# US 7,743,450 B2 · Cleaning bullet

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- Number: US 7,743,450 B2
- Document ID: US7743450B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/746,826
- Filed: 2007-05-10
- Published: 2007-11-01
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-14
- Assignees: Diversey, Inc.
- Inventors: Carol A. Rouillard; Ronald R. Dir; James M. Scolaro; David Gennrich; Dan Bullis; Aaron Kurth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743450B2

## CPC

- B08B 9/055: the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, {e.g. pigs or moles (pigs or moles per se F16L55/26; their launching and detection F16L55/46; separating pigs in pipelines F17D3/00)}
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A cleaning bullet for use in a pipe or track includes a compressible body. In one embodiment, a sheet draped over the body is engageable with interior walls of the pipe or track to clean small contaminants. In another embodiment, the body is formed from an absorbent material that absorbs a fluid, such as a cleaning solution, that can clean and/or disinfect the interior walls of the pipe or track. In yet another embodiment, an alignment key extends radially from a body axis for guiding the cleaning bullet in an air conveyor track.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleaning bullet for use in a pipe or track, said bullet comprising:
a compressible pleated, hollow, undulating body having a leading end and a trailing end, said body defining an axis extending between said leading end and said trailing end; and
a sheet draped over said leading end and fixed relative to said body, said compressible body urging said sheet against an interior wall of the pipe or track.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 1, including a nose detachably fixed relative to said body forwardly of said leading end, said sheet being interposed between said nose and said body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cleaning bullet as defined in claim 2 wherein the sheet is fastened to the nose by a handle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The cleaning bullet as defined in claim 2 telescoped into another cleaning bullet of the same structure configuration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 1, including a first alignment key extending radially relative to said axis for engagement with a slot formed in the track.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 5 including a second alignment key extending radially relative to said axis for engagement with a slot formed in the track, wherein said body is interposed between said first and second alignment keys.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The cleaning bullet as defined in claim 5 further including an adapter for positioning in the alignment key.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 1, in which said body is formed from an absorbent material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 8, including a fluid absorbed by said body for wiping onto said interior wall of the pipe or track.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 1, including a counterweight fixed relative to said body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The cleaning bullet as on claim 10, in which said counterweight is a bottle detachable fixed to said cleaning bullet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The cleaning bullet as in claim 1, including an air trap which captures compressed air to propel said cleaning bullet.