Improvements in Boiler Tube Cleaners.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boiler Tube Cleaners.
We, WILBER DAVID FORSYTH, of 428, Jucunda Street, Toolmaker, and Exos
THOMAS BELL, of 7637, Frankstown Avenue, Machinist, both of Pittsburgh, in
the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of North
America, 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 relation to devices for removing scale and other deposits
from the tubes of boilers and other structures, and it consists in the novel con-
struction and combination of parts as herein set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings—
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my cleaner head, with the cutters in inactive
position.
Figure 2 is a section on the line y-y, Figure 3, showing the cutters thrown
out into active position in dotted lines."
Figure 3 is a section on the line -, Figure 2.
Figure 4, 5 and 6, are detail views showing different forms of cutters.
In these drawings, the letter A, designates the body portion of the head of the
cleaner, which is of frustro-conical form, having longitudinal recesses for the
reception of the cleaner rolls or cutters. This body is preferably constructed with
a central web-portion, and circular ledges a¹, having radial guide-slois a".
B, represents the front or entering portion of the head, which is preferably a
rounded boss of conoidal form, and C, the base portion to which power is applied
in order to rotate the cleaner.
D, D, indicate arms which are pivoted at their forward ends, as indicated at d,
or in such manner as to have under rapid rotation an outward radial movement,
being guided in such movement by the slots all of the ledges a¹, and being
limited in such movement by stops indicated at c.
Each arm D, is provided with a seat , for the reception of a pivoted rolling
cutter or cleaner E. usually of tapering or cone-frustrum form, or of cylindrical
form having an inclined position, the object, being to present an inclined surface to
the work, such surface corresponding to the general form of the head as set forth.
Each arm D is also usually provided with a seat following the seat, for the
reception of a cylindrical finishing roller or rotating cleaner F, which following
the main cleaning roller E serves to remove the traces of the work from the bore
of the tube, and give it a smooth finish.
There are provided in each head three or more movable arms D, carrying roll-
ing cutters, and it is preferred that the rolling cutters E, each extend the entire
length of the conical portion of the body and that they be made with teeth
extending lengthwise or rib teeth, and that with the same diameter each rolling
cutter have a different number of teeth, in order to facilitate their attack upon
the scale or deposit, and in order to avoid "tracking" in their work.
The cleaner head having been inserted in the tube is rapidly rotated, as it is

page_text: fed forward by any suitable power, and this rotation causes the arms and their
rolling cleaners to move outward and attack the scale by rolling contact under
centrifugal pressure. The rib teeth of the forward cleaner rolls rapidly cut into
and disintegrate the scale, the differentiation in their construction facilitating
their action. Furthermore the cleaner cutters presenting inclined working faces
throughout their length and working from a lesser to a higher angle, gradually
cut out the scale in a conical manner and without forming steps or obstructive
ledges in the work.
The cleaner rollers are followed by the cylindrical rolls which are designed to
work upon the inside of the tube in a manner parallel therewith, and to have a
finishing or polishing effect thereon, cleaning away the traces of the rough work
of the forward cutters.
The construction of the cleaner head is compact, strong and durable, and it is
believed to be well adapted to the hard work for which it is designed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In a tube cleaner, the tapering or cone-frustum cutting roller having longi-
tudinal teeth, substantially as specified.
2. In a tube cleaner, the cone-frustum or inclined cutting roller, in combi-
nation with a finishing roller, and with a radially moving arm of the cleaner head
to which such cutting roller and finishing roller are pivoted, substantially as
specified.
3. A cleaner head for removing deposit from boiler and other tubes consisting
of a coniform body having a web-form central portion and radially slotted ledges,
swinging arms pivoted at their forward ends, long inclined cutting rollers, and
the following finishing rollers connected to said arms, and the point and base
portions connected to the front and rear ends of said body, substantially as
specified.
4. In a cleaner head for removing deposit from boiler and other tubes, radially
moving arms pivoted at the end portion of said head, and differentiated cutting
rollers pivoted to said arms, substantially as specified.
5. A coniform cleaner head for removing deposit from boiler and other tubes.
having a tapering set of cleaner cutters each presenting an inclined working face
from end to end of the conical portion, and a set of cylindrical cleaner rollers
following said cleaner cutters, substantially as specified.
6. In a cleaner head for removing deposit from boiler tubes, pivoted arms
adapted to swing outwardly, and connected thereto, longitudinally toothed cut-
ting rollers having a tapering or inclined presentation, and following said cut-
ting rollers, cylindrical finishing rollers, substantially as specified.
7. In a cleaner head for removing scale from boiler tubes, the combination
with the pivoted arms and the rear finishing rolls, of the forward long roller
cutters having rib teeth extending the length of the conical part of the head,
substantially as specified.
Dated this Thiel dose of October 1800
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.