Improvements in Tube-cleaners.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tube-cleaners.
We, PAUL LECHLER, 50, Kronen Strasse of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of
Würtemberg, German Empire, Manufacturer, and CHRISTIAN MÜNZENMAIER, of
Kennenburg, near Esslingen, in the Kingdom of Würtemberg, German Empire,
Mechanist, 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 :-
Our invention relates to a cleaning device for tubes, and consists in securing to
a suitable handle or frame a number of rotatable rollers provided on their
circumference with spirally placed points or teeth, the last turns of the spiral being
sharp cutters.
In order to make our meaning clear, we refer to the accompanying drawings, in
which similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved tube-cleaner as constructed for cleaning
the exterior surface of tubes,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same,
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of our improved tube-cleaner, as constructed for cleaning
the interior of tubes;
Fig. 4 is a vertical end view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a spiral guide for altering the distance between
the cleaning-rollers.
Fig. 6 shows a modified attachment of the bearings in which the pivots of the
cleaning-rollers rotate.
Fig. 7 illustrates a modified driving gear.
Figs. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional elevation and plan respectively, of the
front ends of Figs. 1 and 2.
The instrument as shown in Figs. 1 & 2 is designed for cleaning the outer
surface of tubes. It consists of a fork b to which there are secured two rotating
rollers a, by means of screws g. These rollers are provided with a series of sharp
points or teeth a¹ placed in a spiral, and at both ends of each roller, or only at one
end of the same we provide sharp edges a². Fork 6 is secured to a sleeve n provided
with an inner thread into which fits the threaded end of the rod d. The latter
is enclosed by a sleeve f which is secured into another sleeve c. To the sleeve c
there is secured a fork b', to which a third roller a of the same kind as the two
others is pivotted by means of a screw g. The sleeve c has a screws working in a
grooves in the sleeve n, which prevents the rotation thereof. Two screws u and u¹
pass through c and engage with a groove v in d, and act as a preventative to the
longitudinal displacement of d, relatively to f and n. At the end of the instrument
opposite that to which the rollers a are secured, there is provided a handle e
the turning of which advances or retracts the fork b relatively to the fork b².
It will be obvious that by turning the handle e the rod d which is connected to the
same, will be rotated at the same time, and the sleeve n will be moved out of
sleeve c or into the same according to the direction in which handle e is turned.
By this means we are enabled to vary the distance between the roller a pivotted
to the arm b' and those held by arm b, and the instrument may thus be employed
for cleaning tubes of different diameters. When all the rollers have their points a¹
in contact with the surface of the tube, the whole instrument is turned round the
axis of the tube to be cleaned and during this rotation the teeth a¹ break the
incrustation that has settled on the tube, and at the same time a progressing motion
of the instrument is obtained in consequence of the points a' being placed spirally.

page_text: The sharp edges a² cut off the incrustation which has been disintegrated by the
action of the points a', and thus the tube is perfectly cleaned.
a,
In Figs. 3-5 we have shown the construction of our improved instrument when
the same is to be used for cleaning the inner surface of tubes. In this case the
rollers the construction of which is the same as before described, are fixed to
the ends of levers h having their fulcrum ati in small bearings secured to a rod k
extending from one end of the instrument to the other and through the sleeve l,
provided with a collar m at the end close to the levers h. The solid rod k is
provided at its free end with a hand wheel p. The outer sleeve is provided with
a handler for turning the same and in this handle we insert a set screw z.
levers h are guided at both ends by means of a collar o having appropriate radial
slots. The face of collar m which is close to the ends of the levers h, is provided
with a helical thread t as will be seen in Fig. 5 and the ends of the levers h are
made to engage between the turns of the helix.
The
The instrument is used in the following manner: After having inserted the
same into a tube, the rollers a being foremost, the handler is turned, so that, the
ends of the levers h being guided by the helical thread t on the collar m,
the rollers a are moved apart until they touch the tube to be cleaned. Then the
screw is screwed on so that sleeve is locked with regard to rod k and hereafter
the whole instrument is rotated by means of the hand-wheel p. The operation is
now similar to that before described, the points a' breaking the incrustations and
the sharp edges a² cutting and removing the same, while the rollers are continually
advancing in the direction of the tube's axis. q is a handle which is held while
turning the instrument, in order to steady the motion of the latter.
In Fig. 6 we have shown another manner of attaching the rollers a. They are
pivotted in a smaller fork h', which is again pivotted to the lever h by means of a
pin h². By this arrangement the roller is kept in perfect contact with the tube,
which is not possible when the bearings are rigidly connected with the levers h,
owing to the different angular positions occupied by these levers in relation to the
central rod k.
In the modification illustrated by Fig. 7 the hand-wheel p is not mounted on
spindle k, but on the shaft of a toothed wheel y', a larger toothed wheel y, which
is keyed to spindle k, engaging with y', so that a greater power is exerted on
spindle k when turning the hand-wheel p.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for removing incrustations and the like from tubes, consisting
of a suitable hand-piece and rotatable rollers pivotted to the same, said rollers being
provided with spirally placed points and spiral cutting edges, for the purpose as
described.
2. An apparatus for removing incrustations and the like from tubes, consisting
of a suitable hand piece, rotatable rollers pivotted to the same, said rollers being
provided with spirally placed points and spiral cutting edges, and means for
varying the respective distance between said rollers, for the purpose as described.
3. In a tube-cleaner: the combination, with the outer casing cf, fork b¹ and
roller of the rod d, sleeve n, fork band rollers a pivotted to the same, and
suitable means for turning rod d in relation to sleeve f, substantially as shown
and described with reference to Figs. 1 & 2, and for the purpose set forth.
a₂
4. In a tube-cleaner: the combination, with the rod k, sleeve l enclosing the same,
and collar m having spiral guide t, of the levers h fulcrumed in bearings i, guided
by means of slotted disks o and guide t, and carrying the cleaning rollers a,
substantially as shown and described with reference to Figs. 3-5, and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a tube-cleaner: the modification shown in Fig. 6 and described with

page_text: reference thereto, consisting in securing the rollers a between the prongs of a
fork h¹, pivotted to the lever by means of a pin or bolt h³, for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 15th day of Tuno 1902
PAUL LECHLER,
CHRISTIAN MÜNZENMAIER,
By Geo. Thos. Hyde,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.