US 11,934,215 B2
System and method for cleaning heat exchanger tubes
Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Navarre, OH (US); Terry D. Gromes, Jr., Navarre, OH (US); Kristen E. Griffin, Navarre, OH (US); Jon M. Shockey, Jr., Canton, OH (US); Gordon W. East, North Canton, OH (US); and William C. Jackson, Cleveland, OH (US)
Assigned to STONEAGE, INC., Durango, CO (US)
Filed by StoneAge, Inc., Durango, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/776,770.
Application 16/776,770 is a division of application No. 16/155,340, filed on Oct. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,599,162.
Application 16/155,340 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,483, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,401,878.
Application 15/689,483 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,572, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,408,552.
Application 15/689,483 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,350, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, granted, now 10,040,169, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Application 14/204,350 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,451, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/204,451 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,265, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, granted, now 10,265,834.
Application 14/204,265 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,265, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, granted, now 10,265,834.
Application 14/204,265 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,451, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/204,451 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,350, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, granted, now 10,040,169, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/381,390, filed on Aug. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/821,433, filed on May 9, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0166958 A1, May 28, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05B 19/4099 (2006.01); B24C 3/32 (2006.01); B24C 7/00 (2006.01); F28G 1/16 (2006.01); F28G 15/00 (2006.01); F28G 15/02 (2006.01); F28G 15/08 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01); G06F 3/04886 (2022.01); F28D 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 7/0617 (2013.01) [B24C 3/327 (2013.01); B24C 7/0015 (2013.01); F28G 1/163 (2013.01); F28G 15/003 (2013.01); F28G 15/02 (2013.01); F28G 15/08 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G06F 3/04886 (2013.01); F28D 7/16 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for cleaning heat exchanger tubes comprising:
a fluid jet machine positioned proximate a heat exchanger to be cleaned; wherein, during performance of a cleaning operation, the fluid jet machine operatively connects to a pump which pumps fluid under high pressure through a nozzle on the fluid jet machine and into openings defined in a face plate of the heat exchanger;
a computing device which is hand-held by a human operator who is located in an immediate vicinity of the fluid jet machine;
programming installed in the computing device and operable to control the fluid jet machine and the cleaning operation via the hand-held computing device; wherein the programming is configured to learn a pattern of the openings defined in the face plate after a set-up procedure conducted on the hand-held computing device by the human operator, wherein the openings are arranged in an X-Y grid with each opening in the X-Y grid having X-Y coordinates, and wherein the pattern learned by the programming is the arrangement of the openings in the X-Y grid, and the programming utilizes the learned pattern to move the nozzle progressively from one opening to another during the performance of the cleaning operation.