Improvements in Flue-cleaners.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
Improvements in Flue-cleaners.
We, ROBERT HAMILTON BLACK and FRANK EVANS, both of Homestead, in
be County of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to flue-cleaners, and has for its object to provide an
efficient tool which may be advanced longitudinally through the flue to be cleaned,
the said tool comprising a number of radially-movable chippers operated alternately
by steam, compressed air, or other fluid-power controlled by a revoluble valve
mounted in the tool-shell and provided with ports for directing the steam or other
fluid in the proper course or courses.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the
subjoined description.
The invention consists in an improved flue-cleaner embodying certain novel
features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully
described, illustrated in the drawings and finally incorporated in the claims hereto
appended.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the improved flue-cleaner.
Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section showing one method of actuating the rotary
valve.
Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section through the valve.
Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation of the valve.
Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a double chipper.
Fig. 7 is a similar view of a single spring-retracted chipper.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the main body of the flue.
cleaner which is in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell of suitable length the same
being provided with a tapering or cylindro-conical advance end 2. This shell is
provided at numerous intervals throughout its length with radial openings 3,
connected in pairs by longitudinal passages 4.
5 designates a double chipping-tool, cutter, or hammer which comprises a central
web portion 6 adapted to lie within one of the longitudinal passages 4 and to be
fulcrumed therein upon a pin or pivot 7. Upon each side of the central web 6 is
arranged a chipper, cutter or hammer 8 which is preferably disposed obliquely to
the web 6 and provided with a broad base 9 which corresponds in outline or contour
to the radial opening 3 in which it oscillates. The active edge of the chipper 8 is
inclined relatively to the base 9 so that when thrown outward against the inner
surface of the flue to be cleaned said working edge will be practically parallel
with such inner surface of the flue, so as to contact therewith throughout its
length. A double chipping-tool is thus formed, which is pivoted at a central or
intermediate point, so that as one end of the tool is moved outward the opposite end
is moved inward.
Another form of chipping-tool is shown at the tapered advance end of the cleaner
in which the chipper 8 is mounted upon the free end of a retracting-spring 10
secured to the main body or shell 1, the said chipping-tool moving radially in a
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page_text: recess therein similarly to the double chippers before described. Any number of
these double or single chippers may be employed at suitable intervals throughout
the length of the cleaner, and they are preferably arranged in circular series, as
shown in Fig. 2. Within the bore of the body or shell 1, is arranged a valve 11,
in the form of a tube, extending longitudinally through the cleaner and having
its front end closed and formed with a cone or bearing-point 12 which is received
in a bearing-cone 13 stationary at the front end of the cleaner and preferably having
a threaded connection therewith, whereby it can be removed, so as to allow
of the removal of the valve 11. The opposite end of the valve 11 has its
bearings in a thimble or coupling 14, having a screw-threaded engagement with
the rear end of the cleaner, as indicated at 15, the thimble or coupling being itself
threaded as at 16 to receive the threaded end of a pipe or tubular handle by
means of which the cleaner may be inserted in and advanced through the flue to
be cleaned and manipulated therein so as to bring the chippers into contact
with every portion of such flue. This pipe or handle also serves to admit the
steam or other fluid for the purpose of rotating the valve and actuating the
chipping-tools.
In order to actuate the tubular valve by steam-power it is provided preferably
at points diametrically opposite, with discharge-nozzles 17 projecting radially
therefrom and having their ends deflected reversely and tangentially as shown, so
that as the steam escapes therefrom and meets with the resistance of the
surrounding air the valve will be caused to rotate in its bearings. The main
body or shell 1, is formed with an internal recess or cavity 18 in which the
discharge-nozzles 17 rotate. The valve 11 is provided preferably at diametrically
opposite points with ports 19, and a pair of such ports is arranged in transverse
alignment with each circular scries of chippers 8, said ports being adapted to
communicate with the openings 3 in diametrically-opposite pairs as the valve
rotates. The object in throwing the chippers outward in opposing pairs is to
centralize the cleaner within the flue upon which it is operated. The broad base 9
of each chipper moves for the major portion of its stroke within its respective
opening 3 but just before reaching the end of its stroke the said base moves
beyond the periphery of the body or shell 1, as shown in Fig. 1, thus enabling
the steam or other fluid to exhaust at the very point where the chipper strikes its
blow, the scale thus being carried off by the force of the current. The ports 19
may be of any size or shape according to the nature of the fluid used for actuating
the chippers and they are arranged so that the ports of one series of chippers
alternate with those of the adjacent series, thereby causing the double chipping-
tools 5 to vibrate alternately in opposite directions.
It will be apparent that instead of rotating the valve 11 by steam-power,
as above described, it may be actuated by any suitable mechanical or other
contrivance arranged exteriorly of the flue and having communication with the
valve through the pipe or tubular handle hereinabove referred to. It will also be
apparent that the particular form and disposition of the chippers may be changed
and that the relation between the ports 19 and the chipping-tools may be varied.
Other ports 20 are provided for the exhaust steam from the nozzles 17. If desired,
the chippers may be set in a skeleton frame or casing and operated in a similar
manner. Such a frame or casing would be especially desirable and perhaps requisite
where the scale or incrustation is of a soft nature requiring a stream of water to
wash it away as it is loosened.
Other changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of
this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with the main body or shell having the central bore, as described

page_text: and provided with radial openings communicating therewith, of a series of radially-
movable chippers or hammers arranged in said openings, and a revolving valve
arranged in the bore and operating substantially as described.
2. The combination with the outer shell, of the rotary valve mounted therein,
provision for actuating the valve, and the chippers or hammers connected with the
outer shell and adapted to be actuated, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the outer shell provided with radial openings arranged
in longitudinally-aligned pairs, of the double chippers fulcrumed on the shell
intermediate said openings, and the rotary valve arranged within the shell and
provided with alternately-disposed ports for actuating the chippers alternately in
opposite directions, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the outer shell provided with the circular series of
radial openings as described, of a rotary valve located within the shell and having
a port communicating successively with said radial openings and the radially-movable
chippers or hammers working in said openings, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the outer shell, and the radially-movable chippers or
hammers, of the rotary valve journaled in the shell, and one or more discharge
nozzles communicating with the valve, extending radially therefrom and having their
extremities deflected tangentially, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of January 1897,
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.