Description

This invention relates to liquid powered cleaning apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided liquid powered cleaning apparatus comprising a freely rotatable disc-shaped brush and means for directing a flow of liquid . such that the flow impinges tangentially upon the circum¬ ferential edge of the brush to cause it to rotate. The invention may be embodied as a hand-held cleaning tool wherein the flow directing means is con- trollable and the brush is attached to the means.

Also, the invention may be embodied as a remotely controlled vehicle or indpendent robot vehicle for use under water or on dry land.

Furthermore, the invention may be embodied as a pig for cleaning the internal surface of a pipeline, the pig having an axial bore therethrough constituting the flow- directing means, and accommodating a plurality of the brushes arranged around the axial bore, the brushes being arranged to be driven by the single flow through the axial bore and projecting from the outer surface of the pig.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a hand-held cleaning tool; and

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of a pig within a pipeline.

Referring to Fig. 1, a high pressure capability water pistol (1) is connected through a swivel coupling (2), with ducting (3) for directing a jet of water. A freely rotatable die-shaped wire brush (4) is located at one end of the ducting (3) in a position where a water jet issuing

from the ducting (3) impinges tangentially upon the circumference of the brush (4) causing said brush to rotate at high speed. A shielded support bracket (5) for the brush also houses the jet nozzle which is not illustrated. A handle (6) incorporating a knuckle guard (8) is provided for controlling the angle at which the bursh (4) is used. A coupling (7) is provided on the pistol (1) for connecting a water supply hose (not shown) . The main advantage of this embodiment lies in its thin profile which allows access to the narrow crotch of the joint of two or more structural members in oil plat¬ form jackets where existing brushes cannot reach. Re¬ moval of contamination is very easily accomplished due to the surprising cleaning power of this brush. A venturi may be included to alter the flow charac¬ teristics of the jet but is not essential for operation of the tool.

This invention can be used either underwater or on shore. The functional part of the tool in Fig. 1 can be attached to a remotely controlled vehicle or robot vehicle. Thus, in another embodiment of the invention an underwater vehicle which is remotely operated from the surface through an umbilical is equipped with a controllable arm having at one end thereof a freely rotatable disc-shaped wire brush and a nozzle located such that a water jet issuing from the nozzle impinges upon the circumferential edge of the disc-shaped brush causing same to rotate at high speed. The apparatus includes a compressor having ducting whereby the ambient water can be drawn in and pumped to the nozzle to form a high pressure water jet. remotely operated or remotely controlled vehicles, frequently referred to as ROV or RCVs are well known in this field and their means of control are well understood. Therefore an operator of such a vehicle can easily operate

the apparatus of this invention without detailed or lengthy instruction.

Whereas the apparatus is primarily intended for use under water where an operational platform is located it can also be used on dry land by simply feeding a suitable water supply into the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 2, a pig (9) has an axial bore (10) therethrough and accommodates a plurality of freely-rotat- able disc-shaped brushes (11) arranged around the bore (10). The brushes (11) are arranged to be driven by the single flow of water through the bore (10) and project at (12) from the outer surface of the pig (9). The pig (9) is shown within a pipeline (13) through which it is pushed from left to right the pressure of water or other liquid within the pipeline (13).

The pig (9) may be fitted with fixed brushes on its outer surfaces, the fixed brushes being arranged in a helical pattern to cause the pig to rotate as it is pushed along the pipeline and thus secure even scouring of the inner surface of the pipeline. Only two rotary brushes (12) are shown in Fig. 2 but more may be- accommodated within the pig (9). Instead of arranging the brushes (12) for rotation in planes radially of the pig (9) they may be arranged in planes arranged helically. Where fixed brushes are arranged in a helical pattern to one hand the rotary brushes may be arranged in a helical pattern to the other hand in order to improve the surface coverage of the cleaning action.