Furnace cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A furnace cleaning apparatus for cleaning a cyclone furnace with a fluid from a fluid source. The furnace cleaning apparatus comprises a beam assembly capable of being pivotably mounted to the cyclone furnace. A rotary actuator is connected to the beam assembly for turning the beam assembly. A trolley is movably mounted to the beam assembly. A chain drive assembly and a drive source for moving the trolley relative to the beam assembly are mounted to the beam assembly. An articulated arm assembly is pivotally connected to the trolley. A rotary actuator is mounted to the articulated arm assembly for pivoting the articulated arm assembly relative to the trolley. A nozzle is connected to a second end of the articulated arm assembly. A fluid conduit connects the nozzle to a fluid source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for cleaning a cyclone furnace with a fluid from a fluid source, the cyclone furnace including a sidewall, a first end wall having an inlet opening, a second end wall having an outlet opening with the outlet opening defined by an outlet wall extending inwardly from the second end wall, the apparatus comprising: a beam assembly capable of being pivotably mounted to the cyclone furnace;   means for oscillating said beam assembly;   a trolley movably mounted to said beam assembly;   means for moving said trolley relative to said beam assembly;   an articulated arm assembly mounted to said trolley;   means for pivoting said articulated arm assembly relative to said trolley;   nozzle means connected to said articulated arm assembly; and   fluid conduit means for conducting fluid from the fluid source to the cyclone furnace, said fluid conduit means is connected to said nozzle means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam assembly extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising intermediate beam support means for supporting said beam assembly in the interior of the cyclone furnace. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said intermediate beam support means comprises: a clamp member capable of attaching to the outlet wall;   a rotational bearing assembly mounted to said beam assembly; and   an intermediate hanger assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end attaching to said clamp member and said second end attaching to said rotational bearing assembly.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam assembly has a longitudinal axis and said trolley is capable of moving along said longitudinal axis of said beam assembly. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulated arm assembly comprises: a plurality of arm members pivotably connected to one another; and   second means for pivoting said plurality of arm members relative to one another.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second pivoting means comprises independently controlled pivoting means for independently pivoting each said arm member. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said articulated arm assembly comprises: a forearm member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said forearm member is connected to said trolley;   an elbow member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said elbow member is connected to said second end of said forearm member; and   a wrist member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said wrist member is connected to said second end of said elbow member and said second end of said wrist member is connected to said nozzle means.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulated arm assembly pivoting means is capable of independently adjusting the direction of the emitted fluid spray. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for cleaning a cyclone furnace with a fluid from a fluid source, the apparatus comprising: a beam assembly capable of being pivotably mounted to the cyclone furnace, said beam assembly extending substantially through the cyclone furnace;   means for oscillating said beam assembly;   a trolley movably mounted to said beam assembly;   means for moving said trolley relative to said beam assembly;   an articulated arm assembly mounted to said trolley;   means for pivoting said articulated arm assembly relative to said trolley;   nozzle means connected to said articulated arm assembly; and   fluid conduit means for conducting fluid from the fluid source to the cyclone furnace, said fluid conduit means is connected to said nozzle means.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising intermediate beam support means for supporting said beam assembly in the interior of the cyclone furnace. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said intermediate beam support means comprises: a clamp member capable of attaching to the cyclone furnace;   a rotational bearing assembly mounted to said beam assembly; and   an intermediate hanger assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end attaching to said clamp member and said second end attaching to said rotational bearing assembly.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said beam assembly has a longitudinal axis and said trolley is capable of moving along said longitudinal axis of said beam assembly. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said articulated arm assembly comprises: a plurality of arm members pivotably connected to one another; and   second means for pivoting said plurality of arm members relative to one another.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second pivoting means comprises independently controlled pivoting means for independently pivoting each said arm member. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said articulated arm assembly comprises: a forearm member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said forearm member is connected to said trolley;   an elbow member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said elbow member is connected to said second end of said forearm member; and   a wrist member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said wrist member is connected to said second end of said elbow member and said second end of said wrist member is connected to said nozzle means.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said articulated arm assembly pivoting means is capable of independently adjusting the direction of the emitted fluid spray. .Iadd. 
     
     
       18.  An apparatus for cleaning a housing with a fluid from a fluid source, the apparatus comprising: a beam assembly capable of being pivotably mounted to the housing, said beam assembly extending substantially through the housing;   means for oscillating said beam assembly;   a trolley movably mounted to said beam assembly;   means for moving said trolley relative to said beam assembly;   an arm assembly mounted to said trolley;   means for pivoting said arm assembly relative to said trolley;   nozzle means connected to said arm assembly; and   fluid conduit means for conducting fluid from the fluid source to the housing, said fluid conduit means is connected to said nozzle means. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising intermediate beam support means for supporting said beam assembly in the interior of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said intermediate beam support means comprises:   a clamp member capable of attaching to the housing;   a rotational bearing assembly mounted to said beam assembly; and   an intermediate hanger assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end attaching to said clamp member and said second end attaching to said rotational bearing assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said beam assembly has a longitudinal axis and said trolley is capable of moving along said longitudinal axis of said beam assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said arm assembly comprises:   a plurality of arm members pivotably connected to one another; and   second means for pivoting said plurality of arm members relative to one   
     
     
        another. .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said second pivoting means comprises independently controlled pivoting means for independently pivoting each said arm member. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said arm assembly comprises: a forearm member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said forearm member is connected to said trolley;   an elbow member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said elbow member is connected to said second end of said forearm member; and   a wrist member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said wrist member is connected to said second end of said elbow member and said second end of said wrist member is connected to said nozzle means. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said arm assembly pivoting means is capable of independently adjusting the direction of the emitted fluid spray. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A method for cleaning the interior of a housing with a fluid from a fluid source using a beam assembly having a longitudinal axis which supports a trolley, an arm assembly pivotally attached to the trolley, and a nozzle connected to the arm assembly, the method comprising the steps of:   inserting the beam assembly into the housing;   supporting the beam assembly within the housing;   spraying fluid from the fluid source through the nozzle onto the interior surface of the housing; and   oscillating the beam assembly along its longitudinal axis thereby moving the nozzle in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally   
     
     
        axis of the beam assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.27.  The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of displacing the trolley along the longitudinal axis of the beam assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of pivoting the arm assembly about the trolley in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinally axis of the beam assembly. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. A method for cleaning the interior of a housing with a fluid from a fluid source using a beam assembly having a longitudinal axis which supports a trolley, an arm assembly pivotally attached to the trolley, and a nozzle connected to the arm assembly, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the beam assembly into the housing;   supporting the beam assembly within the housing;   spraying fluid from the fluid source through the nozzle onto the interior surface of the housing;   oscillating the beam assembly along its longitudinal axis thereby moving the nozzle in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinally axis of the beam assembly;   displacing the trolley along the longitudinal axis of the beam assembly; and   pivoting the arm assembly about the trolley in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the beam assembly. .Iaddend.