Apparatus for cleaning tubes

Claim 1

An apparatus for cleaning the interior of open-ended tubes of various outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to advance an array of tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently; said tubes being spaced from one another and having a first end projecting in a predetermined direction; a movable array of fluid nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure; each nozzle being individual to a mating tube and having a mouth portion operable to make a fluid-tight connection with a first end of its mating tube; means for controlling the intermittent advance of said tubes; clamp means for retaining said tubes in a fixed position while said first ends project in said predetermined direction; means for moving said nozzles in a first direction into alignment with said tubes; means for moving said nozzles in a second direction to effect said fluid-tight connection with said open ends; and control means responsive to motion in said second direction to limit the stroke of said nozzles.

Claim 2

An apparatus for cleaning the interior of open-ended tubes of various outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to advance an array of tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently; said tubes being spaced from one another and having a first end projecting in a predetermined direction; a movable array of fluid nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure; each nozzle being individual to a mating tube and having a mouth portion operable to make a fluid-tight connection with a first end of its mating tube; means for controlling the intermittent advance of said tubes; clamp means for retaining said tubes in a fixed position while said first ends project in said predetermined direction; means for moving said nozzles in a first direction into alignment with said tubes; means for moving said nozzles in a second direction to effect said fluid-tight connection with said open ends; and control means responsive to motion in said second direction to limit the stroke of said nozzles.

Claim 4

An apparatus operable to clean the interior of tubes of different outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to transport tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently in separate, spaced relationship, said tubes having open ends; timing means for controlling said intermittent transport; means for clamping said tubes in a fixed position; an array of nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure and each nozzle having a mouth portion operable to engage and make a fluid-tight connection with a mating open end; means for moving said nozzles toward said tubes to effect said fluid-tight connection; and switch means for controlling motion of said nozzles relative to the tubes.

Claim 5

An apparatus operable to clean the interior of tubes of different outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to transport tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently in separate, spaced relationship, said tubes having open ends; timing means for controlling said intermittent transport; means for clamping said tubes in a fixed position; an array of nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure and each nozzle having a mouth portion operable to engage and make a fluid-tight connection with a mating open end; means for moving said nozzles toward said tubes to effect said fluid-tight connection; and switch means for controlling motion of said nozzles relative to the tubes.

Claim 6

An apparatus operable to clean the interior of a plurality of tubes having open ends, and settable to receive groups of tubes of various outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to advance a plurality of tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently and in spaced array, each tube having a longitudinal center line; a timer for controlling the intermittent advance; a corresponding array of nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure, each having a center line, and each operable to make a fluid-tight connection with an open end of a mating tube; means for clamping the tubes in a fixed position relative to the nozzles; means for moving the nozzles relative to the tubes so that center lines of mating tubes and nozzles are co-axial; and means for moving the nozzles toward said tubes along said center lines to bring the nozzles into contact with mating open ends and control means for sensing the occurrence of said contact and operable to insure a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 7

An apparatus operable to clean the interior of a plurality of tubes having open ends, and settable to receive groups of tubes of various outer diameters comprising: an indexing conveyor operable to advance a plurality of tubes of a given outer diameter intermittently and in spaced array, each tube having a longitudinal center line; a timer for controlling the intermittent advance; a corresponding array of nozzles operatively connected to a source of fluid under pressure, each having a center line, and each operable to make a fluid-tight connection with an open end of a mating tube; means for clamping the tubes in a fixed position relative to the nozzles; means for moving the nozzles relative to the tubes so that center lines of mating tubes and nozzles are co-axial; and means for moving the nozzles toward said tubes along said center lines to bring the nozzles into contact with mating open ends and control means for sensing the occurrence of said contact and operable to insure a fluid-tight seal.