SUE CASEY (US)
SALLEE RICHARD (US)
| US20100093447A1 | 2010-04-15 | |||
| US20080184509A1 | 2008-08-07 |
| CLAIMS: 1. A bleeder cleaner apparatus for dislodging a clog out of a valve system, comprising: a body having a first end and a second end; a handle connected to the body at the first end; a cable housing connected to the body towards the second end; and a cable at least partially housed within the cable housing, wherein the cable comprises at least two layers of cabling. 2. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first layer of cabling is twisted in a first direction; and further wherein a second layer of cabling is adjacent to the first layer of cabling, wherein the second layer of cabling is twisted in a second direction. 3. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first layer of cabling is wrapped around the second layer of cabling. 4. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 3, wherein the layers of cabling each comprise raised texturing indicating the direction of twisting of each layer. 5. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 4, wherein the layers of cabling are joined together at an end of the cable. 6. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a drill bit connected to the end of the cable, and wherein the drill bit is located towards the second end of the body. 7. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 6, wherein the drill bit is connected to the cable with an end connector. 8. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a pressure gauge mounted on the body. 9. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a valve mounted on the body. 10. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cable housing has an angled configuration. 11. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cable housing has a straight configuration. 12. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cable housing is flexible. 13. The bleeder cleaner apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first direction is a clockwise direction and the second direction is a counter-clockwise direction. 14. A bleeder cleaner apparatus for cleaning a clogged valve system, comprising: a body having a first end and a second end; a handle connected to the body at the first end; a cable housing connected to the body and located towards the second end; and a cable at least partially housed within the cable housing, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of layers of cabling wrapped around each other, wherein each layer of cabling is rotated in a different direction to the adjacent layer of cabling. 15. A method for cleaning a clog from a valve system with a bleeder cleaner, comprising the steps of: rotating a handle at a first end of the bleeder cleaner in a first direction while pushing a drill bit at a second end of the bleeder cleaner into the valve system; rotating a cable in the first direction, wherein the cable is connected to the drill bit and further wherein the cable comprises a plurality of layers of cabling; dislodging the clog with the drill bit; rotating the handle and the cable in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, while retreating the cable and drill bit out of the valve system. 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of carrying the torque of the cable with at least one layer of the plurality of layers of cabling, during the step of rotating the cable in the first direction; and carrying the torque of the cable with at least a second layer of the plurality of layers of cabling, during the step of rotating the cable in the second direction. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of protecting the cable from being untwisted during the steps of rotating of the handle in both the first direction and the second direction. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of first connecting an end connector of the bleeder cleaner onto the valve system. 19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of disconnecting the end connector from the valve system. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of closing a bleed valve of the valve system and opening a process valve of the valve system after the step of connecting the end connector. 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of closing the process valve and opening the bleed valve, after the step of dislodging the clog. 22. An apparatus as shown, described and/or implied. 23. A system as shown, described and/or implied. 24. A method as shown, described and/or implied. |
BACKGROUND
[0001] Technical Field: Rod-out tools, bleeder cleaners, orifice cleaners or tap reamers to clean out for example but not limited to clogged bleed, drain, vent and instrument tap valves.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0002] The disclosure relates to a bleeder cleaner apparatus for dislodging a clog out of a valve system, wherein the bleeder cleaner apparatus has a body having a first end and a second end; a handle connected to the body at the first end; a cable housing connected to the body towards the second end; and a cable at least partially housed within the cable housing, wherein the cable comprises at least two layers of cabling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The exemplary embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate only exemplary embodiments, and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective exemplary embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0004] Figure 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a bi-directional bleeder cleaner.
Figure 2 depicts an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a bi- directional cable. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(s)
[0005] The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus, methods, techniques, and instruction sequences that embody techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
[0006] Figure 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10 for cleaning clogged bleed, drain, vent and instrument tap valves (not illustrated). Bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10 has a body 20, a handle 30, a valve 40, a bi-directional cable 50, a drill bit 60 and a pressure gauge 70. The connections between the body 20, handle 30, valve 40, bi-directional cable 50, drill bit 60 and pressure gauge 70 may be accomplished through couplings or couplers 22, or other connection means as conventionally known in the art. The handle 30 is connected to the body 20 towards a first end 10a of the bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10. Packing gland 12 may be mounted onto the body 20 adjacent to the handle 30. The handle 30 is also connected to and transmits torque to the bi- directional cable 50, located towards a second end 10b of the bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10. The handle 30 may be turned in both a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to transfer torque in the same rotational direction to the bi-directional cable 50. Pushing and pulling the handle 30 may also transmit pushing and pulling forces to the bi-directional cable 50 as well.
