CA2770267C

CA2770267C - Thread cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2770267C
Application number: CA2770267A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jason Michaud
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-14
Filing date: 2012-02-24
Publication date: 2014-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-24
Also published as: CA2770267A1; CA2832226A1; CA2832226C

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning threads of a threaded tubular member has a steam generator, a vacuum source, and a thread cleaning tool. The thread cleaning tool has a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having a steam conduit connected to the steam generator and a vacuum conduit connected to the vacuum source, and the steam conduit having an injection nozzle adjacent to the first end of the housing for directing steam toward the threaded tubular member and the vacuum conduit withdrawing used fluids from the threaded tubular member. The thread cleaning tool also has a sealing element at the first end of the housing that engages the threaded tubular member. A filter separates water from the used fluids, the separated water being supplied to the steam generator.

Description

TITLE
[0001] Thread cleaning apparatus FIELD

[0002] This relates to an apparatus for cleaning the threads of a tubular member.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Prior to making up threaded connections, it is often required to clean the threads to ensure there is no dirt or debris that could damage or otherwise hinder the connection. US
Patent no. 5,157,802 (Guidry et al.) is an example of a device that may be used for this purpose, and describes a pipe thread cleaning apparatus that uses a source of pressurized cleaning fluid connected to a pin thread cleaning head and a box thread cleaning head.
SUMMARY

[0004] There is provided an apparatus for cleaning threads of a threaded tubular member, comprising a steam generator, a vacuum source, a thread cleaning tool, and a filter. The thread cleaning tool comprises a housing having a fust end and a second end, the housing having a steam conduit connected to the steam generator and a vacuum conduit connected to the vacuum source, the steam conduit having an injection nozzle adjacent to the first end of the housing for directing steam toward the threaded tubular member and the vacuum conduit withdrawing used fluids from the threaded tubular member. The thread cleaning tool further comprises a sealing element at the first end of the housing that engages the threaded tubular member. The filter for separates water from the used fluids, the separated water being supplied to the steam generator.

[0005] According to another aspect, the thread cleaning tool may comprise a compressible spring positioned between the housing and the sealing element.
The spring may connect the sealing element to the housing. The sealing element may be movable relative to the nozzle, the nozzle extending toward the threaded tubular member upon application of a force to the sealing element.

[0006] According to another aspect, the thread cleaning tool may further comprise a valve for controlling the flow of steam through the conduit.

[0007] According to another aspect, the housing may be a tubular body and the vacuum [0008] According to another aspect, the steam conduit may be concentrically disposed within the tubular body.

[0009] According to another aspect, the nozzle may rotate upon application of fluid pressure.

[0010] According to another aspect, the sealing element may comprise a sealing surface and an enclosure that extends outward from the sealing surface to enclose an end of the [0011] According to another aspect, the sealing element may seal against an end of the tubular member and the nozzle is inside an inner diameter of the tubular member.

