Indexer, indexer retrofit kit and method of use thereof

• US 10,599,162 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Original Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Inventors: Gromes, Sr., Terry D., Gromes, Jr., Terry D., Gromes, Kristen E., Shockey, Jr., Jon M., East, Gordon W., Jackson, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Monty, Marzia T
• Application Number:
  US16/155,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20190041877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 3/327 by an axially-moving flow of abrasive particles without passing a blast gun, impeller or the like along the internal surface polishing or abrading surfaces using plastically deformable grinding compound, moved relatively to the workpiece under the influence of pressure B24B31/116
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0015 with control of feed parameters, e.g. feed rate of abrasive material or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/16 the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 1/163 from internal surfaces of heat exchange conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/003 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/02 Supports for cleaning appliances, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/08 Locating position of cleaning appliances within conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a fluid jet machine for performing an operation using pressurized fluid sprayed through a nozzle;

wherein the fluid jet machine is portable;

providing a stand-alone control unit, where the control unit includes a housing and is portable;

providing one or more connectors on the housing;

providing a plurality of control valves in the control unit;

connecting the plurality of control valves in the control unit to a pump on the fluid jet machine utilizing the one or more connectors;

providing a computing device that is hand-held and mobile to a human operator located on the ground and within sight of the fluid jet machine;

wherein the computing device includes a user interface;

wirelessly connecting the computing device to the control unit;

sending one or more wireless signals from the computing device to the control unit;

actuating the plurality of control valves in the control unit upon receipt of the one or more wireless signals;

assuming control of the pump on the fluid jet machine with the control unit;

manipulating the user interface on the computing device to operate the fluid jet machine via the one or more connectors and the plurality of control valves of the control unit; and

selectively actuating the pump on the fluid jet machine using one or more of the plurality of valves on the control unit; and

performing the operation of the fluid jet machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the using of wireless signals further comprising:

sending a first signal from the computing device held by the human operator to the control unit;

translating the first signal into a second signal;

sending the second signal from the control unit to the fluid jet machine via the connector; and

actuating an operation of the fluid jet machine when the fluid jet machine receives the second signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of selectable options on the user interface of the computing device, wherein each option corresponds to an operation of the jet machine;

selecting, by contacting the user interface with the human operator'"'"'s finger, an option corresponding to a desired operation of the fluid jet machine;

encapsulating information about the selected option into a first signal;

sending the first signal from the computing device to the control unit;

translating the first signal into a second signal;

sending the second signal from the control unit to the fluid jet machine via the connector; and

actuating the desired operation of the fluid jet machine when the fluid jet machine receives the second signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

correlating the second signal with a particular combination of the plurality of control valves; and

actuating each control valve in the particular combination to send the second signal from the control unit to the fluid jet machine.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating a pressure through each control valve in the particular combination to send the signal from the control unit to the fluid jet machine.

6. A system adapted to activate and deactivate an operation of a portable fluid jet machine, the system comprising:

a fluid jet machine that is portable;

a hand-held mobile computing device having a touchscreen user interface and a first wireless module;

a control unit that is stand-alone and portable, said control unit having;

a housing;

a second wireless module located within the housing;

a valve control body disposed inside the housing of the control unit, wherein the valve control body is selectively operable in an open position and a closed position;

a connector provided on the housing;

said connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the valve control body, and wherein the second end is removably connected to a working unit via a pump of the fluid jet machine;

a wireless communication link between the first wireless module and the second wireless module;

wherein the computing device is operable by a human operator contacting the user interface in the immediate vicinity of the fluid jet machine to control and move the valve control body in real time between the open position and closed position via the wireless communications link and to thereby control the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine;

wherein the operation of the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine is activated when the valve control body is in one of the open position and the closed position;

and wherein the operation of the working unit via the pump of the fluid jet machine is deactivated when the valve control body is in the other one of the open position and the closed position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fluid jet machine is an indexer.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a first signal, wherein the first signal is sent from the first wireless module to the second wireless module via the communication link, and wherein the valve control body moves to the open position when the second wireless module receives the first signal; and

a second signal sent from the first wireless module to the second wireless module via the communication link, and wherein the valve control body moves to the closed position when the second wireless module receives the second signal; and

wherein the first signal and the second signal is generated by physically contacting and manually manipulating the touchscreen user interface using the human operator'"'"'s hand.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a fluid disposed in valve control body and the connector;

wherein the operation is activated via the fluid when the valve control body is in one of the open position and the closed position; and

wherein the operation is deactivated via the fluid when the valve control body is in the other of the open position and the closed position.