Patent · US Expired

Method and device for cleaning a tube in which a fluid-circulates, and their use in heat-exchanger tubes

US5013368A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1989
Grant dateMay 7, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF28G3/10
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the continuous cleaning of the inside of a tube in which a fluid circulates, in which method there is continuously driven in rotation within the tube by the fluid a movable element, one end of which is fastened to one end of the tube through a mechanical linkage permitting it to rotate freely on itself about the axis of the tube. In accordance with the invention, the movable element comprises at least one sharp edge designed to scrape the inner surface of the tube, this edge being disposed so that during the rotation of the movable element it is, along every cross section of the tube, the portion of the movable element farthest removed from the axis of the tube.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.