US2722032A - Control means for movable soot blower heads - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1955 LE ROY 5. DE MART 2,722,032

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Nov. 1, 1955 LE ROY 5 DE MART 2,722,032

CONTROL MEANS FOR MOVABLE SJOT BLOWER HEADS Filed May 20, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 1, 1955 LE ROY s. DE MART 2,722,032

CONTROL MEANS FOR MOVABLE SOOT BLOWER HEADS Filed May 20, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ZE/Vdj 5. J6 wrzf Nov. 1, 1955 LE ROY 5. DE MART 2,722,032

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United States Patent CONTROL MEANS FOR MOVABLE SOOT BLOWER HEADS Le Roy S. De Mart, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Diamond Power Specialty Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Ohio Application'May 20, 1949, Serial No. 94,413

13 Claims. (Cl. 15-317) The present invention relates to improved means for controlling the action of blow-discharge type cleaning devices such as are employed for the cleaning of boilers and other heat exchangers.

In modern steam boiler installations of the relatively large sizes employed by large industries, public utilities and the like, a considerable number of soot blower units may be required to effectively clean all of the heat exchanging surfaces. It is not feasible to activate all of such blowers at the same time, because of the large demand for blowing fluid which such operation would entail, and simultaneous operation of the blowers would not ordinarily be as effective as sequential operation in any event, since better cleaning is ordinarily possible when the blowers are activated progressively with the order of their operation substantially following the direction of flow of flue gases through the boiler.

An important advance in the control of a plurality of soot blowers is represented by the disclosure of the copending application of Curtis L. Howse, Serial No. 88,854, filed April 21, 1949 now Patent No. 2,565,689, granted August 28, 1951. In the system disclosed in such Howse application, virtually any number of separately operable soot blowers may be controlled from a single master control station, and the system functions with equal effectiveness whether the soot blowers incorporated therein are all alike or differ widely in operation and in the blowing media employed. Moreover, the Howse system referred to is of such flexibility that despite differences in the character of the blowers and of the blowing media employed, the operating cycle of the blowers is quickly and easily changeable whenever such change may be desired, and at the election of the supervising engineer or other attendant, selected blowers may be rendered inoperative for any desired number of operating cycles without disturbing the operation of the other blowers of the system. The Howse system referred to may be made to operate in a fully automatic manner without attention on the part of the attendant. At the control station of such a Howse system, a plurality of transfer devices are provided for selecting, in a variable but predetermined and automatic sequence, the blowers which are to function, and for sequentially directing to such blowers, and interrupting the flow of, a control fluid, which may conveniently comprise air.

The system also incorporates at each blower which is of the operable or movable type, a driving motor and fluid responsive motor control means for starting and stopping the driving motor and blower at desired times. Only a single conduit, termed a control conduit, is required from the master control station to each controlled blower station, and through each such control conduit controlling pressures are, in eifect, transmitted in two directions, a pressure being delivered from the master control station to the controlled station to start the driving motor, while a (different) pressure is delivered from the controlled station back to the master control station to govern the time of stopping and the action of the 2,722,032 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 diverting means previously referred to. Thus, different rotary blowers may be rotatable through diiferent arcs, and projecting blowers may have paths of travel of varying length, means being provided for feeding impulses of increased pressure back from the controlled station to the control station to regulate the action of the master controller in accordance with the different operating characteristics of the individual blowers at such controlled stations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved motor control means adapted to be located at the controlled blower stations of blower systems of the indicated character to regulate the pressure in the control line in such manner as to apply to the control line actuating impulses of the character above indicated, serving to regulate the action of the transfer means at the control station.

Another object is to provide such improved motor control means for the controlled blower stations of systems of the indicated character constructed and arranged in such manner as to increase the pressure in each control line when the blower controlled thereby has completed its desired operating cycle.

A further object is to provide such controlling means which is of very simple, rugged and reliable character.

Another object is to provide improved controlling means of the indicated character adapted for use with retractable blowers which are designed to be projected into the hotter portions of the boiler or heat exchanger during blowing, and retracted from such hotter portions to cooler, more protected positions when not operating.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means whereby such a retractable blower is automatically and quickly retracted in event of improper functioning of any essential portion of the system, or in event of failure of the supply of blowing fluid or cooling water. Thus the blowing unit is safeguarded against burning out, not only during proper and normal operation, but in event of improper functioning of the system which would otherwise increase the hazard to the blower.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the operating head portion of a rotary soot blower equipped with control means constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional elevational view showing the principal components of the motor control mechanism for the blower of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a leak-oif check valve;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevational view of a blower of the so-called short retracting rotarytype provided with motor control means of a modified variety;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the principal components employed in conjunction with the blower of Fig. 4 and the connection thereof;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view diagrammatically showing a telescopic blower of the so-called long retracting type and the principal components of another modified form of my improved motor control means, showing the manner of connecting the parts;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the control station panel of the modification of Fig. 8;

Fig. is a plan view taken as indicated by the arrow 10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view taken substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 1111 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character designates a combined supporting frame and blowing fluid supply tube of gooseneck form, which comprises the principal frame member of a rotary soot blower of a type widely used and which substantially corresponds to the disclosure of Thomas Patent No. 1,773,125 issued August 19, 1930. Blowers of this class are provided with a blower tube element as 22 rotatably supported in the boiler setting or other suitable support (not shown) and having a plurality of discharge nozzle orifices as 24, the blower tube element being rotatable by a suitable driving motor, shown as an air motor 25 which rotates the blower tube element through reduction gearing 28, 30, 34 and 35. The blowing fluid may be either steam or air, or a combination of steam and air, and its admission is regulated by a blow valve 27 housed in the base portion 26 of the blower head and operable automatically in response to rotation of the blower through the agency of cam means 36 on the side of gear 35, the arrangement being such that the blow valve 27 may be opened and closed by the cam 36 for any desired angular interval or intervals during the rotation of the blower element. In the shown construction, the motor 25 turns a worm 28 which drives a worm wheel 30 fast upon a shaft 32 journaled above and substantially parallel to the axis of the blower tube element, and driving through the pinion 34, a gear 35 which serves to support the valve actuating cam 36, and to turn the blower element.

The shaft 32 projects from the rear of the unit into the interior of a motor control housing 38, and within the housing the shaft 32 carries a driving pinion which turns a timing gear 42. In the arrangement shown in the drawing, the timing gear drive is of such ratio that the timing gear 42 turns one revolution for each two revolutions of the blower element. The motor controlling means in the casing 38 may constitute one of the controlled stations of a multiple blower system.