[0012] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of cleaning threads of a threaded tubular member, comprising the step of providing a thread cleaning tool. The thread cleaning tool comprises a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having a steam conduit connected to the steam generator and a vacuum conduit connected to the vacuum source, the steam conduit having an injection nozzle adjacent to the first end of the [0013] According to another aspect, the thread cleaning tool may comprise a thread cleaning tool as described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads in the retracted position.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads shown in FIG. 1 in a partially extended position.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a sealing element and nozzle on the thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads within a section of pipe.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view, in section, of the thread cleaning tool for cleaning external threads.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the thread cleaning tool for cleaning external threads shown in FIG. 6 with a section of pipe.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a system used with the thread cleaning tool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] A thread cleaning tool for cleaning internal threads generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 5. A thread cleaning tool for cleaning external threads generally identified by reference numeral 100, will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 through 8. Each tool 10 and 100 may be used in a system for cleaning threads of a tubular member.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 through 5, a thread cleaning tool 10 is shown that is designed to clean internal threads of a tubular. Referring to FIG. 3, thread cleaning tool 10 has a housing 20 defining a vacuum passage 21 and a tubing or steam passage 30 that passes through housing 20, preferably concentrically. Steam passage 30 has a nozzle 32 for injecting the steam against the threads being cleaned, which is adjacent to a first end 22 of housing 20.
It will be understood that "adjacent" does not necessarily mean "immediately adjacent", as nozzle 32 may move relative to first end 22, and it may be designed to extend a certain distance from first end 22, depending on the requirements of the tool being designed. It is convenient to use housing 20 to define vacuum passage 21, however it will be understood that it may be made from a separate tubular. Furthermore, it is convenient to have steam passage 30 within housing 20 to avoid contact with a potentially hot surface, as well as to make it more convenient for vacuum pressure to remove the steam or water once the cleaning operation has been completed. Housing 20 has a seal element 24 at first end 22 and a handle 14 at a second end 26 of housing 20. As depicted, seal element 24 is mounted to an inner sleeve 34 of housing 20 and slides relative to an outer sleeve 35. Seal element 24 and inner sleeve 34 are biased outward relative to outer sleeve 35 by a spring 28.
Spring 28 allows the user to apply pressure to cleaning tool 10, ensuring a good seal, and causing nozzle 32 to extend out from housing 20. A good seal is useful to ensure the vacuum pressure through vacuum passage 21 is primarily applied to the fluids and contaminants, such as steam, condensed steam, debris, oil, etc. that will be present after steam contacts the surface of the tubular body, and in particular, the threads.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, there is a cleaning fluid connection 12 that is connected to handle 14. Handle 14 has a control lever 16 that opens and closes a valve (not shown) that, in the depicted embodiment, is inside handle 14. Control lever 16 and steam passage 30 with nozzle 32 may be considered to be similar to a modified pressure washer, where trigger 16 controls the flow of fluid to nozzle 32, and steam passage 30 has been designed to be inserted within housing 20 in such a way that vacuum passage 21 is not unduly restricted. A vacuum connection 18 is also positioned on housing 20, such that it is in communication with vacuum passage 21. Vacuum connection 18 is designed to be connected to a typical vacuum hose that is capable of withstanding the applied vacuum pressure and the fluids and contaminants that will be transferred through it. Tool 10 as depicted is designed primarily with the usability of the tool in mind, such that connections 12 and 18 are at second end 26 of housing 20, such that steam enters at one end of housing 20, and is ejected from nozzle 32 at the other.
Similarly, vacuum pressure is applied at the same end, and withdraws fluid and contaminants from the other end. Referring to FIG. 4, nozzle 32 may be any convenient style of nozzle that 5 is able to apply sufficient pressure to clean the threads as recognized by those skilled in the art. The nozzle design will also depend at least partly on the pressure provided to tool 10 and the size of the tubular member being cleaned. Examples of nozzles may include a manifold-type nozzle 32 as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, which simultaneously sprays steam in all directions, or it rnay be a rotating nozzle that uses the fluid pressure of the steam to rotate, or it may be an omni directional nozzle, similar to a sprinkler head. Referring to FIG. 5, the cleaning fluid is shown as being applied to the inner circumference of the threads 220 as nozzle 32 extends outward from seal 24.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, as mentioned above, housing is preferably made up of inner sleeve 34 and outer sleeve 35. A compressible spring 28 is preferably positioned between seal element 24, mounted on inner sleeve 34, and outer sleeve 35. A portion of inner sleeve 34 is slidably received within outer sleeve 35 and is maintained in outer sleeve 35 by a first pin 36. Movement of inner sleeve 34 within outer sleeve 35 is permitted by an elongate aperture 38 through inner sleeve 34 through which first pin 36 passes. Spring 28 is maintained on inner sleeve 34 by a second pin 40. The portion of inner sleeve 34 received within outer sleeve 35 is determined by the relative compression of spring 28. Other fittings are depicted that may be used to connect inner sleeve 34 within outer sleeve 35 and maintain a seal, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, using the depicted example of tool 10, when sealing element 24 is set against the tubular 200, the nozzle 32 extends into the tubular body 200 to be cleaned by applying pressure against sealing element 24, causing sealing element 24 to retract relative to handle 14, and nozzle 32 to extend into tubular body 200. The thread cleaning tool 10 in a partially extended orientation is shown in FIG. 2. The travel distance provided by aperture 38 is preferably sufficient to allow nozzle 32 to traverse the entire threaded portion 220 of tubular body 200. Referring to FIG. 3, by providing a long enough spring 28 and elongate aperture 38, this may be done at varying distances to ensure the entire set of threads, not shown in this figure is cleaned. Referring to FIG. 5, as spring 28 requires the user to apply a force to extend nozzle 32 into the tubular 200, it also helps ensure a good seal against the end of the tubular 200. Referring to FIG. 3, when spring 28 is further compressed, a greater portion of inner sleeve 34 is received within housing 30. The amount of compression possible is based on the length of elongate aperture 38 and spring 28. Referring to FIG. 2, when spring 28 becomes compressed, nozzle 32 and a portion of tubing 30 protrudes beyond seal element 24.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, when spring 28 is in an extended position, only a small portion of inner sleeve 34 is received within housing 20, and nozzle 32 is preferably withdrawn into sealing element 24. The thread cleaning tool 10 with spring 28 uncompressed and nozzle 32 in a retracted position is shown in FIG. I.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 5, seal element 24 seals the end of the tubular 200 to allow vacuum pressure to be applied. Referring to FIG. 1, vacuum pressure is applied through vacuum connection 18 through housing 20 to a point adjacent to nozzle 32 in order to remove the used cleaning fluid and any debris or contaminants that are removed from the threads 220, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0022] The manner in which spring 28 is incorporated into tool 10 may vary. For example, as shown, spring 28 is mounted on the outside of housing 20 and the forward part of housing 20 withdraws as pressure is applied. Alternatively, sealing element 24 may be mounted directly to housing 20 by spring 28, or spring 28 may be mounted within housing 20.
Other variations will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 6 through 8, a thread cleaning tool 100 for cleaning threads 220 on an outer surface of a tubular 200 is shown. As will be recognized, many of the same concepts and variations discussed above are also applicable to tool 100, whether they are explicitly discussed or not. Accordingly, the discussion below relates specifically to the example depicted in the drawings.

