Flexible Tube Cleaning Lance Positioner Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lance positioner frames for heat exchanger tube sheets are heavy, cumbersome, and require substantial space, making them difficult to set up and limiting their feasibility for precise positioning of cleaning lances.
Innovation Solution
A flexible lance positioner frame apparatus using an upper and lower guide rail system with a rail clamp assembly that allows for precise positioning and secure attachment to the heat exchanger tube sheet, enabling minimal space usage and easy setup without the need for extensive tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional rigid frame structures are used for lance positioning, then structural stability is improved, but weight and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is divided into modular components including guide rails, clamp assemblies, and positioning mechanisms that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation allows for a lighter overall structure while maintaining stability through precise modular connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces heavy rigid frame structures with flexible positioning mechanisms that use thin-walled components and adaptable mounting systems. The guide rails and clamp assemblies utilize thin-profile designs that provide sufficient structural integrity without the weight of conventional heavy frames.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional rigid frame structures are used for lance positioning, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and setup difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into pre-assembled modular units including guide rails with integrated clamp mechanisms and positioning components. This modular design simplifies setup by allowing rapid assembly of stable positioning structures without complex field construction.
Solution Approach 2:
Key structural components such as guide rails and clamp assemblies are pre-configured and pre-assembled before deployment. This preliminary preparation reduces on-site setup complexity while ensuring structural stability is established from the outset of installation.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional rigid frame structures are used for lance positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system transitions from a bulky three-dimensional rigid frame to a more compact configuration that utilizes dimensional optimization. Guide rails and positioning mechanisms are arranged to maximize precision while minimizing the overall footprint and space occupation around the heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
Thin-profile guide rails and positioning components replace heavy rigid frame elements, achieving precise lance positioning with minimal space requirements. The thin-walled design maintains positioning accuracy while dramatically reducing the spatial envelope of the positioning apparatus.
4Strength
If rail clamp assemblies with threaded shafts are used, then secure attachment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism integrates multiple functions into a single unified assembly, combining the threaded shaft, clamp fingers, and mounting components into one cohesive unit. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device while maintaining secure attachment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail clamp assembly is designed as a universal mounting mechanism that can securely attach to various rail configurations and heat exchanger types. This multi-functional design achieves strong attachment without requiring complex specialized components for different applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame apparatus for holding a flexible lance positioning mechanism adjacent to and spaced from a heat exchanger tube sheet includes an upper guide rail, a lower guide rail, a positioner rail supported from one of the upper and lower guide rails and guided by the other of the upper and lower guide rails, and a rail clamp assembly fastened to a portion of a tube sheet. This rail clamp assembly has a flat plate member fastened to the tube sheet, a base plate spaced from the flat plate by one or more threaded shafts, and one or more clamp fingers rotatably fastened to the base plate. Each clamp fingers is operable to rotate toward the base plate when the base plate is drawn against the flat plate or beam member by rotating the threaded shaft, thus drawing the rail securely to the flat plate of the clamp assembly.