Method for removing build-up on measurement gauges

• US 6,960,018 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conagra Grocery Products Company LLC (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conagra Grocery Products Company LLC (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mercurio, John J., Popa, Liviu V., Sandu, Constantine
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US10/759,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/147, 374/148, 374/208, 134/6, 134/8, 134/1, 134/166, 134/167, 152/46, 152/492, 152/565, 151/043, 151/040.5, 15/931, 15/971, 151/040.63, 151/05, 151/041.6
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/30 by movement of cleaning members over a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 19/008 by using scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 1/08 having scrapers, hammers, or cutters, e.g. rigidly mounted

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device and method for removing build-up on such measurement gauges. The inventive device and method involve a movable scraper that fits around a cylindrical shield of a measurement gauge and continuously removes the build-up on the shield. Movement of the scraper is accomplished by a magnetic coupling between a magnetic core attached to the scraper, which is inside a pipe or other piece of equipment, and solenoids that are installed on the outside of the pipe. The device and method of the invention ensure instantaneously correct readings from the measurement gauge and improve control and operation strategies of heat exchanges, with significant economic advantages.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a portion of a protective shield that is disposed within a conduit or aperture of a pipe, the pipe defining an inlet and an outlet, the conduit for passing fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the pipe, the protective shield containing a measuring device centrally disposed within the conduit of the pipe, the method comprising:

providing a scraper disposed about at least a portion of the protective shield within the conduit;

applying an external force to the scraper to move the scraper within the conduit and longitudinally along the protective shield between first and second positions to thereby clean the portion of the protective shield over which the scraper moves.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a temperature sensor.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the scraper comprises a magnetic material, whereby the external force comprises an electromagnetic force.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the protective shield is disposed within the pipe.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the external force is generated by at least one solenoid or permanent magnet installed outside the pipe.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the external force is generated by two solenoids installed outside the pipe.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the pipe has a circumference and each solenoid is mounted around the entire circumference of the pipe.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the pipe is generally tubular and the apparatus further comprises:

a first solenoid mounted circumferentially around at least a portion of the pipe and polarized with an S-N polarity; and

a second solenoid mounted circumferentially around at least a portion of the pipe next to the first solenoid and polarized with an N-S polarity;

whereby the solenoids create an electromagnetic field that move the scraper longitudinally along the protective shield between the first position and the second position.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the scraper comprises:

a scraping element slidably disposed about at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the protective shield between the first and second positions; and

a magnetic core attached to the scraping element and positioned between the scraping element and the solenoids.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the scraping element is generally tubular and is disposed about the entire outer perimeter of the protective shield.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic core is generally cylindrical and is concentrically disposed about the scraping element.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting movement of the scraper between first and second positions within the shield within the conduit of the pipe.

13. The method of claim 1 being performed in an aseptic environment.

14. The method of claim 13 being performed within an aseptic food processing environment.

15. The method of claim 1, applying the external force to the scraper to move the scraper being enabled by magnetically coupling a magnetic portion of the scraper and a magnetic portion of an element installed outside of the pipe.

16. The method of claim 1, the scraper being coaxially disposed within the conduit of the pipe.

17. The method of claim 1, the scraper being asymmetrically disposed within the conduit of the pipe.

18. The method of claim 1, applying the external force comprising continuously applying an external force to the scraper.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the scraper is always attracted or repelled by one of two magnetic elements disposed outside of the conduit of the pipe.

20. The method of claim 1, the measurement device being centrally disposed within the protective shield.