate within the head, a cutter, a slide valve for con-
trolling the said ports, and a lever fulcrumed to the head and having engagement
with the slide valve and piston and carrying the said cutter, substantially as set
forth.
12. In a water tube cleaner, a head having a transverse chamber, opening lead-
ing from the chamber through the ends of the head, and having inlet ports, a
piston adapted to reciprocate in the chamber and alternately close the inlet ports,
a slide valve, and a lever bearing a cutter and fulcrumed to the head and operating
in the end openings thereof, and engaging with the said slide valve and piston,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
13. In a cleaner of the character described, a head provided with the cutting

page_text: mechanism and having longitudinal ducts, and a ring secured to the head and
having an outwardly flaring rim forming an annular space, which space is con-
tracted at its outer end to provide a nozzle for facilitating the cleaning operation,
substantially in the manner specified.
14. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a longitudinally chambered head; a
piston mounted to reciprocate. longitudinally of the said head, a scale-loosener
pivoted to the head and adapted to operate in a direction about right angles to the
movement of the piston and actuated thereby, a slide valve at one side of the head,
an actuating mechanism for the movable parts, substantially as shown and
described.
I
15. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a head having parallel chambers,
pistons located in the chambers, à scale-loosening device having positive connec-
tion with each piston, and a slide valve operated by means of the scale-loosener for
controlling the admission and exhausting of the steam from the chambers, sub-
stantially as specified.
16. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a head having parallel chambers, a
scale-loosening device pivotally supported intermediate of the chambers and having
oppositely extending arms, pistons located in the chambers and having the said
arms engaging therewith, and a slide valve for controlling the admission and
exhausting of the motive medium from the said chambers, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
17. A tube cleaner comprising a head having parallel chambers, pistons located
in the chambers, a slide valve for controlling the admission and the exhausting
of the motive medium from the chambers, and a scale-loosening device pivotally
connected with the head intermediate of the chambers, and having oppositely
extending arms to engage with the piston and a rear extension provided with a
lateral projection engaging the said slide valve, substantially in the manner set
forth, for the purpose specified.
18. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a chambered head, a reciprocating
piston located in the chamber of the head and having a transverse mortise, a
rocking bearing located in the mortise of the piston and having a transverse
opening, a vibrating arm bearing a scale-loosener and operating loosely through
the opening of the rocking bearing, and means for reciprocating the piston to
vibrate the said arm, substantially as set forth.
19. In a tube cleaner, the combination of a head, a reciprocating piston having
a transverse mortise flaring towards its ends from an intermediate point, and
having a circular bore at right angles to the mortise, a rocking bearing located in
the said bore and having a transverse opening, a vibrating arm bearing a scale-
loosener and operating loosely through the opening of the rocking bearing, and
means for reciprocating the piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
20. In combination, a tube cleaner, an operating pipe or stem connected there-
with, oppositely disposed feed pulleys for gripping the pipe or stem upon opposite
sides, actuating mechanism for rotating the feed pulleys for advancing or with-
drawing the tube cleaner, and a rotatable head carrying the feed pulleys and the
actuating mechanism whereby the tube cleaner is simultaneously turned and
advanced or moved longitudinally, substantially as set forth for the purpose
described.
21. In combination, a tube cleaner having an operating pipe or stem, inde-
pendently movable supports, parallel shafts journaled in the said supports and
bearing pulleys at their inner ends to grip the opposite sides of the operating
stem or pipe, and having gear wheels at their outer ends, a third shaft having a
gear intermeshing with the gear wheels of the parallel shafts, and means for
rotating the third shaft, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.
22. In combination, a tube cleaner having an operating pipe or stem, pivoted
arms bearing feed pulleys to engage with the opposite sides of the operating pipe
or stem, means for securing the pivoted arms when closed to hold the feed pulleys
T
!"

page_text: in positive engagement with the operating stem, and actuating mechanism for the
feed pulleys, substantially as set forth.
23. The herein described means for simultaneously turning and moving longi-
tudinally a tube cleaner, consisting of a support provided with projecting portions,
a head rotatably mounted upon the support, arms having pivotal connection with
the rotatable head, means for holding the pivoted arms together at their free ends,
parallel shafts journaled to the pivoted arms and having feed pulleys and gear
wheels, a third shaft having a gear to intermesh with the gears of the aforesaid
parallel shafts, and a star or spur wheel secured to the third shaft and adapted to
engage with the projections of the support upon rotating the head for imparting a
positive movement to the shafts and feed pulleys, substantially as specified.
Dated this 13th day of April 1897.