Improvements in Vacuum Boiler Tube Cleaners.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vacuum Boiler Tube Cleaners.
I, FRANK RUEL BALDWIN Engineer, of 165 Broadway New York County and
State of New York United States of America do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to boiler tube cleaners in which a current or currents of
air and steam or combined steam and air are employed to draw, by means of a
powerful blast passed through the same and the vacuum created thereby, a strong
current of air, through the boiler tube to which it is applied, into the appliance
itself in order to remove from the boiler flues the deposits which accumulate
therein.
The mouth or steam inlet tube of my device connects with the combining and
discharge chamber preferably by means of a belt or annular space, and jet openings,
a continuous channel thus being practically formed. Communicating with the com-
bining and discharge chamber is a suction tube which is free from any obstructions
and of uniform size throughout which is provided on its exterior surface
with a preferably tapering annular flange adapted to fit varying sizes of tubes and
ordinarily constructed of rubber or equivalent elastic material in order that when
the vacuum is formed within the device by means of a blast being passed through
the same a tight joint will be formed between the suction tube and the boiler tube
to which it is applied the action of the vacuum serving to closely draw the parts
together.
The suction tube is applied to the boiler tube to be cleaned and upon applying
steam to the inlet or forcing a strong current of air through the same, a powerful
blast passes through the appliance and is discharged at its mouth-the interior
chamber being ordinarily narrowed in order to create a greater velocity of the
current. This current passes with such velocity through the device that a vacuum
is established and a suction action is created which induces the air at the outer end
of the boiler tube to rush through the tube into the vacuum and to carry all
deposits as soot, ashes, etc.-along with it which are all thereupon discharged
through my appliance-there being no collection of soot formed within the
continuous channel of my device on account of the free passage formed thereby in
which there are no obstructions of any kind located, and all liability of clogging up
of the same is thus prevented.
The flues are thus cleaned throughout their entire length without the admission
of steam into the tubes which exercises such a deleterious action upon the same. It
is obvious that the inlet tube may open directly into the interior chamber and may
consist of a continuous narrow annular passage, but for ordinary use I prefer the
construction described. My appliance may be applied to either end of the boiler
tubes, but preferably so as to draw in the direction of the chimney draught and is
applicable to tubular boilers of all descriptions whether horizontal or not.
New York January 31st 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vacuum Boiler Tube Cleaners.
I, FRANK RUEL BALDWIN, of 165 Broadway New York, in the State of New
York United States of America, Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of my said 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 boiler tube cleaners in which a current or currents of air
or steam or combined steam and air are employed to draw by means of a powerful
blast passed through the same and the vacuum created thereby, a strong current of
air through the boiler tube to which it is applied into the appliance itself in order
to remove from the boiler flues the deposits which accumulate, and has for its
object the provision of a device simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture
and efficient in practical use.
To attain the desired end my invention consists in the construction and
arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings which form a part of this Specification, Figure 1, represents a
central vertical section and Figure 2, a front elevation of an article constructed
according to my invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.
Referring again to the drawings A, represents the mouth or steam inlet tube of
my device which connects with the combining and discharge chamber C, preferably
by means of the belt or annular space A', and jet openings or apertures .-a
continuous channel thus being practically formed through the appliance.
Communicating with the combining and discharge chamber C, is the suction
tube B, which is free from obstructions and of uniform size throughout, which is
provided on its exterior surface with a preferably tapering annular. Hange B',
adapted to fit varying sizes of tubes and ordinarily constructed of rubber or other
elastic material in order that when the vacuum is formed within the device by
means of a blast being passed through the same a tight joint will be formed
between the suction tube B, and the boiler flue to which it is applied, the action of
the vacuum serving to closely draw the parts together.
My elastic flange is constructed of sufficient width and taper in order to enable it
to be held at an angle with or to enter and form a tight joint with different sized
boiler tubes thus increasing the efficiency of my appliance.
The suction tube B, is applied to the boiler tube to be cleaned and upon
supplying steam to the inlet A, or forcing a strong current of air through the same
a powerful blast passes through the appliance and is discharged at the mouth of the
chamber C, which is ordinarily narrowed at c, in order to create a greater velocity
of the current.
This current passes with such velocity through the device that a vacuum is
established and a suction action is created which induces the air at the other end of
the boiler tube to rush through the tube into the vacuum and to carry all deposits-
as soot, ashes, etc., along with it, which are all thereupon discharged through the
chamber C, there being no collection of soot formed within the continuous channel
of my device on account of the free passage formed thereby in which there are no
obstructions of any kind located, & all liability of clogging up of the same is thus
prevented.
The flues are thus cleaned throughout their entire length without the admission
of steam into the tubes which exercises such a deleterious action upon the same.
It is obvious that the inlet tube may open directly into the chamber C, and may
consist of a number of perforations a placed so close together that they practically
form a continuous narrow annular passage, but for ordinary use I prefer the
construction herein shown.
My device may be applied to either end of the boiler tubes, but preferably so as

page_text: to draw in the direction of the chimney draught, and is applicable to tubular boilers
of all descriptions whether horizontal or not.
The discharge chamber C, may conduct into the chimney & thence out into the
atmosphere, or through a connection into any desired place.
On account of the fact of the annular steam inlets a, being of such small diameter
only a comparatively small steam blast can be admitted thereby, and upon the hot
gases being drawn through the flue cleaner by means of the suction action of the
steam, the steam forcing jets, being wire drawn as it were, are thoroughly dried by
the hot gases on which account the soot, ashes, etc. being in no wise dampened
cannot stick to or become banked up upon the sides of the channel and thus choke
up the flue cleaner and destroy its efficiency.
By means of my improved vacuum tube cleaner I force a strong current through
the appliance, and on account of the vacuum thus formed, the hot gases in the
connection at the other end of the boiler are drawn with great velocity through the
boiler tube by reason of the atmospheric pressure rushing into the vacuum thereby
carrying all the deposits through the tube cleaner & discharging the same as before
described the soot, ashes, etc. being drawn in the same direction as the chimney
draught, and the deposits from one tube being thereby prevented from being
returned into any of the others.
As it is evident that many slight changes in the construction & relative
arrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit &
scope of my invention I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to
the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that
I reserve the right to make such changes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1-A vacuum boiler tube cleaner provided with an open continuous channel, free
from obstructions therein placed & consisting at one end of a horizontal suction
tube of practically uniform size throughout, the remaining portion of the channel
consisting of a vertical combining and discharge chamber in connection with a
series of preferably annular steam passages of small diameter communicating
therewith, whereby the hot gases and deposits in the flue are drawn through the
fue cleaner the steam forcing blast being wire drawn as it were and thereby
dried and the whole driven with great velocity from the discharge chamber
without collecting upon the sides of the same substantially as described.
2-A vacuum boiler tube cleaner provided with an open continuous channel, free
from obstructions therein placed & consisting at one end of a horizontal suction
tube of practically uniform size throughout, provided with an annular elastic flange
of sufficient width and taper to be held at an angle with, and to enter & form a
tight joint with different sized tubes, the remaining portion of the channel consisting
of a vertical combining and discharge chamber in connection with a series of
preferably annular steam passages of small diameter communicating therewith,
whereby the hot gases and deposits in the flue are drawn through the flue cleaner,
and the whole driven with great velocity from the discharge chamber.
Witnesses:
WILLIAM FOWLER,
JOHN W. GOODWIN.
FRANK RUEL BALDWIN.