Fastened to the rear face of the timing gear 42 are one or more actuating cams, two being shown in the illustrative embodiment depicted in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each such cam comprises a strip of sheet metal which is relatively resilient but stilf enough to move the valve 58 against the resistance of spring 64. The cam strip is designated 44 and is attached to the rear face of the gear 42 by means of a block 45 fastened to the gear for limited relative rocking movement with respect to the gear by an axially positioned screw 46. The cam strip is secured to the side of the block by screws 48. At one end, the strip projects radially beyond the end of the block 45, the projecting end being bent to substantially wedge contour, as indicated at 50. The wedge-shaped part comprises the valve actuating cam and is supported in a resilient manner, since it is carried from one side only by its integral attachment to the supporting strip portion 44.

A pin 43 fast in the face of gear 42 projects perpendicularly therefrom into a hole 47 in the block 45, the hole being substantially larger than the pin and coacting with the pin to limit the independent rocking movement of the block about the supporting pivot and axle screw 46. A tension spring 49 secured at one end to the block and at the other end to a pin 51 which is also fast in the gear 42, yieldably urges the block 45 in a clockwise direction with respect to the gear 42, to the extent permitted by the lost-motion connection provided by the pin and hole portions 43, 47.

A plunger-operated valve, the casing of which is gen- Cir erally designated 54, is also mounted in the housing 38 with its actuating plunger 55 projecting downwardly in the path of the cam portion or portions 50, in such position that the plunger is momentarily cammed upwardly as the cam portion 50 passes beneath it during rotation of the timing gear.

The casing 54 has a cylindrical chamber 56 therein, within which a resilient cylindrical diverting valve element 58 is axially movable. The valve element 58 is fast upon the plunger 55 and movable therewith between raised and lowered positions. In the lowered position, the valve element 58 bears against a bottom seat 60 formed in the valve casing, while in the raised position it bears against a top seat 62. A spring 64 urges the valve downwardly. The chamber 56 is formed with upwardly and downwardly projecting axial extension portions 65, 66, respectively. The upper extension 65 houses the spring 64 and also provides communication between chamber 56' and a top outlet 68. The lower extension 66 of the valve chamber is substantially larger in diameter than the plunger 55 and serves as a passage to connect valve chamber 56 with a pair of bottom valve ports 70, 72. A valve inlet port 74 opens through a central portion of the side of the easing into the chamber 56.

Port is connected through a pressure regulating orifice member 75 to a control conduit 76. Port 74 is connected through a diaphragm-operated motor control valve 78 to a conduit 80 which is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure (not shown) for driving the air motor 25. The actuating diaphragm chamber 82 for the valve 73 is connected by a conduit 84 to the control conduit 76.

The control conduit 76 is adapted to be connected to suitable valvular transfer mechanism located at a remote master control station and corresponding, for example, to the master control mechanism disclosed in Howse application Serial No. 572,153 filed January 10, 1945, now Patent No. 2,553,044, granted May 15, 1951, or to Howse application Serial No. 88,854, filed April 21, 1949, new Patent No. 2,565,689, granted August 28, 1951. As disclosed in such previously filed applications, the master control mechanism is arranged to supply air to the control conduit at a reduced pressure which may, for example, be of the order of 35 pounds per square inch. The motor power air supplied through conduit 80 is at a higher pressure, for example, 80 pounds per square inch. The 35 pounds per square inch control pressure is sufficient, when supplied to the diaphragm chamber 82, to open the valve 78, but when the pressure in the control line falls substantially below 35 pounds per square inch, valve 78 is biased to close. With rotatable blowers of the type under consideration, it is ordinarily adequate to arrange for rotation in one direction only, so only a single conduit connection to the air motor is required, the other air port of the motor merely discharging to atmosphere. As shown in Fig. 2, the air motor is connected to the port 68 by a conduit 88.

A leak-off check valve is connected to the port 72 by a conduit 92. Valve 90 is, in elfect, biased to open position, and at relatively low pressure provides a vent. When the valve 58 is in the down position so that the only air supplied to valve 90 is that delivered through the orifice member 75 from the control line 76, the ball 1 in valve 99 can be lifted from its lower seat 97 to allow such air to escape. The air flow at such time is insufiicient to lift the valve to a positive closed position against its inverted top seat 93. When the valve 58 is lifted from the seat 60 and motor power air is delivered to valve 90 via passage 66, port 72 and conduit 92, the valve is closed under the effect of such increased pressure, which forces the ball 91 up against the top seat 93.

The spring 64 augments the effect of gravity in biasing the valve 58 to the down position shown in Fig. 2, and the valve stands in this position between operating cycles of the blower. Between cycles, the pressure in the control line 76 is relieved. When the master control mechanism calls for actuation of the blower, it delivers air at the control fluid pressure to the conduit 76, and as previously stated, the valve 78 is thereby opened. Motor power air thereupon passes through port 74, chamber 56, passage 65 and port 68 to the air motor by way of conduit 88. The pressure of the motor power air is substantially greater than the control pressure and it urges the valve 58 more tightly against the seat 60. If the valve 58 should leak, however, any leakage past seat 60 may escape through leak-off valve 90 without raising the pressure in the control line 76.

As the motor 25 turns the blower, it opens the blow valve in the manner previously described to cause the unit to discharge blowing fluid throughout desired portions of the rotation of the blower element, and the motor also simultaneously turns the timing gear 42. The parts are so arranged that when the blower has turned through a desired angular interval, one of the cams 50 carried by the timing gear strikes the plunger 55 and drives the valve 58 upwardly off the seat 60 and into engagement with the upper seat 62. When the cam 50 first strikes the end of the pin 55, rotation of the cam and block is momentarily arrested, but the timing gear 42 continues to rotate, moving the pin 43 from the position shown in Figure 2 at the right side of the hole 47 to the left side of such hole. The pin 43 then picks up the drive, and positively moves the block 45 and cam 50 clockwise, forcing the cam 50 under the end of the pin with a wiping motion, the spring 49 causing the cam to snap past the pin, thereby insuring that the mechanism will not stop with the cam under the pin. The pin and valve are thus free to descend after the cam has passed, but they do not immediately do so, the valve being held up by the motor air pressure acting on the lower end of the valve 58, which holds the valve up and the spring 64 compressed. The air to the air motor is thereby cut off and the motor power air then passes downwardly under the valve 58 and through passage 66 and ports 70and 72. Such increased pressure closes the leak-off valve 90, and passing through the orifice member increases the pressure in the control line 76. The orifice member 75 may be so proportioned, for example, that with motor power air at pounds per square inch, the pressure in the control line is increased from approximately 35 pounds per square inch to 55 pounds per square inch. For this purpose, I have found an orifice of the order of .024" suitable with most installations, although it may vary with different lengths and arrangements of conduits. The increased pressure in the control line activates the transfer mechanism at the master control station, which then vents the control line to atmosphere, as more partieularly set forth in the aforementioned copending applications of Curtis L. Howse. The venting of the control line in such manner causes the pressure to drop in the control line and in the connected diaphragm chamber 82 more rapidly than it can be maintained from the motor air supply source through the orifice member 75. Valve 78 accordingly closes, cutting oif the motor supply air. When the motor supply air is thus cut off, the pressure in chamber 56 and connected lower portions of the valve bleeds away through the orifice member 75 and the vented control conduit 76. When such pressure falls sutficiently, the valve 58 drops to the down position and the leak-off valve reopens. The parts are thus reset for the commencement of the next operating cycle.

