Improvements in Rotary Boiler-flue Cleaner.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1897
Improvements in Rotary Boiler-flue Cleaner.
I, ROBERT GIBBENS BIDWELL Engineer of 810 F, Street N.W., Washington,
District of Columbia United States of 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:-
--
My invention relates to a novel form of boiler-flue cleaner, and the object is to
provide a simple, inexpensive and effective as well as a durable device of this kind.
To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrange-
ment of the several parts of the same as will be hereinafter more fully described
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, the same reference characters indicate the same
parts of the invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved rotary boiler-flue cleaner.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rotary cleaner head.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the contiguous faces of the two sections comprising
said head.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the cap.
Figure 5 is a similar view of the guide-washer, and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tubular shank.
1 represents a tubular shank, screw-threaded at each end, and 2 represents a socket
connection, removably secured to the inner threaded end of the tubular shank 1,
to receive a tubular handle 3, by means of which the handle may be operated to
manipulate the tool.
The opposite end of the tubular handle 3 is connected to a flexible pipe 4, which
in turn communicates with the boiler or other source of steam supply (not shown)
so that there may be a free supply of live steam from the boiler to the tubular
shank 1.
A valve or plug-cock 5 forms a part of the handle 3, for conveniently controlling
the steam pressure; the outer threaded end of the shank 1 receives a flanged cap 6,
which closes the end of said shank, and its flange 7 is provided with a series of
orifices 8, 8, as shown.
An imperforate washer 9 of the same diameter as the flanged cap 6, is removably,
secured to the inner or opposite end of the shank 1, and this washer and the
flanged cap act as parallel guides for the insertion and manipulation of the shank
when inserted in the flue.
The rotating head is composed of two counter-part disks 10-12, and they are
formed with integral aligned sleeves 10-12¹ which form a bearing on the shank 1.
The contiguous faces of these disks 10 and 12, are formed with aligned crescent-
shaped radial grooves 13-14, which begin at a periphery and terminate in an
annular channel 15 formed in the contiguous faces of the disks and which com-
municate with a series of aligned radial orifices 16-16, in the tubular shank 1.
These disks are secured together by the machine-screws 17-17 extending trans-
versely through them, and the head itself is secured in place on the tubular shank

page_text: between the shoulder 18 of the cap 6 and the roller 19 adjustably secured to the
shank on the opposite side of the rotating head of the set-screw 20.
The circumference of the rotary head is provided with a continuous series of
radial serrations 21-21, which are preferably case hardened to withstand wear
and tear when in use.
The operation of the cleaner is as follows:-The parts being adjusted as shown
in Fig. 1, and the tubular shank in communication with the boiler or other source
of live steam supply, the shank is inserted in the boiler flue, and the steam admitted
through the valve 5, and as it escapes through the crescent shaped radial grooves
in the head, impinges against the walls of the flue at a tangent which produces a
re-actionary movement of the head in the flue, the impact of the steam loosening
the soot or accumulated carbon, and the serrations on the head removing it from
the walls of the flue, and the draft caused by the exhaust steam, discharges the
refuse matter through the orifices 8-8 in the flanged cap.
The operation is practically instantaneous, as it only requires the passage of the
tool through the flue once and return to effectually cleanse it.
Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrange-
ment of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the
same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the
scope of my invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A rotary boiler-flue cleaner, comprising a shank or handle, in combination
with a serrated disk loosely journaled in said shank and means for rotating said
serrated disk, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A steam-boiler-flue cleaner comprising a tubular shank, a cylindrical head
mounted on said shank and provided with radial passages communicating with said
tubular shank, and means as described for imparting a rotary motion to said
cylindrical head on said shank, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A steam-boiler-flue cleaner, comprising the tubular shank 1, closed at one
end, and provided with radial orifices 16-16, in combination with the rotating
head mounted on said shank and provided with a series of crescent-shaped radial
passages communicating with the orifices in said shank, substantially as shown and
described.
4. The tubular shank 1, provided with the orifices 16-16, the cap 6 fixed to
one end of said shank and the washer 9 fixed on the opposite end thereof, in com-
bination with the rotary head loosely mounted on said tubular shank, and com-
prising the serrated disks 10-12, having contiguous aligned radial grooves 13-14,
the inner ends of which communicate with said orifices 16-16 on said shank, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of August 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.