Aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method

A method of cleaning at least one tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising the steps of:

• installing the tube in a cleaning receptacle connected to a vertical receptacle, the vertical receptacle being taller than the cleaning receptacle;
• supplying a fluid to the vertical receptacle;
• forcing the fluid in the vertical receptacle to flow through and around the tube to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the tube;
• moving the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle successively over at least two solution tanks, each solution tank containing fluid;
• and
• stopping the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle at each solution tank and pumping the fluid from the solution tank into the vertical receptacle.

A method of cleaning at least one tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising the steps of:

• clamping the tube in place through an inlet port located between a vertical receptacle and a cleaning receptacle, the vertical receptacle being taller than the cleaning receptacle;
• aligning the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle with a tank containing a fluid;
• supplying the fluid to the vertical receptacle;
• creating pressure in the fluid due to gravity;
• and
• channeling the fluid to flow through and around the tube under pressure of gravity to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the tube.

A method of cleaning at least one tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising the steps of:

• clamping the tube in place through an inlet port located between a vertical receptacle and a cleaning receptacle, the vertical receptacle being taller than the cleaning receptacle;
• supplying a fluid to the vertical receptacle;
• channeling the fluid through and around the tube to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the tube;
• moving the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle successively over at least two solution tanks, each solution tank containing fluid;
• sensing when the vertical receptacle and cleaning receptacle are aligned with each of the solution tanks;
• and
• stopping the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle at each solution tank and pumping the fluid from the solution tank into the vertical receptacle.

A method of cleaning a tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising the steps of:

• clamping the tube in place through an inlet port located between a vertical receptacle and a cleaning receptacle by sliding individual elements of a gate into contact with the tube, the vertical receptacle being taller than the cleaning receptacle;
• providing a cleaning solution fluid from a wash tank to the vertical receptacle;
• channeling the cleaning solution fluid to flow under pressure created by gravity through and around the tube to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the tube;
• draining the cleaning solution fluid from the cleaning receptacle;
• aligning the cleaning receptacle and the vertical receptacle with a first rinse tank containing a first rinse fluid;
• pumping the first rinse fluid into the vertical receptacle such that the first rinse fluid flows through and around the tube;
• draining the first rinse fluid from the cleaning receptacle;
• aligning the cleaning receptacle and the vertical receptacle with a second rinse tank containing a second rinse fluid;
• providing the second rinse fluid to the vertical receptacle such that the second rinse fluid flows through and around the tube;
• and
• draining the second rinse fluid from the cleaning receptacle into the second rinse tank.

A method of cleaning a tube having inner and outer surfaces using an aqueous tube cleaning system comprising a cleaning receptacle, a vertical receptacle, an inlet port located between the cleaning receptacle and vertical receptacle, and a gate for opening and closing the inlet port, the vertical receptacle being taller than the cleaning receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:

• installing the tube in the cleaning receptacle such that the tube extends through the inlet port and into the vertical receptacle;
• clamping the tube in place through the inlet port by sliding individual elements of the gate into contact with the tube;
• pumping a cleaning solution fluid from a wash tank into the vertical receptacle using a supply pump;
• increasing the pressure at a bottom of the vertical tank as the cleaning solution fluid level rises in the vertical tank;
• forcing the cleaning solution fluid under the pressure created by gravity through and around the tube to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the tube;
• draining the cleaning solution fluid from the cleaning receptacle and from the supply pump;
• aligning the cleaning receptacle and the vertical receptacle with a first rinse tank containing a first rinse fluid;
• pumping the first rinse fluid into the vertical receptacle using the supply pump such that the first rinse fluid flows through and around the tube;
• draining the first rinse fluid from the cleaning receptacle and from the supply pump;
• aligning the cleaning receptacle and the vertical receptacle with a second rinse tank containing a second rinse fluid;
• pumping the second rinse fluid to the vertical receptacle using the supply pump such that the second rinse fluid flows through and around the tube;
• and
• draining the second rinse fluid from the cleaning receptacle and from the supply pump.