Improvements in Cleaners for Boiler Flues and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleaners for Boiler Flues and the like.
I, LOCIS JOHN WOLF, of Buffalo, in the County of Erie and State of New York,
one of the United States of America, 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 has general reference to improvements in flue-cleaners; it being
especially designed to remove the deposits from the tubes of both the water-tune
and tubular-flue boilers; and it consists, essentially in the novel and peculiar
combination of parts and details of construction as hereinafter first fully set forth
and described and then pointed out in the claim.
In the drawings herewith accompanied, and which form a part of this specifica-
tion, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved flue-cleaner. Fig.2 is a longitudinal
sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the flue-cleaner, the parts
projecting above the body thereof being omitted. Fig. 4 is a plan of the upper
section of the body looking toward the forward end thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan of
the lower portion of the said body. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the propeller-wheel
and the vibrating lever connected therewith. Fig. 7 is a plan of one of the cutting-
disks or chisels. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a flue-cleaner
illustrating a device for automatically rotating the vibrating lever around the
axial line of the body of the flue-cleaner. Eig. 9 is an elevation of the same, parts
being in section in line of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan in line y y of
Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of a fragment of the device in line z z of
Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of the body and
illustrating a modified form of connection of the steam-pipe with the body of
the cleaner.
Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.
A A¹ in the drawings represents the body of the flue-cleaner. It is a cylindrical
shell composed of two sections screwed together at a, as clearly illustrated in
Fig. 2. The upper section of this body has in its upper end a bridge A", located
to one side of the center line of said shell, to which is pivoted, by a bolt a¹, a
lever E, hereinafter to be referred to.
In the lower end of the section A there is formed, integral with the shell, a
spider G, Fig. 4, having a central opening g', and side-passages 9, said spider
acting as a diaphragm and bearing-surface for a propeller-wheel I, located in the
lower section A¹, and above a spider H, Fig. 2, in all respects similar to the
spider G and formed integral with the said lower section A¹. In the central
aperture of this spider H there is secured a stud-bolt K, upon which the propeller-
wheel I revolves, said stud-bolt bein provided with a central passage k, having
branches k¹, leading from the center to the periphery of said stud. This passage
and its branches serve as lubricating channels or conduits, as hereinafter to be
described.
The propeller-wheel I consists of a circular disk having radially-arranged,

page_text: curved, slots through its body and a central aperture ¹, engaging the stud K.
This propeller-wheel I has upon its upper surface and centrally thereupon a
boss I, which, in turn, has upon it and to one side of its center, a ball-shaped
arm I", wherewith engages the vibrating lever E in the following manner:
The lower, short, arm of the lever E hus transverse projections E", the lower
side of which is provided with a groove e, the width of which corresponds with the
diameter of the ball-shaped arm I" and in which groove the said ball revolves and
reciprocates, whereby the rotary motion of the propeller-wheel is converted into a
reciprocating one at the lower end of the said lever E.
The lever E is pivoted to the face of the bridge A by the bolt a already
described passing through the bolt-hole b, Fig. 6, of the lever so that the lever may
be readily placed into position by passing its lower end through the top or upper
end of the shell A. Its upper, long arm is formed into a screw e¹, to engage with
and hold in proper position a series of chisels or circular disks F, by means of
lock-nuts f, said disks being made sharp at their periphery, and the larger ones
thereof provided with openings f", to prevent obstruction to the passage of steam,
air or water as much as possible. These disks are of increasing diameter, the one
nearest to the end of the lever being the smallest as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
and every next succeeding one somewhat larger in size, so that when the cleaner
is in use, each of these cutters takes and removes a portion of the deposit in the
flue L. They are made circular in form in order to enable their being turned,
when worn or dull, and thus allow of their entire periphery being successi ly
brought into action and thereby to increase their usefulness to a considerable
term. When dull at their entire periphery, they may be sharpened by grinding,
and adjustment made for reduction in size, by proper adjustment of the lock-nuts f,
in a manner readily comprehended.
