A multi-lance reel assembly comprising a plurality of reel assemblies received onto and disposed to rotate about an axle. Each reel assembly rotates independently of the others. Each reel assembly further comprises a plurality of spokes separating a rim from a hub. Each hub provides a hub groove on each internal hub surface, and a hub aperture connecting each external hub surface with the hub groove. When the reel assemblies are received onto the axle, axle grooves on the axle align with the hub grooves to form a continuous ring aperture for each reel assembly. Separate axle apertures connect either one of the end faces of the axle with each axle groove, providing a separate passageway from each external hub surface to an axle end face. Hoses, electrical conduits, conductors or other similar carrier hardware deployed within hollow lances spooled on each reel assembly may connect to the hub apertures.

A robot is disclosed for cleaning the exterior of tubes of a heat exchanger. The robot comprises a lance for directing a jet of fluid into spaces between the tubes, a carriage for transporting the lance in a direction of travel parallel to axes of the tubes of the heat exchanger, and traction assemblies for engaging the tubes to enable the carriage to be advanced along the tubes, wherein the traction assemblies are each moveable relative to the carriage in a direction transverse to that of travel in order to change the track width of the robot.

A flexible lance drive device has at least one drive motor in a first portion of a housing and a drive axle projecting across a second portion of the housing carrying a cylindrical spline drive roller. A plurality of cylindrical guide rollers on fixed axles span across the second portion of the housing aligned parallel to the spline drive roller. An endless belt wrapped around the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers has a generally smooth outer surface and a transverse splined inner surface having splines shaped complementary to splines on the spline drive roller. A bias member supports a plurality of follower rollers each aligned vertically above one of the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers operable to press each follower roller toward one of rollers to frictionally grip a flexible lance hose when sandwiched between the follower rollers and the endless belt.

A flexible lance drive device has at least one drive motor in a first portion of a housing and a drive axle projecting across a second portion of the housing carrying a cylindrical spline drive roller. A plurality of cylindrical guide rollers on fixed axles span across the second portion of the housing aligned parallel to the spline drive roller. An endless belt wrapped around the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers has a generally smooth outer surface and a transverse splined inner surface having splines shaped complementary to splines on the spline drive roller. A bias member supports a plurality of follower rollers each aligned vertically above one of the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers operable to press each follower roller toward one of rollers to frictionally grip a flexible lance hose when sandwiched between the follower rollers and the endless belt.

A heat exchanger cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device includes a drive motor configured to rotate a gearbox, a slip clutch and a support beam about a first axis. The support beam carries a thread rod, a second motor, and one or more carriage assemblies. The carriage assemblies move linearly as the second motor rotates the threaded rod. The carriage assemblies include a support tube for receiving an ultra-high pressure tube therethrough. The carriage assemblies adjust relative to the heat exchanger such that the UHP tube may be inserted through the support tube into a hole of the heat exchanger. Therein the UHP tube may be advanced to clean sediment from the heat exchanger tube.

A heat exchanger cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device includes a drive motor configured to rotate a gearbox, a slip clutch and a support beam about a first axis. The support beam carries a thread rod, a second motor, and one or more carriage assemblies. The carriage assemblies move linearly as the second motor rotates the threaded rod. The carriage assemblies include a support tube for receiving an ultra-high pressure tube therethrough. The carriage assemblies adjust relative to the heat exchanger such that the UHP tube may be inserted through the support tube into a hole of the heat exchanger. Therein the UHP tube may be advanced to clean sediment from the heat exchanger tube.

An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

A improved drive mechanism for coupling a rotatable drive cable to a remote tool, especially for a heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) air duct cleaning system, having an angled inlet for connecting a remote tool via a rotatable cable, a cable connector guide aligned with the angled inlet for receiving a connection end of the rotatable cable, and a motor such as a brushless direct current (DC) motor with a direct-drive coupling to the connection end of the rotatable connector.

A improved drive mechanism for coupling a rotatable drive cable to a remote tool, especially for a heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) air duct cleaning system, having an angled inlet for connecting a remote tool via a rotatable cable, a cable connector guide aligned with the angled inlet for receiving a connection end of the rotatable cable, and a motor such as a brushless direct current (DC) motor with a direct-drive coupling to the connection end of the rotatable connector.