GB2215802A

GB2215802A - Removing pipe blockages

Info

Publication number: GB2215802A
Application number: GB8806577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian William English
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-19
Filing date: 1988-03-19
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8806577D0

Abstract

A method of removing a blockage in a drainage pipe 11, which comprises introducing a balloon 10 into the pipe; inflating the balloon 10 so that it is caused to move into sealing engagement with the pipe 11; and increasing the pressure in the space 14 within the pipe 11 between the blockage and the balloon 10 to an extent sufficient to displace the blockage. The pressure may be increased by using a table 13 or a pressure relief valve on the balloon 10. <IMAGE>

Description

A METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR REMOVAL OF BLOCKAGES IN DRAINAGE PIPES Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method of and means for removal of blockages in drainage pipes.

Background to the Invention A number of methods are currently in use for the removal of blockages in, for example, domestic drainage. pipes. One method involves pouring caustic soda down the pipe. Another involves directing high pressure jets of water down the pipe, while a further method involves passing a flexible metal rod down the pipe.

These methods are either relatively expensive, rather messy or somewhat unreliable and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and means for the removal of blockages in drainage pipes Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of removing a blockage in a drainage pipe, which method comprises introducing a balloon into the pipe, inflating the balloon so that it is caused to move into sealing engagement with the pipe, and increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe between the blockage and the balloon to an extent sufficient to displace the blockage.

The balloon may be inflated using a hand or foot pump and the balloon is preferably formed of rubber or a rubberised material so that it can be pressurized to an extent sufficient to locate it within, for example, a smooth-walled toilet outlet pipe.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided means for removing a blockage in a drainage pipe, said means comprising a balloon of such size that, when placed within the pipe and inflated, it will have firm sealing engagement with the pipe, means for inflating the balloon, and means for increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe between the blockage and the inflated balloon to an extent sufficient to displace the blockage.

The means for increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe may comprise a flexible tube which passes through the balloon or it may comprise a pressure operated valve situated in the wall of the balloon and arranged so that, when the pressure within the balloon reaches a predetermined value, the valve opens to allow the flow of air from the interior of the balloon into the space between the inflated balloon and the blockage.

In applying the method of the invention to the removal of a blockage from a pipe which includes a branch line or lines, the space within the blocked pipe is sealed from the atmosphere by introducing balloons into each of the branch lines leading to the blockage and inflating them to cause each of them to move into sealing engagement with the pipe work into which they are fitted.

The or each balloon is preferably attached to a flexible tube fitted with a control valve so that, after its initial inflation, the or each balloon is maintained in its inflated condition until the blockage has been removed. The control valve is then arranged so that it can be operated to deflate the balloon to enable the balloon to be removed from the pipe so that it can be used for the removal of blockages from other pipes.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate methods for the removal of blockages from pipes of varying configurations, Figure 5 illustrates a balloon used for effecting the blockage removal and, Figure 6 shows the balloon of Figure 5 inflated within a pipe.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring first to Figure 5, this shows an inflatable balloon 10 formed of rubber or a rubberised material and of such dimensions that, when inserted in a deflated condition into a drainage pipe, it can be inflated so as to grip the interior wall of the pipe and to make a positive sealing engagement with the pipe. The balloon 10 is shown inserted in a pipe 11 in Figure 6.

The balloon 10 has attached to it a flexible tube 12, the free end of which carries a control valve fitting which is so shaped as to facilitate attachment thereof to, for example, the nozzle of a foot pump. After the deflated balloon 10 has been placed within a pipe, the foot pump can be operated to inflate tulle balloon 10 and then, on detachment of the foot pump from the control valve fitting, the balloon 10 will be maintained in its inflated condition.The control valve fitting (not shown) is of standard form and includes an operating member which is such that, after a pipe blockage has been removed, the operating member of the valve fitting can be displaced to allow air to escape from the balloon so that, with deflation of the balloon 10, it can then be removed from the pipe 11.

A further flexible tube 13 is attached to the balloon 10 except that, in this case, the tube 13 passes completely through the balloon 10 so as to provide communication with the space 14 within the pipe 11 inwardly of the inflated balloon 10.

The flexible tube 13 is provided with a fitting to enable it to be coupled to, for example, the nozzle of a foot pump so that, after the balloon 10 has been inflated and the foot pump detached from the fitting on tube 12, the foot pump can then be connected to the flexible tube 13 and air then pumped directly into the space 14. The pumping of air into said space 14 is then continued so as to increase the pressure within the space 14 sufficient to displace the blockage from the pipe.

In almost all domestic situations, blockages are caused by accumulations which include fatty or greasy materials which have coagulated or congealed and have become mixed with more solid items such as potato peelings or tea leaves. Increasing the pressure within the blocked pipe rapidly effects removal of the blockage. Once the blockage has been removed, the pumping of air into the space 14 is ceased and the balloon 10 then deflated and removed from the pipe.