The lower end of the section A terminates in a bell B, having a hexagonal
section B, for the application of a wrench to enable the two sections being screwed
together and taken apart, a hole a¹¹, being provided in the upper section A for the
application of a spanner-wrench.
Into the wrench-section B' is screwed a pipe C, by means of which the flue-
cleaner is pushed into, and withdrawn from the flue L, a stop-valve D being
provided at the outer end of the pipe to control the steam, compressed air, water
or other means by which the propeller-wheel is actuated.
In constructing the disks F, I make them a trifle smaller than required to touch
the inner surface of the tube L, to prevent injury to the tube, but this will not
prevent the inner surface of the tube being perfectly cleaned for the reason that
the disks, by their momentum, will travel a trifle farther than the movement due
to the throw of the lever E.
To lubricate the parts which are revolving or reciprocating, and which I find
necessary for successful operation, I connect a lubricator, (not shown,) with the
pipe C, which lubricator will discharge the lubricant in minute particles. A
portion of this lubricant will pass through the passage k in the stud K and
through its branches to the revolving and adjacent surfaces of the propeller-wheel
and the spiders.
The device thus far described is especially designed as a water-tube cleaner, but
in order to enable this apparatus being also used as a tubular flue cleaner, I sub-
stitute for the screw-threaded portion of the lever E a flat bar of any suitable steel
and fasten to the extreme end thereof a ball or hammer as shown in Fig. 8, which
hammer is the equivalent of the cutter heretofore described and which, in striking
light but rapid blows loosens the scale and deposit on both the inner and outer
surfaces of the tube, the deposit within the tube being blown out of the same by
the steam or other medium used to operate the propeller-wheel.
In an apparatus of the kind described it is desirable to rotate the same within
the tube or flue to be cleaned, to produce perfect results. This can be done by the
operator rotating the pipe C while the apparatus is being pushed through the tube
or flue, but to accomplish this work automatically, I construct the device as shown

page_text: in Figs. 8 to 12, by forming below the wrench-section B' an externally screw-
threaded part B" and locating thereon a clamping-nut C" and a lock-nut CIII,
which latter nut prevents the clamping-nut from revolving. On the end of the
pipe C, I form a ball C, fitting a correspondingly-shaped recess in the end of the
part B and retained therein by the clamping-nut so as to form a so-called
ball-and-socket joint which will enable the body of the cleaner to revolve on said
supply-pipe C and the latter to assume a position out of axial line with the said
body, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The spider H has curved, radially-
arranged slots or passages h, pointing in a direction opposing that in which the
similar radial slots in the propeller-wheel I are arranged. The upper shell of
the body A is internally bored out to receive a shell N, which is retained in posi-
tion by a nut O, screwed onto the upper end of the shell A. Into this shell N is
located the bridge A" already referred to, and the vibrating lever E pivoted to
the central boss of this bridge in the manner heretofore described. In the interior
of the shell N there is formed an annular, inwardly-projecting ledge N¹, having
a series of inclined slots n, while the members of the bridge A that connect the
central boss with the body of the shell N are inclined in opposite directions, as
shown in Figs. 8 and 9, to co-act with the inclined slots n in revolving the shell N
within the shell A by the escaping steam or other medium used to revolve the
propeller-wheel impinging upon these inclines.
Instead of revolving the shell N within the shell A, I may discard this shell N
and form the bridge A" as well as the annular, inwardly-projecting ledge N¹
with its radial slots integral with the shell A; I may also form inclined slots h
in the spider H, curving the same as shown in Fig. 11 whereby the steam in
passing through the body A A¹ and acting upon the inclines n and h (or either,)
causes the entire body to revolve slowly. In this case I require either of the two
connections shown in Figs. 8 and 12, to connect the supply-pipe C with the said
body, preference being given to the ball-and-socket joint shown in Figs. 8 and 9,
because the flue-cleaner will be enabled to retain its position in axial line with
that of the flue or tube though the supply-pipe C may be inclined thereto, which
will happen when the apparatus is being introduced into the said tube or flue.
