System for cleaning the inside of tubing
First Claim
1. A system for cleaning the inside of tubing, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of balls entrained by a liquid flowing through the system;
(b) separation means for separating said balls from the liquid downstream of the tubing;
(c) accumulator means for accumulating said balls downstream of said separation means;
(d) storage means for storing a volume of injection liquid, said storage means being in communication with said accumulator means, said storage means being in communication with a point upstream of the tubing; and
(e) a compressor for selectively providing a quantity of compressed air into said storage means for injecting at least a portion of said volume of injection liquid from said storage means to said point, said at least a portion of said volume of injection liquid passing through said accumulator means for entraining at least a portion of said balls therewith for injection upstream of the tubing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for cleaning the inside of tubing, as of a heat exchanger, which is made up of a number of balls entrained by a liquid flowing through the system, a separator for separating the balls from the liquid downstream of the tubing, an accumulator for accumulating the balls downstream of the separator, a storage tank for storing a volume of injection liquid, and a mechanism for injecting the balls upstream of the tubing by displacement of the injection liquid from the storage to upstream of the tubing through the accumulator to entrain the balls therewith. The accumulator and the storage tank can be combined in a single housing or configured as separate airtight housings.
21 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for cleaning the inside of tubing, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of balls entrained by a liquid flowing through the system; (b) separation means for separating said balls from the liquid downstream of the tubing; (c) accumulator means for accumulating said balls downstream of said separation means; (d) storage means for storing a volume of injection liquid, said storage means being in communication with said accumulator means, said storage means being in communication with a point upstream of the tubing; and (e) a compressor for selectively providing a quantity of compressed air into said storage means for injecting at least a portion of said volume of injection liquid from said storage means to said point, said at least a portion of said volume of injection liquid passing through said accumulator means for entraining at least a portion of said balls therewith for injection upstream of the tubing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification