Apparatus for cleaning air ports of a chemical recovery furnace

Abstract

Removable apparatus for cleaning excrescent material from air ports in a chemical recovery furnace. A metal cleaning head having a cage-like configuration is pivotally mounted inside a wind box associated with the furnace to a frame adjacent an air port, and is adapted for insertion into the air port for cleaning the peripheral edges of the air port without blocking air flow through the port or obstructing the viewing path through the air port of sensing devices mounted exteriorly of the wind box. The frame to which the cleaning head is attached rests inside the wind box on the floor thereof, and is adjustably attached for positioning adjacent the air port to a mounting plate affixed to the outer wall of the wind box. The mounting plate pivotally carries an actuating cylinder which is coupled to the cleaning head by an actuating rod. The actuating cylinder moves the rod in a reciprocating cycle, first toward and then away from the cleaning head, causing the cleaning head to swing into the air port and clean char buildup along the edges thereof, and subsequently to withdraw from the air port. The rod and cylinder pivot freely by means of a mounting assembly attached to the mounting plate, as the cage swings into and out of the air port. The cleaning head incorporates a hook-like configuration which extends laterally inside the furnace above the upper edge of the air port where buildup of excrescent char is excessive.