APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLEANING SMELT SPOUTS OF A CHEMICAL RECOVERY FURNACE

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLEANING SMELT SPOUTS OF A CHEMICAL RECOVERY FURNACE Removable apparatus for cleaning obstructions such as oxidized or encrusted smelt from a smelt spout of a chemical recovery furnace. A metal cleaning head having a rod-like shape depends, at rest, from a housing attached exteriorly of the furnace above the smelt spout. Periodically, an actuating mechanism in the housing moves the cleaning head downward and inward into the smelt spout to dislodge any obstructions that may have accumulated therein, and subsequently retracts the cleaning head to the at-rest position. Channel scraping members attached to the cleaning head are hinged to retract upon insertion of the cleaning head into the smelt spout and extend into the smelt spout channel to urge obstructions out of the channel when the cleaning head is retracted.