GB190605116A - A New or Improved Instrument for Removing Obstructions in Gas and other Piping, Tubes and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

5116. Ward, E. A. March 2. Cleaning pipes and tubes.-An instrument for clearing obstructions from pipes, particularly such as are formed with bends, elbows, angles, or other curved parts, comprises a coil a of spring wire of suitable section, the leading or pilot end of which is given a permanent set in a curved form, as at b, by coiling the wire on a curved mandrel before hardening and tempering. When passing through a straight portion of pipe, the pilot end is more or less straightened out, as in Fig. 4. On reaching the bend, the end resumes its normal curved form, thus leading the way round the bend, as in Fig. 5. The instrument may carry a ballended or solid leading piece e, or may have a cutting-head, to facilitate passage through an obstruction. Antifriction devices such as rollers, balls, or the like, may be used to reduce friction of the contacting parts of the instrument when in use. The curved and straight portions of the coil may be formed separately, and the end of one part slightly tapered, and wormed into the other.