Turning next to Figure 1, this shows a waste pipe 11 having a bend at which a blockage 15 is located. The pipe 11 may be, for example, the outlet pipe from a kitchen sink. Access is obtained to the end of the pipe 11 by disconnecting it from the sink trap, the balloon is then placed in the open end of the pipe, inflated through tube 12 and then air is blown into the interior of the pipe through the flexible tube 13.

When the pressure within the pipe 11 has been increased sufficiently, the blockage 15 will be caused to be moved away from the bend and will be urged towards the pipe outlet 16. The pressure within the pipe 11 is increased progressively and thus, there is a steady and continuous increase in the force applied to the blockage 15.

Turning next to Figure 2, this shows a blockage 17 located at a bend in a pipe line but, in this instance, there is a branch line 18 leading into the pipe 11 between the bend at which the blockage 17 is located and the outlet end 16 of the pipe.

In this instance, before the balloon 10 is inserted in the pipe and inflated, a further balloon 19 is placed in the branch line 18 and is inflated by blowing air through a flexible tube 20 so that the branch line 18 is sealed. The balloon 19 and flexible tube 20 are formed as described above in relation to the balloon 10 and its flexible tube 12 except that, in this instance, there is no flexible tube 13 passing completely through the balloon. When the ballon 10 has been inflated and air is subsequently pumped into the interior of the pipe 11 through the flexible tube 13, the blockage 17 will be removed and, since the branch line 18 is sealed, movement of the blockage will be continued until it has been discharged from the outlet 16 Other branch line configurations are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and the methods of removal of the blockages shown in these drawings will be readily apparent from the comments made above.

Although the preferred form of the balloon is as shown in Figures 5 and 6, an alternative arrangement can be adopted.

This involves the use of only a single flexible tube leading to the balloon and the provision of a pressure operated valve in the wall of the balloon at a position diametrically opposite the point at which the flexible tube is connected to the balloon.

With this arrangement, when air is pumped into the balloon, it will initially be caused to expand into sealing engagement with the wall of the pipe into which it has been fitted and then, when the pressure within the balloon reaches a predetermined value, the valve will open and air will flow into the interior of the pipe to increase the pressure within the pipe and, in due course, reach a level sufficient to displace the blockage.

When the balloon is placed within a smooth-walled pipe, particularly when it is placed within the outlet pipe of a toilet, there is the possibility of the balloon creeping along the pipe as it is being inflated, or of it creeping outwardly of the pipe when the pressure in the space between the blockage and the balloon is increased.

It is accordingly a further feature of the invention to place the inflatable balloon within a fabric cover, preferably a canvas cover, of such texture that, when the balloon is inflated, the fabric cover will act to prevent creeping of the balloon along the pipe.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of removing a blockage in a drainage pipe, which comprises introducing a balloon into the pipe; inflating the balloon so that it is caused to move into sealing engagement with the pipe; and increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe between the blockage and the balloon to an extent sufficient to displace the blockage.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the balloon is inflated using a hand or foot pump.

3. A method according to either of the preceding claims in which the balloon is formed of rubber or a rubberised material so that it can be pressurized to an extent sufficient to locate it within, for example, a smooth-walled toilet outlet pipe.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims when applied to the removal of a blockage from a pipe which includes a branch line or lines, in which the space within the blocked pipe is sealed from the atmosphere by introducing balloons into each of the branch lines leading to the blockage and inflating them to cause each of them to move into sealing engagement with the pipe work into which they are fitted.

5. A method according to claim 4 in which the or each balloon is preferably attached to a flexible tube fitted with a control valve so that, after its initial inflation, the or each balloon is maintained in its inflated condition until the blockage has been removed; and in which the control valve is then arranged so that it can be operated to deflat the balloon to enable the balloon to be removed from the pipe so that it can be used for the removal of blockages from other pipes.

6. A method substantially as described herein with reference to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings

7. A method substantially as described herein with reference to figure 2 of the accompanying drawings

8. A method substantially as described herein with reference to figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A method substantially as described herein with reference to figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Means for removing a blockage in a drainage pipe, said means comprising a balloon of such size that, when placed within the pipe and inflated, it will have firm sealing engagement with the pipe; means for inflating the balloon; and means for increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe between the blockage and the inflated balloon to an extent sufficient to displace the blockage.

11. Means according to claim 8 in which the means for increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe comprise a flexible tube which passes through the balloon.

12. Means according to claim 9 in which the means for increasing the pressure in the space within the pipe comprise a pressure operated valve situated in the wall of the balloon and arranged so that, when the pressure within the balloon reaches a predetermined value, the valve opens to allow the folow of air from the interior of the balloon into the space between the inflated balloon and the blockage.

13. A balloon substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.