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US4467488A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for final cleaning of tubes

Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
•
Filing: 1982-12-23
•
Granted: 1984-08-28
•
Expires: 2002-12-23
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for inserting cleaning plugs into the ends of tubes to be cleaned including a tool, a handle on the tool capable of being held by an operator, a chamber having an open end capable of being aligned with the open end of the tube to be cleaned, a first ram opposite the open end, a first piston-cylinder capable of moving the ram through the chamber and retracting it therefrom thereby forcing a cleaning plug into the tube, a magazine opening laterally from the first ram and open end into the chamber, a second ram positioned so as to move cleaning plugs from the magazine into the chamber, a second piston-cylinder capable of moving the second ram through and retracting it from the magazine, a housing for a chain of cleaning plugs, the housing opening into the magazine, a gas source maintaining a constant pressure on the chain of cleaning plugs so as to force a cleaning plug into the chamber when nothing else occupies it, and a trigger on the handle which in a first position pressurizes the second piston-cylinder, and in a second position pressurizes the first piston-cylinder.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald B. Creek

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 21:39
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28G; F28G1/00; F28G1/12; F41; F41B; F41B11/00; F41B11/80; F41B11/87

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 193 words
In combination, apparatus for inserting cleaning plugs into the ends of tubes to be cleaned including a tool, handle means on the tool capable of being held by an operator, chamber means having an open end capable of being aligned with the open end of a tube to be cleaned, a first ram opposite the open end, a first piston-cylinder capable of moving the ram through the chamber means and retracting it therefrom thereby forcing a cleaning plug into the tube, a magazine opening laterally from the first ram and open end into the chamber means, a second ram positioned so as to move cleaning plugs from the magazine into the chamber means, a second piston-cylinder capable of moving the second ram through and retracting it from the magazine, means housing a chain of cleaning plugs, the means opening into the magazine, means maintaining a constant pressure on the chain of cleaning plugs so as to force a cleaning plug into the chamber when nothing else occupies it, and trigger means on the handle means which in a first position pressurizes the second piston-cylinder, and in a second position pressurizes the first piston-cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 193 words
In combination, apparatus for inserting cleaning plugs into the ends of tubes to be cleaned including a tool, handle means on the tool capable of being held by an operator, chamber means having an open end capable of being aligned with the open end of a tube to be cleaned, a first ram opposite the open end, a first piston-cylinder capable of moving the ram through the chamber means and retracting it therefrom thereby forcing a cleaning plug into the tube, a magazine opening laterally from the first ram and open end into the chamber means, a second ram positioned so as to move cleaning plugs from the magazine into the chamber means, a second piston-cylinder capable of moving the second ram through and retracting it from the magazine, means housing a chain of cleaning plugs, the means opening into the magazine, means maintaining a constant pressure on the chain of cleaning plugs so as to force a cleaning plug into the chamber when nothing else occupies it, and trigger means on the handle means which in a first position pressurizes the second piston-cylinder, and in a second position pressurizes the first piston-cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, including a pair of pins on the tool capable of being inserted into a pair of tubes so as to positively align the chamber means with the open end of a tube to be cleaned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the pins are tapered to aid in the insertion thereof into the tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The combination set forth in claim 3, including a second trigger on the handle means, which when actuated, forces cleaning fluid into the open end of the chamber means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2915422A Cited
US3631555A Cited
US4252255A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-08-28 1988-02-27 1988-08-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-08-28 1992-02-27 1992-08-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-08-28 1996-02-27 1996-08-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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