Device for cleaning and remotely inspecting a chimney
a technology for cleaning and remotely inspecting chimneys, applied in the direction of solid removal, combustion process, lighting and heating apparatus, etc., can solve the problems of drill flipping, injury to the operator, and design not proved satisfactory
Inactive Publication Date: 2017-03-02
MEREDITH JOHN E +1
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AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
The present invention provides a device for cleaning a chimney. The device includes a rod assembly, a cleaning head assembly, a remote viewing apparatus, and a stabilizing / positioning assembly. The cleaning head assembly is mounted on the rod assembly and includes a rotatable hub with flexible cleaning members and fan blade members extending from the hub. The remote viewing apparatus is mounted on the rod assembly and includes a camera that can rotate to scan the chimney interior at a speed of at least 400 rpm. The stabilizing / positioning assembly is mounted on the rod assembly and is effective to position the cleaning head assembly a predetermined distance from the interior wall of the chimney while the rod assembly rotates. The device also includes a motor for rotating the rotatable hub at a speed of at least 400 rpm and a cable assembly for rotating the cleaning members without rotating the casing. The device may also include lights to illuminate the interior space of the chimney and a variable speed motor controlled by a foot switch for individual operation.
Problems solved by technology
Unfortunately, this design has not proven satisfactory since the design of known chimney cleaning brushes does not prevent the bristle ends from getting caught between gaps between flue tiles.
This can cause injury to the operator if the spinning rods are suddenly stopped, which causes the drill to flip.
Numerous sweeps have been injured operating these chimney cleaning devices.
These defects may include cracked liners or mortar missing from between the 2 foot sections of clay flue liners.
Most commonly, a large and cumbersome vacuum system is used.
Both methods are time consuming and cumbersome, and can be difficult to set up to properly ensure efficient dust removal.
In the chimney setting though, the situation is somewhat different, and attempts to incorporate the “duct cleaning” technology to the chimney sweeping field have not been successful because the flexible shafts used by the duct cleaning art have not been effective for cleaning chimneys or long vertical ducts.
If the shaft is flexible enough to be conveniently transported in a coil through a customer's living area, it is not rigid enough to be forced up the average chimney flue.
Additionally, it has been found that when flexible shafts are used to spin the brush head, the brush will “ride up” one side of a lengthy vertical shaft or chimney flue and will not stay centered as to evenly clean all sides of the flue.
If the shaft is constructed with enough rigidity as to allow it to be pushed upward from the bottom opening to the top opening of the flue it cannot be conveniently transported and must also be straightened out before it can be used.
This requires two operators and is impractical.
Method used
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[0055]For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Instead, the claims of the application are intended to cover all alterations and further modifications in the illustrated invention, and such further applications of the principles of the invention disclosed herein, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
[0056]One aspect of the present invention provides a device for cleaning and remotely inspecting a chimney. The device includes a cleaning head that preferably comprises a hub with one or more cleaning arms attached thereto. A cable assembly is attached to the cleaning head. The cable assembly includes a flexible cable in a flexible casing, with the casing being sized and adapted to allow the cab...
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A device for cleaning a chimney preferably includes a rod assembly, cleaning arms, fan blades, a camera, and a stabilizing / positioning assembly. The cleaning arms are provided on an assembly that includes a rotatable hub with the cleaning arms extending from the hub. The fan blades may also extend from the hub or they may be provided separately. The camera is continuously rotatable around the longitudinal axis to allow an uninterrupted 360° scan of the chimney. The stabilizing / positioning assembly is effective to position the cleaning assembly hub a pre-selected stabilizing / positioning distance from an interior wall of a chimney while the hub rotates in the chimney. The cleaning and fan hub(s) is driven by a cable surrounded by a casing that allows the cable to rotate in the casing without rotating the casing. Controls allow the operator to control the speed and direction of the cleaning arms and the camera.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 102,647, filed Dec. 11, 2013 (pending), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 424,166, filed Apr. 15, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 124,358, filed Apr. 16, 2008; all of which related applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to devices for cleaning a chimney, and more particularly to a device for cleaning a chimney flue, optionally while simultaneously scanning the interior of the flue.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]For many years chimney sweeps have cleaned chimneys using brushes that attach to a series of rods that extend the length of the brush. More recently, sweeps have attempted to use a motor, such as a power drill motor, to spin the rods to improve cleaning efficiency. Unfortunately, this design h...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): F23J3/02
CPCF23J2213/60F23J3/026
InventorMEREDITH, JOHN E.URBAN, THOMAS J.
OwnerMEREDITH JOHN E