Indexer, indexer retrofit kit and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A retrofit kit for an X-Y indexer, said X-Y indexer including a first indexer rail, a second indexer rail;
- and a trolley engageable with the first indexer rail or the second indexer rail;
wherein the trolley positions at least one nozzle for dispensing a water jet therefrom;
wherein the retrofit kit comprises;
a first arm adapted to be engaged with the first indexer rail; and
a sensor provided on the first arm;
wherein the sensor is a distance measurement sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger'"'"'s face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A retrofit kit for an X-Y indexer, said X-Y indexer including a first indexer rail, a second indexer rail;
- and a trolley engageable with the first indexer rail or the second indexer rail;
wherein the trolley positions at least one nozzle for dispensing a water jet therefrom;
wherein the retrofit kit comprises;a first arm adapted to be engaged with the first indexer rail; and a sensor provided on the first arm;
wherein the sensor is a distance measurement sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- and a trolley engageable with the first indexer rail or the second indexer rail;
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17. A method of cleaning a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle of a heat exchanger, wherein each tube has a bore having an opening thereto defined in a face plate provided at one end of the tube bundle;
- said method comprising;
providing an X-Y indexer engaged with the heat exchanger;
wherein the X-Y indexer has a first indexer rail and a second indexer rail that are oriented at right angles to each other; and
wherein the X-Y indexer includes a trolley having at least one lance that is positionable to direct a water jet into the opening to one of the tubes in the tube bundle;providing a retrofit kit comprising a first arm and a sensor provided on the first arm;
wherein the sensor is a distance measurement sensor;engaging the first arm of the retrofit kit with the first indexer rail; and moving the trolley on the X-Y indexer relative to the face plate; and determining a location of the trolley relative to the face plate using the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- said method comprising;
Specification