Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for cleaning exchanger tubes

US5499639A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 1995
Grant dateMar 19, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF28G9/00
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cleaning the tubes of a heat exchanger of a type having at least one header that defines a manifold chamber having a plurality of tubes extending therefrom, the tubes and the header defining tube openings to provide open communication between the tubes and the manifold chamber, the tube openings defining a peripheral seating surface, there being bores in the header, respective ones of which are in register with respective ones of the tube openings, the apparatus comprising a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the tubular member being dimensioned such that the first end can be received through at least one of the bores, a force transmitting lever assembly connected to the tubular member and operatively connected to the header whereby the tubular member can be urged toward the seating surface of a tube opening in register with a bore through which the tubular member is received, there being a seal formed between the tubular member and the seating surface.

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