[0007] A valve 40 having a valve handle 42 may also be connected with the body 20 of bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10. The valve 40 may be opened via valve handle 42 if desired to remove any debris or to vent any pressure in the clogged valve (not shown) during the cleaning process. Alternatively, the valve 40 may be left closed during the cleaning process as desired by the operator of the bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10 system/apparatus. A pressure gauge 70 as mounted on the body 20 may be used to monitor the pressure of the system/apparatus to see if any venting or discharge is needed from the valve 40 during the cleaning process.
[0008] The body 20 of the bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10 is connected to a cable housing 52 towards the second end 10b, opposite of the handle 30. The cable housing 52 may have straight, flexible, 90° or 135° angle configurations. As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1 , the cable housing 52 is depicted with a 135° angle configuration, however, as noted before, other configurations are possible and considered within the present disclosure. The flexible bi-directional cable 50 is at least partially contained within cable housing 52. The cable housing 52 may also be coupled to an end connector 14. The bi-directional cable 50 projects or extends out of the end connector 14 towards the second end 10b of the bi- directional bleeder cleaner 10. Bi-directional cable 50 is further connected to the drill bit 60. The drill bit 60 may be any type of commercially available drill bit tool and may optionally be welded or soldered onto the end of the bi-directional cable 50.
[0009] Figure 2 depicts an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible bi-directional cable 50. Bi-directional cable 50 has two or more layers 55 of cabling, of which at least two layers 55 should twist or wind in opposite directions (e.g. at least one layer 55 must twist clockwise, and at least one layer 55 must twist counter clockwise). Preferably, layers 55 which are adjacent to one another are twisted in opposite rotational directions. Each of the layers 55 of cables or cabling may have raised rows, ropes or braids, or other surface texturing 58 which may show or indicate the direction of twisting of the layer 55. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in Figure 2, bi-directional cable 50 has one outer layer 54 and one inner layer 56. Note that in Figure 2, the winding, twisting or rotation of outer layer 54 is opposite of the winding, twisting or rotation of the inner layer 56. This allows at least one layer 55 to carry the torque no matter the direction the bi- directional cable 50 is turned via the handle 30. Since one layer 55 is carrying the torque, the other layer 55, respectively, is protected from being untwisted regardless of the rotational turning of the handle 30. As mentioned, these bi-directional cables 50 can have more than two layers 55 and each layer 55 may alternate in twist direction as the layers 55 are wrapped together. At the end of each bi-directional cable 50 the ends of each layer 55 are joined or fused to each other to keep the layers 55 from twisting inside each other. Conventional technology presently only uses a cable that twists or winds in a single direction, which only allows usage of the handle of a conventional bleeder cleaner in a single direction. Reversing the direction of the handle may untwist the conventional cable which can damage and/or separate said conventional cable and ruin the conventional bleeder cleaner.
[0010] To clean a clogged bleed, drain, vent and instrument tap valve, the end connector 14 is first screwed or connected onto the item needed to be cleaned. The bleed valve (not illustrated) is closed and the process valve (not illustrated) is then opened, and the handle 30 is rotated or turned in either direction, while being pushed into the line or shaft (not illustrated) to be cleaned. The drill bit 60 and bi-directional cable 50 advance into the shaft while turning, twisting, or rotating in the same direction handle 30 is being rotated. The turning of the drill bit 60 against the clog should cut and disengage the clog from the line or shaft. After the line or shaft is cleaned or cleared, the handle 30 can be turned or rotated in either direction while retracting or retreating the drill bit 60 and bi-directional cable 50 out of the line or shaft. The process valve should then be closed and the bleed valve reopened. The end connector 14 and the bi-directional bleeder cleaner 10 may be disconnected from the now-unclogged bleed, drain, vent and/or instrument tap valve.
[0011] While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements are possible.
[0012] Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.