Tube flush etching, rinsing and drying apparatus and method

摘要

An apparatus for processing the interiors of elongated hollow tubes having open opposite ends, such as by acid etching, water rinsing, steam cleaning or air drying the tube interiors, includes a pair of tube clamping mechanism being operable between tube clamping and unclamping conditions. The clamping mechanisms when in their clamping conditions support the tubes in stationary side-by-side spaced positions for processing and at locations on the tubes displaced inwardly from their opposite ends. The apparatus also has a pair of fluid supply manifolds each being displacable between disengaged and engaged positions with respect to the open opposite tube ends and having nozzles for engaging the respective tube ends to seal off the interior of the tube from the external atmosphere when the manifolds are in their engaged positions. A selector valve is mounted in each manifold and is selectively operable to provide communication between at least one source of pressurized processing fluid and the tube interior through the respective manifold. A pair of pneumatic actuator mechanisms are used for displacing the manifolds between their disengaged and engaged positions. The apparatus also has a frame and the clamping mechanisms, manifolds and actuator mechanisms are mounted thereon for movement toward and away from one another to place them at different distances from one another corresponding to the different lengths of the tube being processed.