The Snout Extension Kit creates additional clearance between an AutoBox 1L or 1LS hose tractor and the tube sheet, helping crews automate hard-to-access bundles while keeping the tractor farther from effluent and the blast zone. The low-profile arrangement improves positioning, tube-sheet visibility, and support for extended rail configurations while maintaining guided lance control.
Key Features:
- Improved Access: Lowers system height by up to 10 in., depending on the equipment configuration, and provides extra distance between the tractor and tube sheet.
- Protected Tractor Placement: Moves the tractor away from damaging effluent and improves visibility around the cleaning area.
- Flexible Reach: Supports longer rail layouts and connects multiple snout sections when the application requires additional distance.
- Purpose-Built Snout Options: Corrugated snouts favor containment and flexibility in confined spaces; spring snouts favor durability, lower friction, and demanding or longer runs.
Product Specifications
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Current setups with a hose tractor mounted on a linear drive can face issues in more challenging job applications, limiting the types of tube cleaning jobs that can be performed safely, even with automated equipment.
SOLUTION OVERVIEW
The Snout Extension Kit addresses these challenges by moving the tractor away from the blast zone, providing a low-profile, durable, and easy-to-install solution.
HOW IT WORKS:
Run the lance through a snout
A snout extension provides a minimum of five feet of additional space between the tractor and the tube sheet while maintaining guiding control of the lance.
Utilize auxiliary sensors
Mounting a stop sensor and safety collet at the guide tube, instead of the tractor, eliminates the need for the lance to travel the entire distance back to the tractor.
SNOUT KIT OPTIONS
Hose snouts increase the range of performance of StoneAge automated tube cleaning systems by providing an efficient conduit for running hose between devices. Use a front snout in applications where the tractor needs to be situated away from the tube sheet. Rear snouts guide lances from the tractor to a hose reel, ensuring effective hose management during operation.
CORRUGATED SNOUT
An economical option for shorter, less intensive tasks. While offering limited length and durability, this snout serves as a cost-effective choice for specific use cases.
- Shielded solution aids in effluent containment and management
- Great for confined spaces and navigation obstructions
- More affordable/less durable
IDEAL FOR:
- Precise tool positioning: Tailored for operations requiring precision and flexibility for quick cleaning at faster feed ranges.
- Low-fouling jobs: Descaling applications with minimal stretch and limited AutoStroke events.
- Short snout applications: Performs best with lengths of 5-10 feet, maintaining reliable push/pull force.
- Effluent capture: Fully sealed design supports use with water capture and diversion system.
- Flexibility in tight spaces: Handles confined access points and edges, enabling smooth movement across challenging equipment geometry.
CONSIDERATIONS:
- Not suited for heavy fouling (increased AutoStroke events) or applications needing high power and durability under heavy loads. High push/pull demands, especially in vertical or long-distance applications, increase friction loss, causing wear-and-tear and eventual failure of the snout. This is a wear item.
- Using higher RPM motors (faster feed rates with reduced push/pull forces) can extend the snout’s lifespan by reducing repetitive stretching, which helps prevent fatigue failure.
SPRING SNOUT
These durable conduits are engineered for minimal friction loss, ensuring smooth operation with extended hose lengths. Ideal for applications where durability and low resistance are critical.
- Heavy-duty spring is highly durable
- Maintains efficiency over longer lengths
- Open coil design sheds contaminants and solids
IDEAL FOR:
Designed for demanding jobs with heavy fouling, the Spring snout’s open-coil ensures durability, self-flushing capability, and minimal friction loss for consistent performance over longer lengths.
- Exceptional Durability: Ideal for heavy-duty applications where reliability is non-negotiable
- Open-Coil Design: Allows debris to clear as you work, ensuring consistent automation and reducing downtime
- Low Friction Loss: Operates efficiently over longer lengths without compromising performance
CONSIDERATIONS:
- Not recommended for applications requiring effluent management.
- The spring’s ability to stretch and contract can affect the consistency of data for tool position and blockage detection.
FEATURE COMPARISON
The following chart highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each snout option across five key features evaluated by our product engineers. The chart visually represents the scores for each feature, allowing for easy comparison between the Corrugated Snout and the Spring Snout options.