US1414840A - Flue cleaner - Google Patents

Description

A. w. TER'RELL,

nus CLEANEIL'. I APPLICATION FltED NOV-118. 192.1.

1,414,840. te dM y2,,1922.

I I, 4 5 7 Ff '7.-

PATENT QFFEQEQ ALBERT \V. TEE-BELL, 'OF NEWIEORT NEVI S, VIRGINIA.

FLUE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented May 2, 1922.

' Application filed November 18, 1921. SeriaI'NOQ 516,101.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT WV. TERRELL,

citizen of the United States, residing at Newport News, 'in the county of Warwick and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flue Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the-same.

The invention relates to the classof tools for removing scale and incr-ustation from the inner walls of the fluesand tubes of steam and hot water boilers, and which, in operation, are rotated at a relatively high speed, the cutting elements flying outwardly by centrifugal action and automatically adapting themselves to the diameter of the flue or tube operated upon.

The invention provides a tool of the character aforesaid which is eifective and reliable for the purpose intended and which embodies rows of cutting elements grouped about a body, each row comprising a number of independent cutting elements and the tool being of such construction as to admit of any one of the cutting elements being readily removed for sharpening or replacement.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodi ment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet diiferent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a partof the application,

Figure 1 is a side view of a flue cleaner embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof,

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 8-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the cutting elements, and

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the body portion of the tool.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The tool comprises" a polygonal body 1 having axial projections at opposite ends which receive, heads or end pieces 2 and 3, respectively. The body 1 may be of any length and comprises any number of sides. In the present instance, the body '1 comprises four sides, each having a half round channel 4: to one side of a medial line to receive the hubs of the cutting elements. The projection 5 at one end of the'body 1 is externally threaded to receive the end piece 3 -Which is formed with a hub or boss 6 designed-to receive an operating member such as a rod, bar or. shaft. The-projection at the opposite end of the body 1 comprises an angular or square portion 7 and a threaded portion 8. The end piece 2 is mounted upon,

the angular portion 7 and is retained in place by means of a nut 9 mounted upon the threaded portion 8. The end pieces 2 and 3 are formed with openings in line with the respective channels 4: of the body 1 to receive the ends of pins 10 or like parts upon which the cutting elements are loosely mounted.

The cutting elements are of similar or like formation each comprising a segment portion 11 and. a hub 12, the latter receiving the pins or like parts 10. The segment portion 11 is toothed at its outer edge, as indicated at 13. The hub 12 projects laterally and provides an extended bearing for the cutting elements besides serving to properly space the same. The cutting elements of one row have the hubs 12 facing in one direction, whereas the cutting elements of the adjacent rows have the hubs 12 facing in an opposite direction. As a result of this arrangement the cutting elements have astaggered or alternate arrangement to insure every part of the flue or tube being acted upon when the tool is in operation: When the end piece 2 is rernoved, access may be readily had to any one of the cutting elements, either for sharpening or replacement as required.

It is to be understood that the tool is provided in different sizes and by reason of the pivotal mounting of the cutting elements they fly outwardly under centrifugal action thereby adapting the tool for tubes or flues of various sizes within certain limits. W hen -1n operation, the tool 1s rotated at a relatively high speed and at the same time is moved through the flue or tube to be cleaned, the teeth 13 of the cutting elements serving to loosen and detach scale and incrustation from the sides of the flue or tube in a man ner readily appreciated.

What is claimed is:

1. A fine cleaner comprising an elongated polygonal loodyhaving longitudinal channels in its sides, pins disposed opposite the several channels, and a plurality of cutting elements having hubs at their inner ends fit ting the respective channels and receiving the pins in cooperative relation therewith, the cutting elements of the several rows being spaced apart and having a staggered arrangement.

2. A fine cleaner comprising an elongated body, pins grouped about the sides of the bod and a plurality of cutting elements pivotally mounted upon each of the pins in spaced relation, each of the cutting elements comprising a segment portion toothed at its outer edge and a laterally extending hub, the hubs of the cutting elements mounted on each of the pins facing in the same direction and the hubs of intermediate and alternate rows of cutting elements facing in opposite directions whereby to give the cutting elements a staggered arrangement.

3. A flue cleaner comprising an elongated polygonal body having axial projections at opposite ends and having the faces of the body channeled to one side of a medial line, end pieces mounted upon the axial projecti ons, pins supported at their ends in the end pieces and disposed opposite the respective channels of the body, and a plurality of cutting elements mounted on each of the pins, each of the cutting elements comprising a segment portion toothed at its outer edge and having a laterally extending hub, said cutting elements being disposed to have a stag gered arrangement.

In testimony whereol I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT W. TERRELL.

Witnesses:

llRA G. CLnMnN'rs, l/VM. G. TAYLOR.

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