AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE TUBES OR FLUES OF STEAM- BOILERS.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE TUBES OR FLUES OF STEAM-
BOILERS. A communication from abroad by Stephen Clarendon Taft and
Fenner Darling, both of Franklin, Massachusetts, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1880.
33
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE
TUBES OR FLUES OF STEAM-BOILERS,' A communication from abroad by Stephen
Clarendon Taft and Fenner Darling, both of Franklin, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus for cleaning the tubes or flues of steam-
boilers.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which I will
now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved apparatus or implement constructed
according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the same.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows in section a portion of the said apparatus.
Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the said Invention.
Figure 6 is an elevation illustrating a further modification of the said Invention.
The ordinary hand scraper for cleaning boiler flues and tubes is objectionable for
the reason that much manuel force is required to move it to and fro within the
tube while it fails to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended, as the
yielding of the spring scraper-blades causes them to pass over the hard scale and
incrustations of the tube without removing them. Steam cleaners have also been
employed which caused a powerful jet or blast of steam to be projected through
the tubes, but these cleaners also proved ineffectual as the steam merely expelled
the loose particles of soot and scale, leaving the greater portion of the incrustation
or deposit still adhering to the lubes.

page_text: .
This Invention has for its object to entirely overcome all of the above mentioned
difficulties and to provide means for effectually and rapidly removing all of the
incrustations or deposits from the interior of a boiler tube or flue, and .consists in
an implement which is adapted to be attached to the end of a steam-pipe, having a
flexible or jointed connection with a generator from which steam is supplied; this 5
pipe serves as a handle by which the said implement is moved to and fro through
the tube to be cleaned, the implement being provided with a rotating spool or hub
to which is pivotted a series of scraper-blades or wings; the latter have their
surfaces curved or inclined, and adapted to be rotated by the impingement thereon
of jets of steam which are discharged from suitable apertures in the body or casing 1
of the implement into which the steam is introduced from the long pipe or handlo
whereby it is pushed through the boiler-tube; these scraper-blades are rapidly
rotated by the steam-jets as the implement is forced through the tube, and serve
to cut away and entirely remove all incrustations and deposits therefrom; any
obstructions of a hard nature, such as scales and blisters cause the blades to yield 1
or move inward on their pivots, thus preventing any stoppage of their rotation,
and allowing them to finally cut away and remove the obstruction as the
implement is repeatedly moved back and forth in contact therewith.
The said Invention also consists in the combination with the rotating scraper-
blades or wings of a taper guide composed of a series of rigid or spring arms or ?
bars inclined toward the axis of the implement and attached to the front thereof;
this guide serves to facilitate the operation of introducing the implement within
the end of the tubo to be cleaned, and also to maintain the rotating spool and its
scraper blades in their proper central position within the tube while in operation.
The said Invention also consists in the employment of a serios of blades attached
to the rotating spool or hub midway between the pivotted scraper-blados or wings,
these auxiliary blades affording an additional surface for the jets of steam to
impinge upon, whereby the entire force of the steam is utilized without waste or
loss, thus causing a greatly increased power to be applied to the rotation of the
scraper-blades.
The said Invention also consists in introducing steam between the rotating
scraper-spool and its journal or spindle, the steam not only serving as a lubricant
for the bearing but also preventing the accumulation or lodgement of fine dust on
the bearing surfaces, which dust would soon cut and wear them out.
A represents the hollow body of the aforesaid implement which consists of a
metallic shell or casing of conical, cylindrical, or other suitable form, as seen in
Figures 1 and 5, and of a diameter slightly less than that of the boiler tube or flue
through which it is to be passed, so as to leave a space for the entrance of air
between the two for a purpose to bo hereinafter described.
The opening at the rear end of the body A is provided with a screw-thread to
facilitate its attachment to one end of a long pipe B, which serves as a handle for
moving the implement back and forth within the boiler-tube, the opposite end of
the pipe B having a jointed or flexible connection (not shewn) with a generator
from which steam is supplied to the hollow body A which thus forms a steam-
chamber. From the centre of the closed front end of the body A projects a
removable journal or spindle C, upon which is loosely fitted so as to revolve freely
thereon a spool or hub D which is kept in place by a head or collar b, and between
the flanges d, e, of this spool are pivotted at equal distances apart a series of
scraper-blades or wings E, the surfaces of which outside the flanges d, e, are curved
or inclined so as to resemble the blades of a marine screw or propeller, each blade
having cutting edges 10.
findicates a series of steam passages which communicate with the interior of the
body A, and have their outlets in the front end thereof near the edge, and from
these outlets are discharged powerful jets of steam which impinge against the
curved or inclined faces of the scraper-blades or wings, causing them with their
spool D to revolve with great rapidity as the implement is pushed through the
boiler-tube, and thus rapidly to cut away and remove all scale or other incrustations

