GB2465352A

GB2465352A - Pipe cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2465352A
Application number: GB0820736A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jane Palmer
Original assignee: Industrial Brushware Ltd
Current assignee: Industrial Brushware Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-13
Filing date: 2008-11-13
Publication date: 2010-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-13
Also published as: WO2010055289A1; GB0820736D0; GB2465352B

Abstract

A pipe cleaning apparatus comprises a body (60, fig 7) arranged for passage along a pipe during use and one or more support members 14 shaped for location about a peripheral portion of said body (60, fig 7). The support members 14 are removably attachable to the body (60, fig 7) and serve to retain a plurality of bristles (20, fig 2) about the periphery of said body (60, fig 7) for use such that the bristles (20, fig 2) protrude radially outwardly of the support member 14 for contact with an inner wall of a pipe to be cleaned.

Description

Pipe Cleaning Apparatus The present invention relates to pipe cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a pipe cleaning apparatus for passage along a pipe so as to clean debris or residue from the inside of the pipe.

Such a pipe cleaning apparatus is often referred to as a pig.

Conventional cleaning apparatus of this kind typically takes the form of a body arranged to fit within the pipe to be cleaned such that bristles or other cleaning formations depending outwardly from the body contact the inner surface of the pipe. The frictional contact between the cleaning formations and the inside surface of the pipe cause cleaning or scouring of the pipe during passage of the body along the pipe in use.

However problems arise over time due to the wearing of the cleaning formations such that the pig can no longer adequately clean a pipe. This problem is compounded in that a pig is generally designed and manufactured for a specific application. Thus pigs are often bespoke and must be sent away to the originator to be serviced for further use.

This can lead to substantial cost for the pipe operator and in a worst case scenario can lead to substantial downtime of the pipe in question. Such problems, for example in the oil and gas industries, are of significant concern and are clearly best avoided.

The stiffness or resilience and positioning of the bristles on a pig greatly affect the cleaning effectiveness of the pig. In conventional designs, holes are provided in the body of the pig, into which bristles are inserted in tight formations such that they are maintained within the holes for use. However insertion of the bristles into the holes such that they remain in place for use is not straight forward and requires a significant level of manual skill.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a pipe cleaning apparatus which can be serviced and/or repaired in a straight forward manner.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pipe cleaning apparatus comprising: a body arranged for passage along a pipe during use; and one or more

I

support members shaped for location about a peripheral portion of said body, said support member serving to retain a plurality of cleaning members about the periphery of said body for use.

The support member may be generally annular in shape. The support member may comprise a plurality of elements which are connectable so as to form a generally annular support for a plurality of cleaning members.

The cleaning formations may comprise a plurality of bristles such that said bristles depend radially outwardly from said body portion in use. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of support members in an adjacent or spaced arrangement along an axis of the body. Each support member may be spaced form an adjacent support member by a spacing member which may be annular in shape. The depth or diameter of the spacing member may be greater than that of the support member. Cleaning formations depending from said support member may be in part trapped between spacing members on either side of the support member.

The cleaning formations may be arranged in sets or arrays such that a first set of cleaning formations are spaced along the body axis from a further set of cleaning formations. The cleaning formations within a set or within adjacent sets may be angularly offset about the body axis. The cleaning formation may additionally or alternatively be provided in spaced groups about the circumference of the body or support member. Such groupings may help to provide a staggered or non-uniform cleaning action as the length of the body passes over a section of the pipe.

The body may have a circumferential edge arranged to be locatable within the diameter of a pipe to be cleaned such that the bristles extend between said circumferential edge and said inner surface of the pipe during use.

The annular support member may be in the shape of a ring having recesses or apertures therein. The recesses may have a base and my open in a radially outward direction.

Bristles may be arranged circumferentially about said annular support member and may extend radially outwardly therefrom. The bristles may be located in said recesses. The bristles may be tightly packed within said recesses so as to resist removal therefrom.

This type of construction may allow bristles to be supplied and easily replaced in a modular fashion.

The body may at least in part take the form of a hub about which the or each support member may be located. A section of the body may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

The body may comprise a location formation arranged for location of the support member on the body for use. The location formation may comprise an upstanding wall, lip or flange. The upstanding formation may be extend about the periphery of the body TO and may be shaped to provide an abutment for positioning of the support member during use.

Modular cleaning members and/or support member may be provided which are removable and/or replaceable parts for the apparatus. Such cleaning members may be provided in the form of bristles mounted directly within apertures in the retaining formation or else pads or blocks of support material in which an array of bristles may be Located. The pads or blocks may be attachable to the retaining member, for example by bolts.

