Patent ID: 12208426

DESCRIPTION

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term “about” applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words “herein”, “hereby”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereinbefore”, and “hereinafter”, and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) “or” and “any” are not exclusive and “include” and “including” are not limiting. Further, the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.

An apparatus, generally referred to as10is shown inFIG.1. A body12retains two rails14,16upon which a gantry18is slidably mounted. One of the rails14has limit switches20,22proximate each end24,26. The limit switches20,22are releasably retained on the rail14can be moved to accommodate different lengths of travel. The body12is mounted on arms28proximate each end30,32of the body12.

As shown inFIG.2, the arms28are attached to vertical members34with brackets36. The backets36allow for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the arms28. The vertical members34are attached to a frame38with magnets40. In an alternative embodiment, the vertical members34are attached to the frame38with bolts, screws, rivets or the like.

Returning toFIG.1, the body12, arms28and vertical members34are collectively referred to as the framework, generally referred to as41. The frame38houses a window42. A stepper motor44is in motive relation with the gantry18. A pipe46is attached to a cleaning solution line48by a connector50and terminates in a spray nozzle52. The pipe46is retained on the gantry18with a clamp54. A horizontal slot56in the window42allows for horizontal movement of the pipe46. A pressure nozzle flow toggle60controls the flow of the cleaning fluid and is on the pipe46.

FIG.3shows a top view of the apparatus10. The swivel58mounted between the gantry18and the clamp54allows for the pipe46and the spray nozzle52to be angled relative to the body12, between about 90 degrees to about 25 degrees and 155 degrees. Slots62allow for horizontal adjustment of the arms28.

FIG.4shows a chain drive, generally referred to as70, that is used to move the gantry18back and forth along the rails14,16. The stepper motor44drives a first sprocket72. A chain74is attached to the gantry18. A second sprocket76is rotatably attached to the body12. The chain74is rotatably mounted on the sprockets72,76.

The apparatus10is under control of a microprocessor80. As shown inFIG.5, the microprocessor80communicates with a stepper driver circuit82which steps the stepper motor44. The stepper drive circuit82includes speed control, including variable speed control. Variable speed control can be used to reduce the speed of travel as the gantry nears the end or travel. This feature can be used when the nozzle needs to be angled in order for the cleaning solution to reach gear teeth that are located behind the gear guard. The limit switches20,22communicate with the microprocessor80which in turn controls the direction of movement of the gantry18. A user interface84, an ON/OFF switch86, a status light emitting diode88, an automatic shutoff90and the pressure washer flow toggle60are all under control of the microprocessor80. Additionally, the user may manually control the speed.

In other embodiments, the chain drive may be replaced with a lead screw, a timing belt, or a rotating arm to provide the reciprocating action.

In another embodiment, the pair of rails may be replaced with a single rail or more than two rails.

The apparatus10can be permanently installed and used as an installation or it can be moved from site to site. As an installation, it can be combined with the technology disclosed in Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 3034204 and entitled, “Imaging system for assessing integrity of metal motive parts in industrial plants”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. The apparatus is especially useful for cleaning teeth of girth gear sets, which include a girth gear and a pinion gear. Cleaning is followed with non-destructive testing of the gears. The preferred testing method is inspecting using eddy current array probes.

An installation, generally referred to as400is shown inFIG.6. A girth gear402is driven by a pinion gear404. The apparatus10located in front of the girth gear402with the pipe46pointing towards the gear. The gear guard406may or may not cover part of the girth gear402.

In use, the gantry18moves back and forth, hitting the limit switches20,22, which have been adjusted to be aligned with the guard of the gear. The limit switches20,22send a signal to reverse the direction of the stepper motor44and hence the direction of the gantry18. The speed is controlled and may be variable. If there is an increase in resistance detected by the microprocessor80, it will communicate with the automatic shut off90to shut the stepper motor44off.

While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. For example, other imaging techniques may be used, resulting in other images being analyzed. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed.