Method for cleaning pipe
AssigneePipe Rehab International, Inc.
InventorsArlie Allison, Simon Tarsha, James S. McMillan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is shown for cleaning a pipe. The apparatus includes a rigid stem and a motor stationarily mounted on the stem. An outer body surrounds the motor and is rotatably mounted on the rigid stem. A fluid conduit is connected to the stem and to a source of fluid under pressure for supplying fluid to the motor for driving the motor. The fluid conduit also connected to a pulling unit for pulling the apparatus through the pipe to be cleaned. Fluid supplied through the fluid conduit to the stem and through the stem to the fluid powered motor provides rotational propulsion to turn the outer body as the apparatus is moved through the pipe to be cleaned.
Claims15
A method of cleaning a pipe having an obstructed interior, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a reaming apparatus within the pipe interior, the reaming apparatus being provided with a rigid, longitudinally extending stem and a motor stationarily mounted on the stem, the motor being surrounded by an outer body which is rotatably mounted on the longitudinally extending stem, the motor also being provided with drive means which connect the motor to the outer body for rotating the outer body with respect to the stationary motor and stem;
- connecting a power coupling to the stem for supplying power to the motor, the power coupling also being connected to a pulling unit for pulling the apparatus through the pipe to be cleaned;
- supplying power through the power coupling to the stem and, in turn, to the motor, to thereby provide rotational propulsion to turn the outer body as the apparatus is moved through the pipe to be cleaned;
- actuating the pulling unit to pull the reaming apparatus as the motor is supplying rotational propulsion to the outer body.
A method of cleaning a pipe having an obstructed interior, the method comprising the steps of:
- stationarily mounting a fluid powered motor on a rigid stem, the rigid stem having a hollow interior;
- rotatably mounting an outer body on the stem with the outer body surrounding the fluid powered motor;
- connecting the fluid powered motor to the outer body with drive means;
- connecting one end of a fluid conduit to the stem, the fluid conduit being connected with a source of fluid under pressure for powering the fluid motor;
- connecting the opposite end of the fluid conduit to a pulling unit for pulling the apparatus through the pipe to be cleaned;
- supplying fluid under pressure through the stem to the motor to provide rotational propulsion to turn the outer body while simultaneously pulling the apparatus through the pipe with the pulling unit connected to the fluid conduit, thereby causing the outer body to ream the pipe interior.
A method of cleaning a pipe having interior sidewalls and which extends horizontally in the ground, the pipe have large debris within the interior thereof, as well as obstructions on the pipe interior sidewalls, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a nozzle blaster into the pipe interior at a first location along the horizontal length thereof, the nozzle blaster having a front face and having a rear face connected to a trailing water conduit which supplies water under pressure to the nozzle blaster to propel the nozzle blaster forward and remove large debris within the pipe interior;
- running the nozzle blaster along the horizontal length thereof to a second location;
- removing the nozzle blaster from the water conduit at the second location and connecting one end of the water conduit to a reaming apparatus, the reaming apparatus being provided with a rigid, longitudinally extending stem and a water powered motor stationarily mounted on the stem, the motor being connected by drive means to an outer body which is rotatably mounted on the longitudinally extending stem;
- connecting an opposite end of the water conduit to a pulling unit on the surface of the ground for pulling the reaming apparatus through the pipe to be cleaned;
- supplying water under pressure through the water conduit to the motor to provide rotational propulsion to turn the outer body while simultaneously pulling the apparatus through the pipe with the pulling unit connected to the fluid conduit, thereby causing the outer body to ream the pipe interior.
A method for cleaning a pipe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a fluid conduit into a pipe at a first location and moving the fluid conduit through the pipe to a second location;
- (b) at the second location, connecting the fluid conduit to a pipe cleaning apparatus which includes a fluid motor and an outer body which is rotated by the fluid motor;
- (c) pulling the fluid conduit to tow the pipe cleaning apparatus through the pipe to the first location;
- and
- (d) supplying fluid under pressure to the motor via the fluid conduit while step (c) is being conducted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.