Improvements in Tube Cleaners.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, &th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Cleaners.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WATSON, Machinist, of Isla de Naos, Panama Bay, in the
United States of Colombia, South America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved flue cleaner, which is provided with a casing
made in two parts, each having a hub mounted on a pin formed on one end of a handle
by which the tool is manipulated. A nut holds the casing in place on the pin, said
nut screwing on the outer end of the pin, the inner end of the hub resting against an
offset formed on the handle. On the outer end of one part of the casing there is a
cylindrical disc provided with a series of radial slots (preferably four in number) in
which cutiers are fitted to slide. Each cutter has a V-shaped segmental cutting edge
adapted to engage the scale or other deposit on the inside of the tube or flue to be
cleaned. Each of the cutters has a radially-extending slot through which passes a
pin secured on the face of the, disc which serves to hold the cutter in place. The
inner edge of each cutter is also segmental and rests on a spring held in a circular
recess formed in the disc and into which the slots lead. A loose collar is held on the
pin in this recess inside of the circular spring so as to limit the inward movement of
the spring when it is compressed. The other part of the casing also has a disc which
faces the first mentioned disc and is also provided with slots in which similar cutters
are held, said cutters being also pressed outward by resting on part of the spring which
extends for this purpose into the annular recess formed in the said disc.
When the several parts are in place a pin is passed through one of the bubs and the
pin on which it is mounted so as to lock the several parts in place. In order to
strengthen the discs, ribs are formed on the hubs and connected with the said discs.
The sets of cutters in the two dises are arranged alternately so that the cutting edges
of all the cutters form almost a complete circle. The spring pressing simultaneously
on all the cutters forces the latter outward until their outward movement is arrested
by the pins bearing against the inner ends of the slots. In this position the cutting
edges extend a suitable distance beyond the rims of the discs so that the tool, when
introduced into a flue, permits of pressing the cutters slightly inward on one side or
the other until the tool is completely inserted in the tube and by then pressing and
drawing the casing and its contents forward and backward in the tube by the
handle the cutters cut the scaie and other deposits adhering to the inside of
the tube.
The spring is completely encased in the casing, so that it is not readily affected
by heat in the tubes or by the heat incident to operating the tool in the flue.
Dated this 11th of 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube Cleaners.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WATSON, Machinist, of Isla de Naos, Panama Bay, in the
United States of Colombia, South 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 relates to an improved flue cleaner of simple construction which is
not liable to get out of order and very effective in operation.

page_text: The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
forming part of this Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional view, of the tube cleaner ;
Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation, (on line -, Figure 2) and
Figure 4a front end elevation, of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The improved flue cleaner is constructed with a casing A made in two parts B and C
each having a hub B' and C' respectively mounted on a pin D formed on one end of
a handle E by which the tool is manipulated. The casing A is held in place on the
pin D by a nut F which screws on the outer end of the said pin D, the inner end of
the hub B resting against an offset G on the handle E. On the outer end of the
part B of the casing A there is a cylindrical disc H having a series of radial slots I
(preferably four in number) as is plainly shewn in Figure 3, in which cutiers Jare
fitted to slide. Each cutter has a V-shaped segmental entting edge adapted to
engage the scale or other deposit on the inside of the flue or tube to be cleaned. Each
of the cutters J has a radially-extending slot J through which passes a pin K secured
on the face of the disc H which serves to hold the cutter in place. The inner edge
of cach catter is also segmental and rests against a spring L held in a circular recess I'
into which the slots I lead. A loose collar N is held on the pin D in this recess I¹
inside of the circular spring L so as to limit the inward movement of the spring L
when it is compressed. On the outer part C of the casing A is arranged a disc O
which faces the disc H and is also provided with slots in which are held to slide
cutters J similar to the cutters in the disc H and also pressed outward by resting
on part of the spring L which extends for this purpose into the annular recess l¹ which
is formed in the said disc O. When the several parts are in place on the pin D, a
pin P is passed through the hub C¹ and the pin D so as to lock the several parts in
place.
In order to strengthen the dises H and O, ribs B and C are formed on the hubs B¹
and respectively and connected with the said discs, as is plainly shewn in the
drawings.
The sets of cutters J in the two dises H and O are arranged alternately, as
plainly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, so that the cutting edges J of all the cutters
form almost a complete circle, as is plainly shewn in the latter figure.
It will be seen that the spring L, pressing simultaneously on all the cutters J, forces
the latter outward until their outward movement is arrested by the pins K bearing
against the inner ends of the slots J2. In this position the cutting edges J extend a
suitable distance beyond the rims of the discs H and O so that the tool, when introduced
into a flue, permits of pressing the cutters J slightly inward on one side or the other
until the tool is completely inserted in the tube and by then pressing and drawing
the casing and its contents forward and backward in the tube by the handle E the
cutters J cut the scale and other deposits adhering to the inside of the tube. It will
also be seen that the spring L is completely encased in the casing A so that it is not
readily affected by heat in the tubes or by the heat incident to operating the tool in
the flue.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A flue cleaner, consisting of a shank provided with two discs having a narrow
space between their adjacent faces, a series of pins on one disc crossing said space, a
series of flat cutters having. slots through which said pins extend, and a spring
against which the inner ends of said cutters bear, substantially as set forth.
2. A flue cleaner, comprising a shank two discs, on the shank provided with spaced
radial slots in their adjacent faces, the slots in one disc being opposite the plain surfaces
lying between the slots of the other disc and a narrow space being formed between
the two dises, and flat spring-seated cutters within the slots in said dises whereby one

page_text: series of cutters will overlap the side edges of the other series, substantially as set
forth.
3. A flue cleaner, consisting of a shank, two discs on the shank provided in their
adjacent faces with alternating radial slots, one of said discs having a central circular
recess in its slotted face, a circular spring resting in said recess and projecting there-
above behind the slots in the other disc, and two series of cutters in said slots resting
at their inner ends against said spring, substantially as set forth.
4. A flue cleaner, consisting of a shank, two discs on the shank provided in their
adjacent faces with alternating slots, pins crossing said slots, two series of slotted
cutters mounted in said slots and through which cutters said pins pass, and a circular
spring against which the inner ends of both series of cutters bear, substantially as
set forth.
5. A flue cleaner, consisting of a shank, two discs on the shank provided in their
adjacent faces with alternating slots, pins crossing said slots, two series of slotted
cutters mounted in said slots and through which cutters said pins pass, a circular
spring against which the inner ends of all the cutters bear, and a loose collar
within the spring for limiting its inward movement, substantially as set forth.
HOA CHIS ALI RAYA HIDU
ANALA
W. H. WATSON.
By A. M. & Win. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.