In Figs. 47, inclusive, a modified arrangement is shown adapted to control blowers of a reversible type, for example, such as the short travel, rotary retracting type of blower. A representative blower of this class is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 766,183, filed August 5, 1947, now Patent No. 2,662,241, granted December 15, 1953. With such reversible blowers, it is necessary, if the action of the blower is to be intercontrolled with other blowers from a control station equipped with master controlling means of the character above indicated, to provide means at the controlled blower station for reversing the air flow to the blower motor at the desired time of reversal of the unit, and it is also necessary to provide means at the controlled blower sta tion for delivering increased air pressure to the control line at the time it is desired to stop the blower. Suitable valvular means for installation at the controlled station to effect such reversal of flow and also to eflect an increase in control line pressure at the desired time, is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 60,435 filed November 17, 1948, now Patent No. 2,623,534 granted December 30, 1952. Such application discloses a valving assembly incorporating two double-acting threeway valves of the poppet type, one of which is a reversing valve and the other of which is an inlet diverting valve, and a double outlet diverting valve, all mounted in a single casing. For a detailed consideration of the construction and operation of such a motor control valve assembly, reference may be had to said application Serial No. 60,435. The general arrangement of the valve assembly is shown in Fig. 7 hereof, in which the valve casing is designated 100. Casing contains a reversing valve 102 operable by a valve stem 104, and an inlet diverting valve 105 operable by a similar valve stem 106,

the valve stems projecting from one side of the casing, shown as at the bottom, in parallel relation. The valves and valve stems are urged downwardly by biasing springs 108, and the valve mechanism and connections are so arranged that with both valves in their lowered positions', the air motor 25a is driven in one direction,'which may be considered the forward direction. During forward operation, motor power air is delivered through a conduit 80:: and diaphragm-operated valve 78a, and thence through the motor control valve mechanism and conduit 88a to the motor 25a. During forward operation of the motor and blower, the air from the motor is returned to the valve casing 100 through a return conduit 114 and discharged from an exhaust port 115 in the valve casing. With the motor running in the forward direction, a double-headed slide valve in the valve casing consisting of a pair of valve heads 116, 118 carried by and upon opposite ends of a rod 120, shuts off communication between the exhaust port 115 and the motor supply air passages and opens communication between the exhaust port 115 and the conduit 114, which is then carrying exhaust air from the motor. The parts are shown in this position in Fig. 7.

When the reversing valve 102 is lifted, it closes the passage leading to the motor air outlet port 126 to which the conduit 88a is connected, and the motor air supply pressure then acts on the underside of the valve 102 to hold such valve in the raised position against the effort of its downwardly acting biasing spring 108. The motor power air then passes under the valve 102, downwardly through a passage 128 surrounding its stem 104, and thence laterally through passage 130 to a chamber 132 containing the valve 105, which is movable similarly to valve 102 between the lowered position in which it is normally maintained by the spring 110 and a raised position in which it closes off a passage 135 which communicates with the other motor air conduit 114. At the time the valve 102 is lifted in the manner described, the valve 105 is in its lowered position and the air passes over the valve 105, through passage 135 and across the right end of cylinder 136 to port 138, and then via conduit 114 to the air motor. In passing through the cylinder 136, such pressure air moves the valve 118 to the left, closing communication between conduit 114 and the exhaust port 115 and establishing communication through the righthand end of the cylinder to the port 138, as described. Valve 118 acts through the stem 120 to move the valve 116 to the left to open communication between the port 126 and exhaust port 115, and conduit 88a then acts as a return conduit through which the mo or is connected. to the exhau t por during he. rev rse. rotation. whi h. occ r hen. h new: ir. is s ppli d in thismanuer through the, conduit 114.

When the. inlet diverting valve. 105 is subsequently raised, the air pressure on its underside also holds it in the upper position against the. effort of its, biasing spring- 11,0 and the. air then passes under the valve 105 and; downwardly through; passage, 140 and port 142. to the control conduit 76a, which is, connected to port 142. Thecontrol; conduit contains an orifice member a analogous to the orifice member 75 of the first described embodiment, and a leak-off check valve a is also connected to the control conduit, between orifice member 75a and the. motor control valve.

As. in, the previous embodiment, the transfer mechanism at the master control station is adapted to be activated by the increased pressure delivered to the control line 76a. from the. motor power airline 80a upon completion of the desired operating cycle of the blower. At the. completion of such cycle, both of the valves 1 02 and have, been raised in the manner described, and the motor power air raises the control line pressure to approximately 55 pounds persquare inch, causing the transfer mechanism to cut off the supply of control air and vent the control conduit, allowing the pressure in the actuating diaphragm chamber 82a to fall away more. rapidly than it can be maintained through the orifice member 750. As a result, the valve 78a closes, and when the pressure in the control line has fallen sutliciently, the valves 102, 105 return tov their lowered positions and the leak-off check valve 9.0a reopens. The double outlet diverting valve assembly 116, 118 is then in the left-hand position, but when air is again delivered through the power air line 80a upon commencement of the next cycle, the introduction of such air to the left end of the cylinder 127. which contains the valve 116 immediately drives the double piston valve assembly to the right.

Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive show preferred mechanism for actuating the valve elements 102, 105 of such a motor control valve assembly in timed relationship to the operation of a short retracting type of rotary blower, such as is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 766,183 now Patent No. 2,662,241, to which reference may be had for details of the blower itself. It is believed sufficient to note here in connection with the construction of the blower that the blower tube element 22a is supported by a frame structure somewhat analogous to that of the blower of the simple rotary type, shown in Fig. l, but is arranged to be projected forwardly into the boiler while being rotated in one direction, and retracted to a PIOtected position while being rotated in the reverse di'. rection. The frame structure of the blower includes a gooseneck tubular frame member 20a which serves as a feed conduit for the blowing fluid, and which is formed as a part of an integral base casting 26a which contains the blow valve 27a. The blower tube element 22a is rigidly secured to and forms in effect an extension of a slidable and rotatable axial tube 150, in the outer wall of which a helical groove 152 is formed and also a plurality of straight longitudinal slots 154, serving as keyways and slidably receiving coacting keys as 155. The keys keep the tube and attached blower tube element from rotating during projection and retraction thereof. A driving nut 156 threadedly engaging the helical groove 152 actuates the blower supporting tube 150 longitudinally, the nut being rotatable through suitable gearing by a driving motor shown as an air motor 25a. The nut 156 is drivable through a gear 35a and the nut and gear are held against longitudinal travel. Surrounding the tube 150 is a tube 160, the rear end of which is rotatably supported in the frame portion 20a and sealed with respect thereto by packing means 162. At its forward end, h tube 160 is slotted to receive the keys which project radially both inwardly and outwardly from tube 160. The slots are designated 161 and are somewhat longer than he. k ys t pe mit imited re at v n itu n liding.

mov me t. between t e key a d t b A he al ompre on. Spring 5 nc r l s ub and urges the tube to the rear, reacting rearwardly against a cam assembly 166 fast upon the tube 160 and reacting forwardly against a washer 168 slidable on tube 160, When, the tube 150 completes its outward travel, a packing ring 179 carried by the rear end thereof and defining the rear wall for each of the keyways 154, engages the rear ends of the keys 155, and in the last portion of the forward travel forces the keys forwardly. The keys move forwardly in their slots 161 and then engage the fronts of such slots and carry forwardly the tube 160 and the, cam assembly 166. Such limited forward travel of the earn assembly separates a keying portion 170 secured to the cam from a coacting keying portion 172 carried by the valve-actuating trigger member 174. Trig: ger member 174 is so supported upon the frame structure 20a as to be held against longitudinal movement, but rockable about its supporting pin 175 to actuate the blowvalve 27a. The keying parts 170, 172 remain in engagement until such final portion of the forward longitudinal travel of the tube 150, and when such parts are in engage-v ment, they hold the tube 160 against rotation and thereby, through the keys. 155, also hold the tube 150 and the blower tube 22a against rotation. When the keying part 170v moves away from the keying part 172, however, the entire tubular structure is free to. rotate, and continued rotation of the assembly by the gear 35a and nut 156 1 rotates the tubular parts and the blower tube element 22a while the latter is in the projected position. Such rota? tion of the interfitted tube portions rotates the cam 166 which actuates the trigger 174 to open and close the blow valve 27a. It will be understood that the cam 166 1 may be contoured to impart any desired blowing pattern,

in the well known manner.

The body 100 of the motor control valve is rigidly supported by a bracket portion 180 forming a part of the top of the frame structure, the valve being mounted with the valve actuating plungers 104, 106 projecting downwardly in a position above and somewhat to one side of the actuating cam 166, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Valve plunger 104 is actuatable by a resilient arm 182 loosely mounted on a shaft 184 which carries a star wheel185, The star wheel is mounted to rotate upon an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the blower tube structure and is adapted to be turned one tooth for each rotation of the cam 166, the rotation of which corresponds to the rotation of the blower. A driving pin 186 for the star wheel is fast in and projects from one side of the cam 166. A detent spring 190, shown as a leaf spring with a rounded nose 192, engages another portion of the star wheel to impart to the wheel a snap action, insuring that it will be rotated through no more and no less than one tooth each time it is engaged by the driving pin 186. It will be seen that the star wheel constitutes in effect a revolution counter. When the star wheel has been turned through a desired angle, a pin 194 secured to and projecting from one side of the wheel strikes an arm portion 195 which is an integral extension of the arm 182, and turns the interconnected arm portions 195, 182 in a direction to raise the arm 182 and thereby lift the valve plunger 104 to carry the valve 102 to the upper position which reverses the air motor 112 in the manner previously described. As shown in Fig. 7, the pin 194 is securable to the star wheel in any of a plurality of positions, several socket portions as 196 being indicated for reception of the pin, any of which may be used to hold the pin 194 as the operator may desire. The socket portions 196 are spaced apart an angular distance corresponding to one tooth of the star wheel. Since movement of the star wheel a distance of one tooth corresponds to one revolution of the blower, the pin 194 may be positioned to cause reversal of the blower after any number of revolutions within the range of the apparatus.

9 A torsion spring 198 opposes rotation of the star wheel, but the effort of the spring is not sufficient to overcome the detent. The spring 198 returns the star wheel to its initial position after the wheel has performed its valve lifting function. In order to allow the star wheel to return, means is provided for lifting the detent spring to raise nose portion 192 from the star wheel. Such means comprises a bell crank consisting of a vertical arm 202 and a horizontal arm 205, the bell crank being pivoted upon a pin 204 carried by a bracket portion 207, shown as an integral forward extension of an upper part of the frame. The bell crank 205 carries an upwardly projecting abutment screw 350 engageable with the underside of the spring arm 190 when the arm 205 is raised. Arm 205 is operable by the washer-like disk 168 which is engageable with an abutment screw 352 carried by the downwardly extending bell crank arm 202. The initial position of the star wheel, to which it returns under the influence of spring 198 when the detent arm 190 is raised, is determined by a stop pin 199 projecting from the side of the star wheel opposite the one carrying pin 194 and engageable with the bracket portion 209 which carries the star wheel shaft 184.

When the blower is in its fully retracted position shown in Fig. 4, the keys 155 are held in their rearmost positions wherein they are at the rear ends of the slots 161. Each of the keys 155 has an outwardly projecting lug portion 157 engageable with the slidable sleeve 200, and when the blower is retracted, the keys hold the sleeve 200 in a rearmost position in which the disk 168 is moved slightly to the rear against the resistance of the spring 165. This rocks the bell crank arm 202 sufficiently to lift the arm 205 and so raise the detent spring arm to free the dentent nose portion 192 from the star wheel. When projecting movement of the blower commences, the initial part of such forward travel allows the keys 155 to move forwardly in the slots 161 allowing the bell crank arm 202 to move forwardly as the washer 168 is moved out of the way by spring 165. The arm 205 falls as the detent spring moves down to engage the star wheel. The detent spring is thus ready to perform its function when the rotation of the blower occurs in the manner previously described. It will also be noted that when the blower is fully retracted, the arm 205 holds the valve 105 raised, a resilient extension 206 of the arm 205 at such time bearing upwardly against the stem 106 with sufficient force to hold the valve raised against the effort of the spring 110. During the initial forward travel of the blower, however, the arm 205 is moved downwardly as previously stated, allowing the valve 105 to move downwardly as the detent re-engages the star wheel.

