Patent ID: 8176883

Claim:
A sootblower having a multidirectional cleaning range for directing a cleaning medium against heated surfaces in a heat exchanger, the sootblower comprising: a lance tube for conducting the cleaning medium, the lance tube defining a first longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end; a carriage assembly coupled to the lance tube to selectively advance and retract the lance tube into and out of the heat exchanger along the first longitudinal axis; a first motor drive operatively connected to the carriage assembly and operable to translate the carriage assembly and the lance tube along the first longitudinal axis, the first motor drive enabling the carriage assembly to selectively advance and retract the lance tube distal end into and out of the heat exchanger; a second motor drive operatively connected to the lance tube and operable to rotate the lance tube about the first longitudinal axis; an articulating wrist rotatably coupled to the lance tube at the distal end thereof, the articulating wrist rotatable about a second axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis; a third motor drive operatively connected to the articulating wrist and operable to rotate the articulating wrist about the second axis upon driving of the gear assembly, the gear assembly having a first gear meshing with a second gear, the first and second gears mounted for rotation and contained within the lance tube, the first gear being displaced from the lance tube distal end and being connected for driving by the third drive motor, the second gear being rotatably coupled to the articulating wrist and concentric with the second axis, the second gear being driven for rotation by the first gear; a nozzle coupled to the articulating wrist and rotatable therewith, the nozzle being drivable along the first longitudinal axis and pivotable about the first longitudinal axis and the second axis, whereby the nozzle is operable to project the cleaning medium against the heated surfaces when the lance tube is advanced into the heat exchanger; and a cleaning medium source operatively connected to the nozzle and operable to supply the cleaning medium to the nozzle, the cleaning medium flowing along the length of the lance tube, through an internal passageway in the articulating wrist and into the nozzle.