Method and apparatus for containing cleaning fluids while cleaning heat exchanger fin tubes
US6990987B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28G15/00
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Equipment and methods are provided for combining with a typical heat exchanger having numerous fin tubes, the combination allowing the containment of cleaning fluid used to clean fin tubes with high pressure liquid cleaning devices in which cleaning fluid is discharged into one end of each fin tube and out the other. An enclosure is attached to an opened end of a heat exchanger having U-shaped fin tubes, the enclosure having cleaning tool access portions for separately exposing each of at least two pluralities of the fin tubes entry ends, while continuing to cover the remaining fin tube pluralities, and the fin tube exit ends. Fluid splashed at the cleaning fluid entry end of the fin tubes and cleaning fluid exiting the fin tubes is captured and drained by the enclosure. Alternatively, a second enclosure captures exiting cleaning fluids in heat exchangers having straight fin tubes and two openable ends.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.