In Fig. 12, I have shown the supply-pipe C attached to the body of the cleaner
by a stuffing-box joint which will be readily comprehended without further
description, and which would be a substitute for the ball-and-socket joint shown
in Figs. 8 and 9, though probably not quite so effective in operation.
Flue-cleaners are usually made in various sizes ranging from two to five inches.
In order to enable me to produce these sizes at but a comparatively small expense
for patterns, and to enable me to supply the demand for such various sizes from a
comparatively small stock, I provide the shells A A¹ with projecting flanges M,
Fig. 1, in one piece with, or screwed onto the said shells. In this case I make
the body of the shells to measure say: two, three and four inches in diameter, and
make the flanges to measure two and three-fourths, three and three fourths
and four and three-fourths of an inch respectively. Now, if a flue-
ceoner of any size below two and three-fourths of an inch is required
I shall turn down the flanges M to fit the size demanded, and do so
with the larger sizes. In this manner I am enabled to supply the demand
for any size within the range of those made, from a comparatively small stock,
which is quite an advantage in the manufacture and sale of flue-cleaners.
In operation steam, compressed air, water under pressure or other suitable
means is admitted to the shell A A and passing through the curved, radial slots
in the propeller-wheel I causes the latter to revolve very rapidly. This motion is
communicated to the vibrating lever E in the manner described while the
apparatus is being slowly pushed through the tube or flue. At the same time,
the steam acts upon the inclined surfaces which cause a slow revolution of the
body around the supply-pipe or the shell N within the shell A. (as the case may
be.) and thereby accomplish the desired result in an effective and thorough manner.

page_text: 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:-
1. In a flue-cleaner, a suitable shell, a propeller-wheel located therein, a
vibrating lever, a guide in the short arm of this lever, a suitable tool on the outer
end of said lever, suitable means for connecting the vibrating lever with the
rotary motor, and a suitable supply-pipe for admitting steam to the interior of
said shell, as described.
2. A boiler-tube cleaner consisting, essentially, of a suitable shell, a motor
within said shell, a vibrating lever pivoted within said shell and connected with
said motor with one end, and a series of cutting-disks upon the other projecting
end of said lever, said cutting disks being of progressively decreasing diameter
and adjustably mounted upon the projecting end of said lever, as set forth.
3. A water-tube cleaner consisting, essentially, of a shell, a propeller-wheel
within said shell, a ball-shaped arm on said propeller-wheel, a lever pivoted to a
bridge in said shell, a groove at the lower end of said lever adapted to engage the
ball of the said arm, and a series of sharp-edged chisels adjustably arranged upon
said lever, as stated.
4. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination, with the shell composed of two
parts screwed together as described, of a bridge in one of said parts and located to
one side of the center thereof, a lever pivoted to said bridge and projecting with
one end into said body, a spider on the top of said propeller-wheel, a suitable pro-
peller-wheel, a spider located below said propeller-wheel, a ball-shaped projection
on the upper surface of said propeller-wheel, a projection on the short arm of
said lever having a groove engaging said ball, and a series of chisels at the upper
end of said lever, said chisels being of different diameter, as stated.
5. As an improved article of manufacture a flue-cleaner consisting, essentially,
of a body having a supply-pipe attached thereto, a rotary motor within said body,
a vibrating lever pivoted in said body and connected with said motor, a suitable
tool on the outer end of said lever, and means, substantially as described, for
rotating said lever around the axial line of said body, as stated.
6. A water-tube and boiler-flue cleaner, consisting, essentially, of a body, a
supply-pipe attached thereto by a universal-joint connection, a motor within said
body, a vibrating lever pivoted thereto, means for connecting the said lever with
said motor, and further means for revolving said lever around the axial line of
said body as set forth.
7. In a water-tube and boiler-flue cleaner, a body, a supply-pipe attached thereto
by a universal-joint connection, a shell within said body adapted to revolve therein,
a vibrating lever pivoted to said shell and connected with the motor, and means
substantially as described for revolving said shell within said body, as stated.
Doted is 21st day of May 1897
LOUIS JOHN WOLF.