Working embodiments of the present invention are described below in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of the cleaning members of figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of the remaining components of figure 1; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of cleaning components according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a three dimensional view of apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of the apparatus of figure 5; Figure 7 shows an exploded three-dimensional view of a body for use with any of the embodiments of figures 1 to 6; Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of apparatus according to a fourth embodiment 1 0 of the present invention; and, Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section view of the apparatus of figure 8.

The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for cleaning pipes or any other kind of conduit for which a pig may conventionally be used. The present invention allows for the provision of cleaning apparatus in a modular format such that cleaning members can be interchanged as required.

Turning to figures 1 to 3, there is shown cleaning apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 is arranged to be mounted on a body as will be described below in greater detail.

The apparatus 10 comprises a series of cleaning members in the form of annular brush members 12, which are located on a mounting member 14. In this embodiment a series of four brush members are provided, which are shown in figure 2, each brush member being spaced from the adjacent brush member by a spacer 16. When assembled for use as shown in figure 1, the brush members and spacers are axially aligned with the mounting member 14 and located thereon.

In this embodiment the brush members and spacers are ring shaped, having a generally circular opening at their centre. The brush members and spacer rings are mounted in an alternating fashion on the mounting member.

In figure 2, it can be seen that the brush members 12 comprise an annular support portion 18, within which are located a plurality of brushes or bristles 20. The support rings 18 have radially aligned openings therein within which the bristles 20 are located.

An end of the bristles 20 is tightly packed into the openings such that they protrude radially outwardly therefrom to a free end which is arranged to contact the interior of a pipe to be cleaned.

The bristles 20 are arranged in spaced groups about the support member 18. Thus the bristles are not uniformly mounted about the support but instead they are arranged to provide a plurality of radial brush sections about the support ring. In this embodiment, the bristles are arranged in four equally spaced groups about the support 18.

In figure 3, the mounting member 14 is shown prior to assembly of the cleaning apparatus. The mounting member has a central portion 22 which is generally tubular in shape and having an upstanding circumferential end waIl 24 at one end thereof. The radius of the end wall is greater than that of the central portion 22 so as to form a rim about its end. A series of openings 26 are provided in the end wall which are angularly spaced about its centre.

The central portion 22 is profiled such that it has a plurality of axially aligned locating formations in the form of channels or recesses 28 located about its periphery.

A locating member 30 is arranged to be mounted on the mounting member 14 about the central portion 22 such that it is disposed between the central portion 22 and the brush members 12 mounted thereon during use. The locating member 30 and the central portion 22 are correspondingly shaped. In this embodiment, the locating member has protrusions 32 which are locatable within the channels 28 on the central portion 22. The location of the protrusions 32 in channels 28 serves to prevent rotation of the locating ring 30 about the mounting member 14 when assembled for use.

The locating ring 30 also has openings 34 therethrough which align with openings 26 in end wall 24.

An annular end plate 36is arranged to be located on the central portion 22 of the mounting member 14 at the opposite end from end wall 24. Thus, when assembled for use, the locating member 30 is mounted on the central portion 22 along with the end plate 36 such that the locating member is sandwiched between the end wall 24 and end plate 36.

The end plate also has apertures therein which can be aligned with the apertures 26 in the end wall such that one or more bolts 38 can pass therethrough so as to hold the assembly together.

The cleaning members 12 and spacer rings are mounted on the locating member 30 for use prior to attachment of the end plate 36. The radius of the end plate 36 is greater than that of the locating member 30 such that the cleaning members are trapped between the end wall 24 and end plate 36 when assembled for use.

As shown in figure 1, the angular orientation of one cleaning member 12 may be offset from that of an adjacent cleaning member when assembled for use dependent on the cleaning action required by the apparatus.

Turning now to figure 4, a second embodiment of the invention is shown in which an alternative form of cleaning members 40 are mounted on a mounting member 14 which is the same as that used in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the cleaning member 40 has location formations 42 formed therein. The cleaning members 40 are generally annular in shape, having bristles mounted in radial openings therein in a manner similar to that of the first embodiment.

However the cleaning members also have a plurality of protrusions or lobes 42 on an inner edge thereof which are arranged for location with the channels 28 of the mounting member 14. Thus the angular orientation of the cleaning members about the mounting member 14 can be fixed by cooperation between the protrusions 42 and channels 28. In this embodiment, the cleaning members are also provided with openings 44 therein for reception of the bolts 38 therethrough.

The angular orientation of the cleaning members may be aligned or offset in this embodiment dependent on cleaning action required. Spacing members between the cleaning members may or may not be used in this embodiment.

An end plate 36 is also used in this embodiment in a manner similar to the embodiment of figures 1 to3.

Turning now to figure 5, a third embodiment 46 is shown in which the mounting member 14 and end plate 36 are substantially the same as those used in the first and second embodiments. However in this embodiment, the cleaning members are formed of a series of angularly spaced brush members 48.

