IP Library Granted Patent US 8,220,420
Granted Patent B2
US 8,220,420 · App. 12/727,283 · Granted Jul 17, 2012

Device to improve effectiveness of pulse detonation cleaning

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,220,420
App. No.
12/727,283
Granted
Jul 17, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and associated method for removing accumulated debris from a surface of a vessel. The system includes an impulse cleaning device defining a combustion chamber in which combustible fuel and air are mixed and ignited to produce combustion that is directed at the surface to be cleaned within the vessel, and an eductor assembly surrounding a downstream end of the chamber for inducting surrounding atmosphere into the combustion to widen the area being cleaned.

Claims (23)

1. A system for removing accumulated debris from a surface of a vessel, the system including:

an impulse cleaning device defining a combustion chamber in which combustible fuel and air are mixed and ignited to produce combustion that is directed at the surface to be cleaned within the vessel; and

an eductor assembly surrounding a downstream end of the chamber and spaced from the downstream end of the chamber to define an ambient atmosphere flow path for inducting surrounding atmosphere inside the educator assembly and into the combustion to widen the area being cleaned.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, the eductor assembly is in the form of a nozzle.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle has a converging portion and a diverging portion.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the nozzle is axially aligned with and fixed to the combustion chamber.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the nozzle is fixed to the combustion chamber by radial fins.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein a downstream end of the combustion chamber diverges to form a horn end.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle is supported by at least one actuating arms pivotally connected to the nozzle.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the actuating arms extend through a wall of a boiler vessel.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle is supported by at least two actuating arms pivotally connected to the nozzle.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the combustion is supersonic combustion.

11. A method for removing accumulated debris from a surface within a vessel, the method including:

providing an impulse cleaning device defining a combustion chamber;

delivering a flow of combustible fuel into the flow of air in the combustion chamber;

mixing the combustible fuel and air within the combustion chamber;

igniting the fuel and air mixture to produce combustion;

directing the combustion at the surface to be cleaned to loosen and remove accumulated debris from the surface of the vessel; and

inducting surrounding atmosphere into the combustion via an eductor assembly surrounding a downstream end of the chamber and spaced from the downstream end of the chamber to define an ambient atmosphere flow path so that the ambient atmosphere flow is inducted inside the educator assembly to widen the area being cleaned.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein induction of the surrounding atmosphere is caused by a nozzle fixed to a downstream end of the combustion chamber.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the nozzle is fixed to the combustion chamber by radially extending fins.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating arms are sequentially operated to move the nozzle in conical path.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the combustion is supersonic combustion.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2023
From: BHA ALTAIR LLC
To: BARRETO INVESTMENT GROUP, INC
Reel/Frame 064999/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2020
From: BHA ALTAIR LLC
To: BARRETO INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 054491/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; BHA GROUP, INC.; ALTAIR FILTER TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
To: BHA ALTAIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 031911/0797 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2010
From: TAYLOR, ROBERT WARREN; CHAPIN, DAVID; FARMER, TERRY; ROBERTS, JAMES EASEL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 024106/0274 →