[0024] As with tool 10, thread cleaning tool 100 is designed to apply steam to threads 220, while also applying vacuum pressure. The main difference is that thread cleaning tool 100 is designed to clean external threads, and therefore the vacuum pressure and steam must be applied to an external surface of tubular member 200. Referring to FIG. 6, thread cleaning tool 100 has a housing 120 defining a vacuum passage 121 with a seal element 124 on a first end 122 of housing 120. Referring to FIG. 8, a steam connection 112 is connected to handle 114 with a control lever or trigger 116. A vacuum connection 118 is positioned on housing 120. Referring to FIG. 6, steam is supplied to first end 122 of the thread cleaning tool 100 by tubing 130 that passes through the vacuum passage 121. The tubing 130 has a nozzle 132 on the end to spray the cleaning fluid on the threads. In order to have the vacuum pressure applied to the area of threads 220, an enclosure 123 is formed by an outer wall 127 that is carried by housing 120 and a curtain 125 at the end of outer wall 127. Curtain 125 as shown in a series of elastomeric tabs that extend inward. These are not intended to form an air-tight seal, but are used to capture any steam, and to localize the vacuum pressure within enclosure 123. Sealing element 124 is mounted to housing 120 within enclosure 123 by a spring 126 toward the extended position. Referring to FIG. 7, sealing element 124 is placed against the end of a tubular 200, and the tool is pushed such that housing 120 extends over the threads 220, while sealing element 124 remains pressed against the end of the tubular 200, sealing the end of tubular member 200 against the steam and vacuum pressure. Sealing element 124 is biased against tubular member 200 by spring 126, which may be mounted on a sleeve that moves within housing 120 (not shown), or any other convenient method.
Referring to FIG. 6, nozzle 132 is positioned along the inner perimeter of enclosure 123 toward curtain 125. In this manner, steam is directed inward against outer threads 220, and the vacuum pressure draws the resulting fluids and contaminants backward. In the depicted embodiment, steam passage 130 may not be concentric with vacuum passage 120, and may be made up of two or more separate passages to achieve a more even distribution of pressure to nozzle 132.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 8, a water source 240 supplies water to a steam source 230.
Stearn is supplied to thread cleaning tool 100 through steam connection 112 when control lever 116 of handle allows for steam to enter tool 100. Referring to FIG. 6, steam travels through tubing 130 to nozzle 132 where it is directed on the threads 220.
Referring to FIG. 7, pressure exerted on tool 100 causes center portion 125 to retract within housing 120. By altering the amount of pressure exerted on tool 100, the user can alter which portion of threads 220 is being washed by the steam. Sealing element 124 engages the tubular 200 to prevent the steam from escaping. Referring to FIG. 8, steam and debris from the washed threads 220 are vacuumed through vacuum connection 118 into vacuum source 250. Steam may then travel through a filter 260 and return to steam source 230 for reuse. Although not shown, it will be understood that thread cleaning tool 10 will use a similar method of cleaning threads that includes a water source 240, a steam source 230, a vacuum source 250 and a filter 260 for reuse of steam.