page_text: with which they come in contact. The rotation of the scraper-blades or cutters
creates a strong current of air in the direction in which the implement is being
moved, which current together with the steam issuing from the discharge-outlets f
will serve to expel all of the soot, scale, or other deposits which are cut away by
the revolving scraper-blades.
As the blades revolve a vacuum is created behind them which is filled with air
entering through the annular space between the body A and the boiler-tube.
To the rear Hange d of the spool D is secured a series of small auxiliary blades g
which are inclined to the axis of rotation, each blade g being located midway
between two contiguous scraper-blades E; and by this construction additional
surfaco is afforded for the jets of steam to impinge upon, so that the force of each
jet will be continuously applied to the scraper and auxiliary blades in such a
manner that the entire force of the steam will be utilized to its maximum extent,
thus greatly increasing the power which is applied to the rotation of the scraper-
blades.
The shank or rear portion 12 of each blade E strikes the spool, which thus
serves as a stop to limit the outward throw of its cutting edge 10, thus preventing
its being thrown out beyond the proper point; and in the event of the blades E
coming into contact with any obstructions of a hard or refractory nature, such as
scales or blisters, they will yield or move inward on their pivots so as to withdraw
their cutting edges and allow of their passing the obstruction without having
their rotary movement stopped thereby, and when such an obstruction is encountered
it is merely necessary to move the implement back and forth a few times in
contact therewith to insure its being entirely removed or cut away by the rapidly
revolving scraper-blades.
The steam passages f are preferably made oblique or inclined to the plane of the
axis of rotation, as shewn in Figure 4, in order that the jets of steam may impinge
upon the blades E, g, in a direction nearly perpendicular to their faces, which
ensures the full force of the steam being utilized and its maximum power
secured.
h is a small discharge or exit steam-passage leading from the interior of the
body A or steam-chamber to a point in the front end thereof, opposite to or in
line with the space between the spool D and its journal or spindle C which is thus
filled with steam, that not only serves as a lubricant for the bearing but also
effectually expels any fine dust which may enter this space, thus preventing
cutting or wearing away of the bearing surface that would otherwise occur.
To that portion of the spindle C in front of the collar or head b are secured bent
arms or bars i which are inclined so as to meet at the point or end 14, a tapering
guide H being thus formed which greatly facilitates the operation of introducing
the implement within the end of the boiler-tube, and also serves to keep the
rotating scraper-blades in their proper central position within the tubo whilo
performing their work. The guide H may consist of any desired number of arms or
bars i, and these bars may be rigid, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, or yielding spring
arms having one end free, as shown in Figure 6, may be employed, if preferred, in
order to facilitate the passage of the implement through the tube if the latter
should be clogged with a thick deposit or incrustation. The said guide should
however in all cases be of a diameter slightly less than that of the tube to be
cleaned to allow the implement to pass easily through it.
The corners 15 of the guide H and the corners of the scraper-blades E may be
rounded to prevent their interfering with the withdrawal of the implement after
it has been pushed entirely through and beyond the end of the flue or tube.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A boiler-tube-cleaner adapted to be forced through a tube and provided
with rotating scraper-blades or cutters actuated by jets of steam impinging
thereon, substantially as described.

page_text: Second. In an apparatus or implement for cleaning boiler-tubes the combination
with the hollow body or casing adapted to be secured to the end of a steam-pipe,
and forced through the boiler-tube of the curved or inclined rotating scraper-
blades or cutters pivotted to the spool or hub revolving on the journal or spindle,
and actuated by jets of steam issuing from passages or discharge-outlets in the said
body, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In an implement for cleaning boiler-tubes the combination with the
hollow body provided with steam-discharge outlets of the revolving spool or hub
provided witli pivotted scraper-blades or cutters E and auxiliary blades g arranged
between the blades E, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
Fourth. In an implement for cleaning boiler-tubes the combination with the
hollow body and its rotating scraper-blades or cutters actuated by jets of steam, as
described, of the taper guide composed of a series of rigid or spring arms or bars
inclined toward the axis of the implement and applied to the front end thereof,
substantially as and for the purposo set forth.
Fifth. In an implement for cleaning boiler-tubes the combination with the
rotating spool or hub of the curved or inclined scraper-blades or cutters having their
rear portions pivotted between the flanges d, e, and adapted to strike the spool so
as to limit the outward throw of their cutting edges, substantially as described.
Sixth. In an implement for cleaning boiler-tubes the body provided with a
steam discharge or exit passage, or for the purpose of conducting steam from the
steam-chamber to the space between the rotating spool and its spindle or journal,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, tho said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DADT TATR