FULL COVERAGE SOOTBLOWER

摘要

The present invention is directed to a sootblower (10) and particularly to a hub (80) and drive assembly (90) therefore capable of producing improved cleaning by directing the blowing medium over substantially all of the surface to be cleaned. A sootblower (10) in accord with the present invention includes a hub (80) and drive assembly (90) for converting the alternating, clockwise and counter-clockwise rotary output of a reversible drive motor (60) to uni-directional rotary movement of the sootblower lance (30). Further, the sootblower (10) of the present invention provides an incremental degree of lost rotational movement each time the direction of longitudinal movement of the lance (30) and nozzle assembly changes. Thus, the sootblower (10) of the present invention moves the cleaning nozzles (40) through different helical paths as the lance (30) moves in the forward and reverse directions to provide a plurality of crossed helical paths as the drive assembly (90) steps around the hub (80) to produce substantially full coverage cleaning of the surfaces of adjacent heat exchanger tubes.