After the blower has been reversed by the lifting of the valve stem 104 in the manner described,-the blower unit travels rearwardly until at the completion of its rearward movement the keys 155 are moved to the rear, carrying rearwardly the sleeve 200, as indicated. The rear end of the sleeve 200 then forces washer 168 rearwardly, thereby also moving rearwardly the bell crank arm 202 and lifting arm 205, stem 106 and valve 105, as well as the star wheel detent arm 190. As previously described, this stops the air motor and delivers motor power air to the control line to actuate the transfer mechanism at the master control station. Operation of the blower is thus stopped, and as the pressure falls away in the power air line and control line connected to the valve casing 100, the stem 104 falls to its initial position, arm 182 having moved down to permit stem 104 to drop, and the parts are thereby reset for commencement of the subsequent cycle.

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, show a modified actuating mechanism for the motor control valve assembly. The motor control valve assembly itself may correspond to that last described, but it is shown as adapted to regulate the action of a blower of the long retracting type such, for example, as is disclosed in Howse et al. Patent No.

2,126,683, granted August 9, 1938, or Bowers et al. Patent No. 2,249,741, granted July 22, 1941, or Bowerset al. Patent No. 2,257,936, granted October 7, 1941. Such blowers are employed in the hottest portions of boilers, where the blower tube would be destroyed by the high temperature if left in the operative location between operating cycles. It will also be understood that if the supply of blowing fluid should fail, destruction of the blower would be apt to ensue because in many such installations the blower tube structure can only endure the elevated temperatures on account of the cooling effect of the blowing medium. In many such installations also, additional cooling is provided by the provision of a cooling Water supply source adapted to augment the cooling effect of the blowing medium. In this embodirnent, I have incorporated improved means for automatically and quickly retracting a blower of the type indicated in event of failure of the supply of the blowing medium or the cooling fluid.

For purposes of illustration, it may be assumed that the blower tube structure, which is indicated more or less diagrammatically at 22b, is drivable by an air motor 25b, although in this as in the previous embodiments, it will be understood that an electric or other motor, controllable by pressure-operable switching or regulating means could be employed. The outer supporting and frame structure of the blower is also shown only diagrammatically and is designated 20b. It will be understood that reference may be had to one of the three patents last mentioned for additional details of blowers of the character under consideration. Such retracting blowers are frequently projectable and retractable for distances of fifteen to twenty feet. The control mechanism of the present invention will be recognized as useful in regulating the action of other types of blowers, however.

The casing of the motor control valve assembly is designated 100b, and as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11, the position of the valve is inverted with respect to the last described embodiment, the actuating stems 104b, 106b projecting upwardly and being actuatable by the opposite ends of a single rocker arm having oppositely extending actuating finger portions 220, 222. One such finger portion overlies the upper end of each of the stems. The rocker arm is centrally pivoted upon a pivot pin 224 carried by a supporting panel 225 mounted in a box 226 carried by the blower frame 20b.

The inlet port 103b of the motor control valve is connected to the motor power air supply line b through a diaphragm-operable valve 78b, a lubricator230 and a hand valve 232, the latter serving as an emergency stop device. The exhaust port 142b. is connected to the control air line 76b as in the previous embodiment. The control air line is connected by a conduit 84b to the diaphragm chamber 82b of the diaphragm-operable valve 78b, and an orifice member 75b is incorporated in the control line 76b between the exhaust port and the point of connection of the conduit 84b. A check type leakoff valve b is also connected to the control line between the orifice member 75b and the exhaust port 142b, and the functioning of these parts may correspond to those of the similar components of the last described embodiment. The motor 25b is connected to the motor control valve in similar fashion by conduits 88b and 114b, and although the motor control valve is shown inverted with respect to the arrangement of the last previous embodiment, it will be appreciated that when both of the valve stems 104b, 106b are in their projected positions toward which they are urged by their biasing springs 108b, 110b, the motor control valve assembly is in condition to direct the fluid in such manner as to-cause the air motor to drive the blower forwardly, that is, to project the blower element into the boiler. Depressing the stem 104b causes the motor to reverse, to retract the blower, and to run in the reverse direction so long as the s. nd ca d: a p hy n tea as he. w n m.

al ou h-.- is. of; C urs amatte of. hoice. e lowing; steam, is delivered, through, conduit 235 which contains a diaphragm operable blow control valve 236, the diaphragmchaniben of; which is designated 2'38. If supplemental water cooling is required, the cooling water may be deliveredto the blower through the pipe 240.which-incorporates adiaphragm-operablevalve 2 %2, the diaphragm.

chamber: of. which is designated 245%, The diaphragm chamber 2,45Lis shown connectedby. a'conduit. 312 to tho sameeonduit, 318, which controls;the pressure in diaphragm chamber-ZCsB. of valve 236. The action of these parts will presently be considered.- The cooling water delivery. andcontrol. elementsare shown in dotted lines.

since their use is, not always. required.

Therocker armportions 220,, 222 which serve as actuating. means for the valve stems 1.0412, 1,061). are rigidly conneetedto androclcable by and witha lever, 259. pivoted,

upon the pin 2254, which projects. from the panel 225.

Thelever 2 56). is substantially hat and lies parallel and,

close to thepaneLZZS. The lever isformedwith a wedgeshaped top;.2 55 .ad apted tozcoact-with a roller. 256, bearing yieldably downwardly against such wedge-shaped top por-. tion theroller. being trunnioncd between, a pair of sheet metal supporting; arms 258. spaced sufiiciently from one.

another to allow the pointed end of the lever to project freely therebetween, but close enough toprevent disalign mentibetwccn, the lever and roller. Arms 2555 constitute ineffecta unitary structure which, is-pivoted. upon a pin 260. at a point laterally spaced-from the roller and from. coacting. wedge portion 255. The arm. portions 258 and.

roller 256. are urged downwardly; by a helical tension spring, 262,, secured at, its.- lower end to.a pin 264. fast in.

the panel 225 and at its upper end connccted to the roller. arm structure 258 as by the adjustable connection 265. It;will,be appreciated,that'thecoaction between the roller andthe wedge-shaped top 255 imparts a snap action to the lever 250. and tends toyieldably, hold the lever inv either of two angular positions uponeither side of the roller. in.

its,extremeleftposition, in which it is shown in full lines in, Figs. 8 and 9, the lever tilts the arm 220, downwardly to depress the valve stem 106b, while in the extreme right position shown, in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the arm 222 is rocked downwardly to depress the valve stem 194b, while arm 22 9 andZ stem litfibt are raised.