[0026] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0027] The following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning threads of a threaded tubular member, comprising:

a steam generator;
a vacuum source;
a thread cleaning tool, comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having a steam conduit connected to the steam generator and a vacuum conduit connected to the vacuum source, the steam conduit having an injection nozzle adjacent to the first end of the housing for directing steam toward the threaded tubular member and the vacuum conduit withdrawing used fluids from the threaded tubular member; and a sealing element at the first end of the housing that engages the threaded tubular member; and a compressible spring positioned between the housing and the sealing element; and a filter for separating water from the used fluids, the separated water being supplied to the steam generator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring connects the sealing element to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is movable relative to the nozzle, the nozzle extending toward the threaded tubular member upon application of a force to the sealing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thread cleaning tool further comprises a valve for controlling the flow of steam through the conduit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is a tubular body and the vacuum conduit is defined by the tubular body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the steam conduit is concentrically disposed within the tubular body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle rotates upon application of fluid pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises a sealing surface and an enclosure that extends outward from the sealing surface to enclose an end of the tubular member, and wherein the nozzle is outside an outer diameter of the tubular member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the enclosure comprises a curtain at the opposing side of the enclosure from the sealing surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing element seals against an end of the tubular member and the nozzle is inside an inner diameter of the tubular member.

11. A method of cleaning threads of a threaded tubular member, comprising the steps of:
providing a thread cleaning tool, comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having a steam conduit connected to a steam generator and a vacuum conduit connected to a vacuum source, the steam conduit having an injection nozzle adjacent to the first end of the housing; and a sealing element at the first end of the housing; and a compressible spring positioned between the housing and the sealing element; and setting the sealing element against an end of the threaded tubular member and applying a compressive force to the compressible spring to cause the nozzle to extend toward the threaded tubular member; and using the steam generator, generating steam and transferring the steam through the steam conduit to the injection nozzle, the injection nozzle directing the steam onto the threads of the threaded tubular member such that the steam removes contaminants from the threads;
applying vacuum pressure adjacent to the threads of the threaded tubular member via the vacuum conduit to remove a stream of fluids comprising used steam and contaminants;
passing the stream of fluids through a filter to separate water from the stream of fluids;
supplying the separated water to the steam generator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the spring connects the sealing element to the housing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of controlling the flow of steam through the conduit by opening and closing a valve.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the housing is a tubular body and the vacuum conduit is definal by the tubular body.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steam conduit is concentrically disposed within the tubular body.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the nozzle rotates upon application of fluid pressure.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sealing element comprises a sealing surface and an enclosure that extends outward from the sealing surface to enclose an end of the tubular member, and wherein the nozzle is outside an outer diameter of the tubular member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure comprises a curtain at the opposing side of the enclosure from the sealing surface.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the sealing element seals against an end of the tubular member and the nozzle is inside an inner diameter of the tubular member.