US 11,789,471 B2
Method of cleaning heat exchangers or tube bundles using a cleaning station
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 TERYDON, INC., Navarre, OH (US)
Filed by Terydon, Inc., Navarre, OH (US)
Filed on May 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/739,467.
Application 17/739,467 is a continuation of application No. 17/071,203, filed on Oct. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,360,494.
Application 17/071,203 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/942,945, filed on Jul. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,294,399, issued on Apr. 5, 2022.
Application 16/942,945 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/265,387, filed on Feb. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,747,238, issued on Aug. 18, 2020.
Application 16/265,387 is a continuation of application No. 16/155,340, filed on Oct. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,599,162, issued on Mar. 24, 2020.
Application 16/155,340 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,483, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,401,878, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Application 16/155,340 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,572, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,408,552, issued on Sep. 10, 2019.
Application 15/689,483 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,265, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, granted, now 10,265,834, issued on Apr. 23, 2019.
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 15/689,483 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/204,451, filed on Mar. 11, 2014, abandoned.
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 2022/0261014 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05D 7/06 (2006.01); B24C 7/00 (2006.01); G06F 3/04886 (2022.01); B24C 3/32 (2006.01); F28G 15/00 (2006.01); F28G 15/02 (2006.01); F28G 15/08 (2006.01); F28G 1/16 (2006.01); 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); G06F 3/04886 (2013.01); F28D 7/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of cleaning heat exchangers or tube bundles comprising:
providing a cleaning station at a set location remote from a use-position of one or more heat exchangers or tube bundles in a process or a plant, wherein the cleaning station includes water jet cleaning equipment and a control station for controlling the water jet cleaning equipment;
disengaging a heat exchanger or a tube bundle from its use-position in a process or a plant;
transporting the heat exchanger or the tube bundle from its use-position in the process or the plant to the set location of the cleaning station;
positioning the heat exchanger or the tube bundle in front of the water jet cleaning equipment at the cleaning station;
responding to programming in a computing device operatively engaged with the water jet cleaning equipment and controlling the water jet cleaning equipment and a cleaning operation using the water jet cleaning equipment;
actuating the water jet cleaning equipment with the computing device; and
performing the cleaning operation of the heat exchanger or the tube bundle with the water jet cleaning equipment under control of the programming of the computing device and by following a provided pattern of tube openings defined in an end plate of the heat exchanger or the tube bundle.