Projecting perpendicularly from an intermediate portion of lever 250 is an actuating pin 270 which extends between, a pair of collars 272, 274V fastupon a rod 275.

supported for axial transverse shifting movement in a path substantially parallel to the plane of the. panel 225. Twopistons 276, 278, are secured to the rod 275, one at each end. Piston 276 is movable in a. cylinder 28%, and

piston 278 is movable in a cylinder 232. The cylinders are aifixed to the panel. 225 and serve to;support the rod 215 and attached parts.

The rod. 275 isv adapted to be moved, to shift the lever 250, by fluid delivered; to the. cylinders 280, 282, in a manner presently. to be considered. The rod 275. is also mechanically shiftable through the agency of an arm 28 5. having a bifurcated end. portion which embraces a portion of the rod between collar 27-2 and cylinder 282. Arm 285 is movable in a path parallel to the rod 275 12 and its bifurcatedend is engaged between spaced: abutments shown as stop n u ts 286, 288,- The; stop nuts are spaced. apart a,distan'ce; slightly. greater, than the thickness; of. the arm 285 to permitlirnitedlost motionbetween the arm andmod. The arm 285 is carried by a plate290shiftable by and in response to longitudinal travel of the blower element 221;. Longitudinal travel of theblower, elementv moves, in timed relation to the travel of the blower, a,r od 292' which is drivable through reduction gearing; (not shown) in. such manner that its. position. bears a. direct relation to the position of the blower, but the travel. of. rod 292 is much slower and through a muchshorter, path than that of the blower. The rod 292 mayv also move in a path. substantially parallel, to the path of the rodv 2 75. Rod 292 carries an actuating finger 2 9.41 which is movable to. and from driving engag ement witha pair-of, spaced abutment portions. 295, 296, carried. by the. plate 290. Abutment portion. 295 is. shown as comprising; a fixed projection extending from the plate 290; whilethe enacting abutment 296.comprises an adjustable abutment.

screw,

With, the parts arranged. as. shown in Figs. 8. and. 9, outward projecting movementof the blower. tube element; 221) (to the right. as shown in Fig. 8) moves the rod 292 and actuating finger 294,to the right, and vice versa.

The right end of cylinder 280 is connected, through a conduit 300and, a pressure controlled pilot valve 302 to a conduit 304which. is in communication with, the. com duit 88b, which delivers motor, driving fluid to the air motor 25b during forward travel of the motor and: blower. The part shown in Fig. 8.as a conduit 305- con,-v necting. conduits 88b and 304 may inpracticebe a cou; pling, as shown inFig. 9, and it will be. seen that conduit 304 is also connected to the left-hand end of the cylinder- 282 by a branch. conduit 307, Valve 302 is biased, to. closed position but. is adapted to be opened when suiti-v cient pressure obtains in an,- actuating diaphragm cham: ber 306 v connected by conduit means 3,0 8, 31 0, to the blowing medium conduit 235, if no. coolingv medium is supplied to the blower, or to.theconduit 2 40 if; cooling medium isemployed. In,order to insure delivery of adequate pressure to the line. 305 and connected parts a slight restrictionsuch as the orifice member 89b is placed in the line 88b beyond the point of connection of the. line 3 05 This restriction is not; sufficient to interfere with p r tipnt the motorh t at iaph a h bers ,2 o elQwins f i c o i -fluid e nics ed qsi ths b on it. .1- n he a t te ing fl i a o t llin he P fl i1 ItdZl9. 1 l es. wh ch a b ssd. 9 l ed P s t on rived; rom. e m wrpo r. a r s hsh t. b hmu h. h a s o t. 5. on c e o s m t r.- w r a iI Q .P ah hea o he ve. 8. hqwh B n h ui 3 xtends. o one co necti f.- han-aqti a a yq as embly 31 m. the. Q hsh q hhes gh whi h 0. h t .8 extends 9 he. i phra m. hambe n t n t sm h h nduit 3 2. 9 s 9 di h m. chamber 2jt4 The valve ?g16 ,is operable by anactuating col a .0 t e Pa t be n 5 r a h t s l s ah ed. o mo TQm lo e 9 open. PQ fiQ L a vice. r a. with a. q k; ap. st q in p s g. e hht trav l f. the. c l a hlih. lve o hi y e a g h.- me a avail bl and: t know o. p r on lle in h a hat. a e s t p ign herhof; ll ne be required; here. The valve is biased to open position by a sp v 2 h w as of h omntes ipn, pe a d. th d' to r t co 3. to he ght h e t what is ap dt be. m v Ka he. kitow r h! l se -P ition of the valve by an adjust-able abutment screw 324 haw h ath t esth the e e rm. 5 s e ha l F s- 9 an .1. he h ew 2.4- axin Pratt-h e. carr e y a sup eme ta rm-.- .3 m hh d; t that a a hh h. arm. .50 the W2 a ein r i l fixe he am h b p rt n. 251

With the parts so arranged, when the, blower con:

trolled by the control mechanism of this embodiment is not in operation, the parts ordinarily stand as shown in full lines in Figs. 8 and 9, the valve 102]) being raised and the valve 105b depressed. When control 'air under pressure is delivered from the master control station through the conduit 76b, it opens the motor power air valve 78b and motor power air is delivered to conduit 88b to start the air motor 2511 running forwardly and initiate forward movement of the blower. At such time, air is also delivered through conduit means 305, 307 to the cylinder 282, which shifts rod 275 to the right until the adjusting screw 296 brings up against one side of the finger 294 on the rod 292, the position of which, as previously stated, corresponds to the position of the blower element itself. As the blower moves outwardly, the rod 292 moves to the right allowing the rod 275 to move to the right, and the rod 275 is induced to follow the rod 292 by the fluid pressure in cylinder 282 acting against the piston 278. At a certain point in the travel of these parts toward the right, and before the wedge 255 of the lever 250 has snapped over the roller 256, the valve 316 opens under the influence of the spring 322. Fluid from the motor power air conduit 80b is then delivered through conduits 315, 318, 312 to the diaphragm chambers 238, 244 to open valves 236, 242. Blowing thereupon commences and pressure is also delivered by way of conduits 310, 308 to the diaphragm chamber 306, which opens valve 302 to establish communication between conduits 304, 300, thereby introducing motor power air from the conduit 88b to the cylinder 280. The pressure thereby exerted upon the piston 276 counterbalances the effort exerted in the opposite direction upon piston 278, so that movement of the rod 275 and connected parts to the right is arrested.

