Liquid heaters and vaporizers – Cleaning – Fluid jet
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-02-17
Wilson, Gregory (Department: 3749)
Liquid heaters and vaporizers
Cleaning
Fluid jet
C122S379000, C134S022120, C134S022180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a water lance blower having a water lance.
Water lance blowers of this type are described, for example, in International Publication Nos. WO 96/38701 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,283,069B1; 6,035,811A; 5,925,193A) WO 96/38702 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,641A), WO 96/38703 and WO 96/38704 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,985A). The water lance blowers emit a focused water jet through the furnace onto the opposite wall. As a result of the kinetic water jet energy and the sudden vaporization of water that has penetrated into pores of the deposits, flaking off of the soot, slag and ash soiling is carried out.
The area of impact of the water jet generated by the water lance blower generally follows a specific, pre-determinable path on the surface to be cleaned (known as a “blowing path”), wherein the path is generally in a wave-form, and possibly avoids obstacles, apertures or other sensitive zones.
In addition to the control of the drive system by a template, which necessarily generates a very specific blowing pattern, dual axis controls are mainly used, with control axes at right angles to one another. In particular, a horizontal and a vertical axis are used in order to be able to easily generate wave-form blowing patterns. As a result, drive systems of conventional water lance blowers are provided with a horizontally orientated and a vertically orientated drive unit. At least one of the two drive units is also fastened with appropriate devices directly to the heating installation. The second drive unit of conventional drive systems is provided with devices with which the second drive unit can be fixed to the first drive unit in order to produce dual axis control. The second drive unit is disposed such that, for example, it is additionally guided on the heating installation or parts of the drive system. Such a drive system is described, for example, in the International Publication No. WO 93/12398.
The drive units of individual, conventional drive systems are configured differently because of the different requirements (in relation to the fastening or guiding),. A drive unit is usually fixed onto a part of a framework. During operation, the drive unit moves the other drive unit and a water lance, and for reasons of stability and rigidity is configured particularly robustly. In contrast to this, the second drive unit that is coupled in particular to the water lance is matched to the structural configuration of the first drive unit. Specially configured retaining and fastening devices are therefore necessary.
Furthermore, the individual components (such as, for example, the drive system, the water supply line and the control cabinet) of conventional water lance blowers are disposed around a centrally positioned water lance so that they are disposed in areas outside the slewing range of the water lance (in order not to limit the slewing range). Additionally, the water lance is connected to a water supply line that has to follow the movements of the water lance, while at the same time not restricting the water lance.
Thus, such a water supply line of conventional water lance blowers is directly removed from the slewing range after leaving the water lance. For these reasons, conventional water lance blowers require substantially more space than the actual movement of the water lance necessitates. This is particularly problematic when the place where a water lance blower is installed is delimited by a large number of the structural requirements of the heating installation such as, for example, pipelines, supports, armatures and so forth. It is thus conceivable that the positioning of conventional water lance blowers at a desired place on the heating installation cannot be carried out, since there is insufficient space for the entire water lance blower, even though the required slewing range for the water lance would be provided.
The different embodiments of water lance blowers demand a high degree of logistical complexity in production, operation and service. Production includes a large number of manufacturing processes that are dependent on the different types of drive units of the embodiment. A wide range of machines and tools, as well as specially trained personnel are required for this purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a water lance blower with a water lance that is pivotably disposed with its mouth on or in a hatch, with a drive system that is provided with at least two drive units for controlling the water lance, and with a retaining device for fastening the water lance blower to a wall. Such water lance blowers are used in particular for cleaning heating installations, wherein the water lance can blow a jet of water through the heating installation that is in operation and through which flames and/or smoke flow onto wall areas reachable via the hatch.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a compact water lance blower that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type, and that is easy to assemble and to service and which reduces the logistical demands described hereinabove to one operation, whereby the water lance can be controlled along pre-determinable blowing patterns at different speeds.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a water lance blower connected to a water supply system for cleaning a heating installation containing a hatch. A water lance having a mouth is pivotably disposed in the hatch. A drive system has at least two drive units for controlling the water lance and a retaining device for attaching the water lance blower to the heating installation. The retaining device has parts of a water supply system integrated into the retaining device.
The water lance blower is particularly compactly configured by integration of parts of the water supply into areas of the water lance blower that are disposed close to the water lance.
The retaining device also represents a kind of adaptor between a usually rigidly configured water supply line and a moveable, flexible mechanism for conducting the water to the water lance. The conducting mechanism is moved only in a relatively small section, whereby lesser forces are required for moving the water lance and the space in which parts of the water lance blower move are clearly reduced. It is precisely the reduction in the movement space that results in the positioning of the water lance blower according to the invention, thereby no longer necessitating a complex matching of the water supply system with the structural circumstances of the heating installation.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the retaining device is provided with at least one connecting device for a separate water supply line. In particular, the use of standardized connecting devices is advantageous, whereby the water supply lines can be constructed rigidly, for example, as conduits. Furthermore, the retaining device has at least one connecting element for a flexible line for conducting water to the water lance. The configuration of the connecting element can be constructed flexibly. In a manner similar to the water conducting line, the connecting element is orientated towards the water lance (wherein the desired slewing range of the water lance is not limited).
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the retaining device is provided with at least one distributor that divides a flow of water flowing through and connects the water supply line to at least two connecting elements. A large flow of water can thereby be subdivided into several streams of water such that a configuration of the more flexible water conveyance to the water lance that is appropriate for the application is possible.
In accordance with an advantageous configuration of the water lance blower, at least one valve is integrated into the retaining device. The valve serves to regulate the pressure generated in th
Bartels Franz
Eimer Klaus
Kessel Alois
Patzig Dieter
Schröder Jürgen
Clyde Bergemann GmbH
Wilson Gregory
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