PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS, USE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to pipe cleaning, and more specifically pipe cleaning with a deflector.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Transport pipes (especially liquid transport pipes) are known to become infested with many forms of build up, including tubercles in a case of municipal water pipes. The pipes become sclerotic and continually narrow as tubercles build up. Regardless of pipe type (gas / liquid/ solid transport), flow eventually occludes with tubercle residue and other build up. Few viable industrial and commercial solutions are available to deal with sclerotic pipes quickly and effectively.

[0003] One option is to replace infected pipes, but this is frequently unnecessary, time consuming, impractical in urban areas and established neighbourhoods, expensive, and results in an additional problem of waste pipe disposal.

[0004] Another option is to accelerate abrasive projectiles (like rocks of progressive calibre) through infected pipes. A pipe is pressurized with a gas stream, and abrasive projectiles are fed into the stream. The streaming projectiles strike and break away protruding tubercle portions, and discharge out of the pipe along with broken tubercles. This option's defects include inability to clean a) smaller tubercle portions and thin residual layers satisfactorily; and b) pipe elbows, bends, and pipe joints satisfactorily. This option does not leave a properly prepared finish, making subsequent coating or lining difficult and unsatisfactory.

[0005] Other defects exist in the prior art, and are also discussed in US patent application 12/923,201.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one embodiment the present invention is an apparatus comprising a deflection head to fit within and deflect projectiles through a pipe.

[0007] In another it is a system comprising a deflection head, paired tail, and a cable attached to the head (to feed and pull through the pipe).

[0008] In yet another it is a method comprising deflecting streaming projectiles by striking against a deflector within a pipe.

[0009] In still yet another it is use of at least any one selected from a group of a deflector, a deflection head with paired tail, and a cabled deflection head with paired tail, for pipe cleaning. DRAWINGS

[0010] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a deflector.

[0011] FIGURE 2 is a cut away view of a deflector within a pipe.

[0012] FIGURE 3 is a cross-section along the line 1-1 in FIGURE 2.

[0013] FIGURE 4 a cut-away view of an alternate embodiment deflector deflecting projectiles pipe.

[0014] FIGURE 5 is a cut away view of an alternate embodiment deflector within a pipe.

[0015] FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a pipe cleaning system and method.

[0016] FIGURE 7 is a projectile hopper with rotary lock and gate valve, for dispensing projectiles.

DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 6 shows a pipe cleaning system and method (10) generally. The system and method (10) deflects streaming projectiles (20) (Figure 4) by striking them against a deflector (of which one embodiment is shown in Figure 1 generally by (30); another in Figure 5 generally by (40); and still yet another in Figure 4 generally by (70)) within a pipe (50). It is known to stream projectiles (20) through a pipe (50) to break and remove tubercles (60), but it is not known to use a deflector to increase cleaning effectiveness and speed.

[0018] A tubercle (60) is generally a bumpy, rocky, and rigid protuberance, forming wart-like lesion in pipes (50). Tubercles (60) arise from natural atherosclerosis and mineral deposition, pollution, residual matter, and living organisms. Tubercle (60) formation is highly likely when any of solid, liquid, and gas matter is conveyed in pipes (50)

[0019] A projectile (20) is an impel capable body for firing into pipes (50), to smash tubercles (60). These include bumpy rocks, smooth rocks, ball bearings, shot, shards, ice, sand, shrapnel, bullets, rounds, and pellets, among others, all of variable calibre, shape, density, and hardness, as required.

[0020] In context, streaming means impelling, firing, or propelling (by gas, liquid, magnetic propulsion, or other means). In one embodiment it is preferable to use a pump (80) to stream gas through the pipe (50). Tubercles (60) are in that embodiment easier to smash with impelled projectiles (20) when tubercles (60) are dried and hardened. Drying and hardening can be done after a select pipe (50) section is isolated. The pump (80) can be a blower or a compressor of any variation or type.

[0021] In one embodiment the deflector (30) has a head (90) that can be described as any of angled, curved, conical, semi-spherical, spherical, oblate, planar, and polyhedral. The head (90) is a deflection surface. Any projectile (20) striking that head (90) will alter course and ricochet (see stippled arrows in Figure 4).

[0022] In one embodiment the deflector (30) additionally has a tail (100) that can be any of long, elaborate, extending, protruding, branched, forking, with arms, containing a smaller tail therein, including an axial shaft, including bolts, angled, curved, conical, oblate, spherical, and polyhedral.

[0023] In another embodiment the deflector (70) has a tail (110) that includes a connection neck, a lower disposed skirt (120), and brushes (130).

[0024] These tails (100, 110), when present, bias their respective head (90) radially inward the pipe (50) when gas is streamed through the pipe (50). The head (90) becomes a relatively steady and consistent target for controlled projectile (20) ricochet. The head (90) and whichever tail (100, 110) are paired to each other.

[0025] The deflectors (30, 40, 70) can be controlled and moved back and forth in a gas stream, to improve cleaning effectiveness (ie more thorough cleaning of particularly tubercle (60) infested pipe (50)). Cleaning effectiveness is important for adhering coating or lining to the pipe (50) after cleaning. The cleaner the pipe (50), the better the coating or lining adheres, and the better protected (from infestation) it is in future use. This is also true when the lining or coating becomes classified as a replacement pipe (50).

[0026] In one embodiment the deflector (30, 40, 70) (as in Figures 1, 2, and 4

respectively) is cephalopodic - squid like, with bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and branch-like arms).

[0027] In one embodiment the deflector (40) head and tail are semi-spherical, together spherical, and integrated into one. The semi-spheres in alternate embodiments need not be together and integrated as one.

[0028] A system can be formed by fitting a head (90) with cable (140) (or any other suitable connector e.g. chain link, etc.). Once fitted, the deflector (30), in whichever embodiment it may be, is then suitable for using in pipe (50) cleaning.

[0029] The system is scalable by adding at least one more paired head (90) and tail

(100) to any preceding paired head (90) and tail (100), in a head to tail configuration.

[0030] One method for pipe (50) cleaning requires digging ground to access a pipe (50).

Typically, a first (150) and second (160) pit is dug with a shovel (180), and the pipe (50) section of interest is isolated. Any liquid supply to the pipe (50), if present, is terminated. A pump (80) is connected to one end of the pipe (50) in the first pit (150), using a split- or multi-arm pipe (170) connection. The pump (80) streams gas through the pipe (50) to empty the pipe (50) interior, and expose tubercles (60) encrusted therein to gas and projectile (20) flow.

[0031] A hopper (190) communicates with the pipe (50) through a pipe connection

(170) near the first pit (150). Preferably the hopper (190) permits continuous projectile feeding without ceasing and restarting the gas stream. One such hopper (190) includes a rotary lock valve (200) and a gate valve (210). Projectiles (20) are loaded into the hopper (190) at atmospheric pressure, or a pressure lower than the pipe (50) pressure when gas is streamed therein. The lock valve (200) moves a pre-determined number of projectiles (20) from the hopper (190) bottom into position for transit past the gate valve (200). On rotation, the lock (200) transfers projectiles from a lower pressure state to an area set for increased pressure once the gate valve (210) is opened. The increased pressure (from gas streaming, once the valve (210) is opened) impels the projectile (20) forward and through the pipe (50). If the projectiles (20) strike any tubercles (60), the projectiles (20) typically break away some portion of those tubercles (60) for discharge into the second pit (160).

[0032] An initial cleaning is performed by impelling enough projectiles (20) through the pipe (50) to create a reasonably consistent bore of a prescribed diameter. During the initial cleaning, intermixed projectiles (20) and tubercles (60) are discharged from the pipe (50) into the second pit (160). When all cleaning is complete, projectile (20) feeding and gas streaming are ceased, and the discharged projectiles (20) and tubercles (60) can be collected and removed for waste disposal.

[0033] To improve both cleaning speed and resolution, after the initial cleaning the gas stream and projectile (20) are ceased. A deflector (30) is connected to a cable (140), and the cable (140) is connected to a winch (220) (for feeding and pulling cable (140)). The deflector (30) is fed into a pipe connection (170) housing. The connection (170) houses the deflector (30) until it is ready to be fed into the pipe (50). The gas stream is then reintroduced, to assist in feeding the deflector (30) through the pipe (50) to a desired location. When in position, the projectile (20) feed is reintroduced. The projectiles (20) are impelled forward to strike the deflector (30). The projectiles (20) ricochet thereafter, striking the pipe (50) inner surface. The deflector (30) can be gently fed and pulled by the winch (220), to increase cleaning resolution in a target area. Projectile (20) calibre can be adjusted to increase cleaning resolution and speed. The deflected projectiles (20) clean the pipe (50) interior faster and more thoroughly than by just streaming projectiles (20) through the pipe (50) unobstructed.

[0034] When all cleaning is complete, the pipe (50) interior can be coated or lined, to extend pipe (50) life and reduce infestation. The pipe (50) thereafter can be reintroduced into its original network and location. Liquid supply, if present, can afterward be reintroduced. After the projectiles (20) and tubercles (60) are collected and removed (if required), the pits (150, 160) can be refilled (if required).