Further outward movement of the blower unit causes the finger 294 to leave the abutment screw 296 as the rod 292 continues its movement to the right. As the blower element completes its outward movement, the finger 294 strikes the abutment 295 and applies effort to the rod 275 to move it further to the right. Such movement overcomes the resistance of detent roller 256 and snaps the lever 250 over center, to its right-hand position. Preferably the arm 220 is resiliently connected to the stem 10612 by a hairpin spring 221, which insures upward movement of the valve even if there should be any tendency to stick, although the influence of the spring 11% could be relied upon entirely. At the same time the arm 222 depresses the valve stem 104b. Operation of the air motor 25b is thereby reversed, as in the last described embodiment. The conduits 88b and 305 then carry only exhaust air from the motor, but the pressures in cylinders 280, 282 remain balanced, so long as blowing medium and cooling medium hold the valve 302 open, which they ordinarily do during at least a part of the retracting movement of the blower, since usually blowing is carried on during retraction as well as projection of the blower element.

When retraction of the blower element has carried the rod 292 back to the left far enough, the finger 294 reengages the adjustable abutment screw 296 and continued retraction moves the rod 275 to a position to force the lever 250 to swing to the left and back past the roller 256, which lifts the arm 222 from the valve stem 104b and causes the arm 220 to depress the valve stem 1061; and move the valve 105k down to the position shown in Fig. 8. The valve 10217 remains down, holding its spring 1081) compressed under the motor power air supply pressure and the air accordingly passes through the valve structure to the port 142b, as in the last described embodiment. Port 142b is in like fashion connected to the control conduit 76b and the increased pressure in the control conduit is effective to shut down this portion of the system in the manner previously described, by causing the transfer mechanism at the master control station to interrupt the supply of control air and vent 14 the control line, allowing valve 78b to close, so that the motor power air supply is cut off and the control line vented. As the pressure falls away in the system, the valve 10211 is lifted by the spring 108?) and the cycle is ready to recommence.

The system is shown as incorporating a conventional oiling device 330 connected to the conduit 310 by a branch conduit 333 through a check valve 334.-

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to further modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a rotatable and reversibly longitudinally movable soot blower arranged for intermittent operation, fluid operable means for controlling the direction of movement and the duration of the operating cycle of such a blower including a reversing valve for reversing the direction of rotary and longitudinal movement of the blower and a diverting valve for interrupting operation of the blower, means including a revolution counter responsive to rotation of the blower throughout a plurality of revolutions for actuating the reversing valve, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of the blower for actuating the diverting valve.

2. In combination with a soot blower of the rotatable and longitudinally movable type, means for reversing the direction of longitudinal movement and controlling the length of operating cycles of the blower, including a blower motor actuating device operable by fluid under pressure delivered thereto from a relatively high-pressure source, a control valve for said device, fluid-responsive servomotor means for opening said control valve in response to the delivery of fluid to said servomotor from a lower pressure source, said lower pressure source being connected to the servomotor by a control line, means including a reversing valve for changing the direction of delivery of the higher pressure fluid to said device to reverse the latter and thereby reverse the direction of rotation of the blower, means'including a diverting valve for controlling the duration of operating cycles of said device, both said reversing valve and said diverting valve being operable by and in response to movements of the blower, and connecting means between said higher pressure source and said control line controllable by said diverting valve.

3. Means as set forth in claim 2 including a restriction member interposed between said diverting valve and control line.

4. In combination with a reversible soot blower and fluid-operable controlling means therefor, including a reversing valve movable to change the direction of movement of the blower, a valve actuating member for moving the reversing valve, means providing a lost-motion connection between the blower and said member whereby said member may be moved to actuate the valve when the blower reaches a predetermined extreme position in its travel, means biasing said member to a position to throw said valve to reversing position, counterbiasing means normally counteracting the effect of said biasing means, said counterbiasing means including a pressureoperable member adapted to be connected to a source of fluid supply to said blower whereby in response to interruption of such fluid supply the counterbiasing means is rendered ineffective and the biasing means may actuate said member.

5. In combination with a forwardly and reversibly movable soot blower and controlling means therefor including a reversing element movable to change the direction of movement of the blower, an actuating member for moving the reversing element, lost-motion connecting means between the blower and said actuating member whereby said member may be operated to actuate the reversing elcrnent and revcr se the blower when. the

blower reaches 5 a predetermined position, means. biasing.

setting device is rendered inefi ectiye andfthe biasing means may actuate said member.

6. In a soot, blower controlsystem of the type including a control conduit adapt edtoextend from a control station to a. controlled station and connectable at the control station to a source of control fluidunder. pressure, a motor actuating device at the 'controlled station connectable to and operable by a source. of actuating motor fluid at. a higher pressure, mean sff or controlling the operation, of said, device and for changing the pressure. in the, control, conduit comprising a. diverting valve interposed between said device and said second mentioned source and havingan outlet port connected to said control conduit, means biasing the valve to a position to connect said device. to said second. source, and means for moving the valve to a. position, to, connect. said. second source to saidport to raise the pressure. the control conduit comprising a cam drivable by a controlled blower and having a lobe,engageable with a valve actuating element in one directionfonly. to move the valve againstthe effort of the biasing. means. 7 I l 7,. In combination with. a, movable soot blower arranged for intermittent operation, means for controlling the duration, of the operating cycle. of such a blower including a diverting. valve having an inlet adapted to be connected; to. a source of fluid under. pressure and having a pain of outlets, one comprising a motor port for connection to a motor, for driving the blower and the other comprising a diversion outlet for divertingthe fluid away from such motor port, saidvalve being movable to control. the connection of the source of fluid to either outlet, meansv responsive. to delivery of fluid to said diversion. outlet to cut oi the source of fluid supply to said. inlet, means. forfbiasing said valve to a position to direct fluid to, the motor/port and simultaneously to close off said diversion outlet, a, cam for actuating said valve against the eflort of said biasing means, and means including a resilicnt drive element connecting the cam to the blower, said resilient drive element permitting. limited yieldable independent motion between the carn and the blower.

