Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
In a long retracting soot blower or the like comprising a frame structure including a generally horizontal elongated support, a lance carried by the support for movement generally parallel thereto to and from positions in which an end of the lance projects differing distances beyond the end of the support, and combined means for so moving the lance and for transmitting vertical loadings from the lance to said support, said combined means including a carriage to which the lance is attached, the carriage being movably carried by the support to actuate the lance, said carriage having a rigid frame, a carriage driving pinion journaled in the carriage on a transverse axis, and a roller also journaled in the carriage frame on a transverse axis vertically displaced from the first mentioned transverse axis, said combined means also including a rigidly integrated longitudinal rack and track structure carried by the support including a track portion having a generally horizontal longitudinal track surface and a rack portion having a generally horizontal longitudinal toothed surface, said surfaces facing away from each other in opposite vertical directions, said combined means being characterized in that the track surface and the toothed surface overlap each other when viewed in a vertical projection, the pinion meshing with said toothed surface and the roller being rollable on said track surface, and the axes of the roller and pinion being rigidly fixed in the carriage frame on parallel lines transverse to the longitudinal extent of said rack and track structure, the line of engagement of the roller directly overlying the position of meshing engagement between the pinion and toothed surface, whereby the rack and track structure is confined between the pinion and roller and vertical forces are transmitted in opposite directions via the carriage frame and the roller and pinion into the integrated rack and track structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
In a long retracting soot blower or the like comprising a frame structure including a generally horizontal elongated support, a lance carried by the support for movement generally parallel thereto to and from positions in which an end of the lance projects differing distances beyond the end of the support, and combined means for so moving the lance and for transmitting vertical loadings from the lance to said support, said combined means including a carriage to which the lance is attached, the carriage being movably carried by the support to actuate the lance, said carriage having a rigid frame, a carriage driving pinion journaled in the carriage on a transverse axis, and a roller also journaled in the carriage frame on a transverse axis vertically displaced from the first mentioned transverse axis, said combined means also including a rigidly integrated longitudinal rack and track structure carried by the support including a track portion having a generally horizontal longitudinal track surface and a rack portion having a generally horizontal longitudinal toothed surface, said surfaces facing away from each other in opposite vertical directions, said combined means being characterized in that the track surface and the toothed surface overlap each other when viewed in a vertical projection, the pinion meshing with said toothed surface and the roller being rollable on said track surface, and the axes of the roller and pinion being rigidly fixed in the carriage frame on parallel lines transverse to the longitudinal extent of said rack and track structure, the line of engagement of the roller directly overlying the position of meshing engagement between the pinion and toothed surface, whereby the rack and track structure is confined between the pinion and roller and vertical forces are transmitted in opposite directions via the carriage frame and the roller and pinion into the integrated rack and track structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A long retracting blower as defined in claim 1 wherein said combined means includes at least two such integrated rack and track structures laterally spaced from each other and secured to said support in parallel relation, a pair of such pinions aligned with each other on an axis transverse to the rack and track structures, one of which pinions is in meshing engagement with the toothed surface of each rack portion, and a pair of such rollers, one of which is rollable on the track surface of each rack and track structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A long retracting blower as defined in claim 2 wherein the frame structure comprises a hollow beam having a pair of vertical side flanges, each of said flanges defining one of said supports, said integrated rack and track structures being secured to the inwardly facing walls of said flanges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A long retracting blower as defined in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein each track surface faces upwardly and the teeth of each toothed surface project downwardly.