8. In combination with a movable soot blower arranged for intermittent operation, a motor for moving the same, a motor fluid supply conduit connectible to a source of motor fluid, a control conduit corinectible to a remotely. located control station and to a source of control fluid under a pressure different from the pressure of the motormeans, for controllingv the duration of the operating cycle of movernent of such a blower including a main motor fluid control valve rranged in said motor fluid supply. conduit, servornotor means for actuating said control valve, a diverting valve having an inlet connected to the motor fluid supply conduit and having a pair of outlets, one such outlet being connected to the motor and the other such outlet being connected to the control conduit, said diverting valve being movable to connect the source of motor fluid to either outlet, said servomotor means being connected to said control conduit and being responsive to change of pressure in the control conduit tocut off the source of motor fluid supply to said motor, means for biasing said diverting valve to a position to direct fluid to the motor port and simultaneously to close off said outlet to the control conduit, a thrust member for actuating said diverting valve against the effort of said biasing means, and means including a drive element connecting'the thrust member to the blower, said drive element permitting limited independent motion betweenjthe thrust member and the blowsri 9. Means as defined in claim 7 including a follower engageable by said cam to actuate 'the valve, and, a pring. ld ly ma n ng id am. at e extre e limit of its independent motion with respect to the blower, the eflortof said springjupon the cam being less than the eflort'eiierted upon' the cam by thefollower during operation of the valve, and the effort of the spring being exerted upon the 'cam in a direction opposite to the direction in which the cam is urged by the follower during actuation by thevalv'e, whereby movement of the cam may be momentarily arrested to the extent permitted by said independent motion during actuation of the valve.

it). in combination with a movable soot blower arranged for intermittent operation, a motor for moving the same, a motor' fluid supply'conduit connectible'to a source of motor fluid, a control conduit connectible to a remotely located controlstation and to a" source of: control fluid under a pressure different from the pressure of the motor fluid, means for controlling the duration of the operating cycle'of movement of such a blower including a main motor fluid control valve arranged in said motor fluid supply conduit, 'servomotor means for actuating said control valve, a diverting valve having an inlet connected to the motor fluid supply conduit and having apair of outlets, one such outlet being connected to the motor and the other such'outlet being connected to the control conduit, said diverting valve being movable to connect the source of motor fluid to either outlet, said servo notor means being connected to said control conduit and'beingresponsive to change of pressure in the'control conduit to cut'oif the source of motor fluid supply to said motor; V 1 1 ll. in comhination with a soot blower of the rotatable, projectable and retractable type, means for reversing the direction of movement and controlling the length of operating cyclesof the blower including a fluid-operable blower motor for driving the blower both rotatably and longitudinally, a pressure-operable control valve for said motor, through which valve the motor is adapted to be connected to a source of motor air, said valve being biased to aclosed position in which said'motor' is inopera 1 tive, fluid-responsive means adapted to be connected to a source of control air which is under lower pressure than the motor air, said fluid responsive'means bcing ope'rative to open said control valve in response to'the delivery of fluid under such lower, control air pressure, means including a reversing valve interconnecting 'said motor and controi valve for changing the" direction of delivery of the higher pressure fluid to said motor to reverse'the motor and thereby reverse the direction of movement'of the blower, means including a diverting valve operative to interconnect the said two sources to change the effective pressure delivered to s aid soiirce of control air whereby the action of said fluid responsive means may be changed to control the action of said 'control'val've and thereby the duration of operating cycles of said motor, a revolution counter responsive to rotation ofthe blower for actuating said reversing valve, and means responsive to longitudinal movement of the blower for actuating said diverting valve. 4 4 i 12. In combination with a soot blower of the rotatable, projectable and retractable type, means for reversing the direction of movement and controliing the length of operating cycles of the blower including a fluid-operable blower motor for driving the blower-both rotatably and longitudinally, a pressureoperable control valve for said motor, through which valve the'motor is adapted to be connected to a source of motor air, said valve being biased to, a closed position in which said motor is inoperative, fluid-responsive means adapted to be connected to a source of control air which is under lower pressure than the motor air, said fluid responsive means being operative to open said control valve in response to the delivery of fluid under such lower, control air pressure, means including a reversing valve interconnecting said motor and control valve for changing the direction of delivery of the higher pressure fluid to said motor to reverse the motor and thereby reverse the direction of movement of the blower, means including a diverting valve operative to interconnect the said two sources to change the cffective pressure delivered to said source of control air whereby the action of said fluid-responsive means may be changed to control the action of said control valve and thereby the duration of operating cycles of said motor, a revolution counter responsive to rotation of the blower for actuating said reversing valve, an actuating portion movable in response to predetermined longitudinal movement of the blower for actuating said divert- .ing valve, and means responsive to movement of said actuating portion for resetting said revolution counter.

13. In combination with a soot blower of the rotatable, projectable and retractable type, means for reversing the direction of movement and controlling the length of operating cycles of the blower including a fluid-operable blower motor for driving the blower both rotatably and longitudinally, a pressure-operable control valve for said motor, through which valve the motor is adapted to be connected to a source of motor air, said valve being biased to a closed position in which said motor is inoperative, fluid-responsive means adapted to be connected to a source of control air which is under lower pressure than the motor air, said fluid responsive means being operative to open said control valve in response to the delivery of fluid under such lower, control air pressure, means including a reversing valve interconnecting said motor and control valve for changing the direction of delivery of the higher pressure fluid to said motor to reverse the motor and thereby reverse the direction of movement of the blower, means including a diverting valve operative to interconnect the said two sources to change the efiective pressure delivered to said source of control air whereby the action of said fluid-responsive means may be changed to control the action of said control valve and thereby the duration of operating cycles of said motor, a progressively movable revolution counting device responsive to rotation of said blower to actuate said reversing valve, spring means yieldably opposing movement of said revolution counter and tending to return it to an initial position, holding means normally preventing return movement of said revolution counter under the influence of said spring means, and means responsive to predetermined longitudinal travel of the blower for actuating said diverting valve and for concurrently releasing said holding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,125 Bowers Aug. 7, 1928 2,319,682 Hibner et al. May 18, 1943 2,327,524 Hibner et al Aug. 24, 1943 2,441,112 Hibner et al. May 4, 1948 2,493,656 Clench Jan. 3, 1950 2,565,689 Howse Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 576,073 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1946

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