The brush members comprise a block of material 48, the outer face of which is curved in section so as to conform generally to the circumference of a circle. The brush members have an array of openings so as to accommodate an array of bristles 50 therein. In this embodiment, the array has a plurality of rows and/or columns. One or more rows or columns may be offset from the others so as to ensure suitable distribution of the bristles over the block area.

Spacer blocks 52 are provided between the brush members 48 such that the brush members are correctly oriented about the periphery of the central portion of the mounting member 14. Each of the spacer blocks 52 and brush members 48 have axially aligned apertures therein to allow passage of bolts 38 therethrough in order to fix the assembly in place.

The embodiment of figures 5 and 6 also allows for the use of alignment members 54. In this regard, the brush members have a circumferential groove portion 56 in each side thereof. The alignment member 54 is shaped to be seated within the groove 56 in order to ensure correct alignment of the brush members about the mounting member 14 for use. The alignment members 54 may have openings therein for reception of screws or bolts 58 therein. In this embodiment, the end plate 36 and end wall 24 of the mounting member may have supplementary openings therein to allow passages of the alignment bolts 58 therethrough. Such openings are not precluded from the other embodiments of the invention described above.

In an alternative embodiment to that of figures 5 and 6, the individual brush elements 48 and spacer blocks 52 may be removed and replaced with a substantially continuous cleaning member having spaced arrays of apertures therein.

Turning now to figure 7, there is shown a pig body 60 which may accommodate any of the cleaning apparatus embodiments described above. The pig body is described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that other forms of pig body may be used dependent on the specific details of the pipe cleaning to be undertaken.

The body 60 generally comprises an axially aligned central section 62 having spaced flanges 64 and 66 thereon. The flanges 64 and 66 take the form of upstanding circumferential walls which are located towards opposing ends of the central section 62.

A hub portion 68 protrudes axially from each end of the central section 62 and terminates at the free end of the body 60. The central 62 and hub 68 portions may be cylindrical or tubular in shape. The hub portions may be of equal radius to that of the central portion 62 or else may be of greater or smaller radius.

The hub portions provide a section for mounting of the cleaning assembly of any one of figures 1 to 6 thereon. Thus a cleaning assembly may be provided at either end of the body. The cleaning apparatus may about against the corresponding flange 64 or 66 when correctly located for use.

In one embodiment, the hub portion may have keying means 70 in the form of an axial spline for location in a corresponding recess (not shown) in an inner circumferential wall of the cleaning assembly to be mounted thereon.

Mounting plates 72 and 74 may be provided at either end of the body for location on the hub 68 after the cleaning assembly. The flanges 64 and 66 may have apertures therein for alignment with some of the apertures 26 in the mounting member 14 of the cleaning apparatus. Thus bolts may be passed there through to secure the cleaning apparatus to the body 60. In the arrangement of figures 1,4 and 5, for example, it will be appreciated that certain apertures in the mounting member 14 and cleaning members may be use to secure the cleaning assembly to the body 60, whilst others may be used to secure the cleaning members to the mounting member 14.

The mounting plates 72 and 74 may similarly be provided with apertures 76 therein for passage of bolts therethrough as required.

A nose and/or tail formation 80 may be located on the hub 68 at the free end of the body 60. The nose or tail formation may be integral with or additional to either or both of the mounting plates 72, 74. the nose and or tail section may be curved or tapered in form.

When the cleaning assembly is mounted on the body, it will be appreciated that the bristles protrude radially outwardly of the other components for contact with the inner wall of a pipe to be cleaned.

Turning now to figures 8 and 9, an alternative embodiment is shown in which a single piece cast body 100 is provided, which has a plurality of circumferential channels 102 formed therein. Upstanding raised sections may be provided in the body so as to define the opposing edges of the channels 102.

Cleaning members 104 may be correspondingly shaped so as to be seated in the channels 102 for use. In this embodiment, the cleaning members are referred to as pads, although it will be appreciated that they may be formed of a rigid metal material, rather than a soft deformable pad.

The cleaning pads extend about the entire periphery of the body 100 within channels 102. The pads 104 are provided as a plurality of pad sections having connection formations 106 at opposing ends thereof for attachment to an adjacent pad section. The end to end arrangement of the pad sections closely surrounds the body 100 and forms a generally continuous circumferential pad.

The connection formations 106 may take the form of a cut-out or recess in the pad surface which is shaped to receive a fixing member 108. In this embodiment, the cut-outs are tapered towards a narrow neck portion at the edge of the pad portion. Thus a bow-tie shaped fixing formation provides a suitable shape for maintaining correct alignment of the adjacent edges of the pad sections. Fixing means in the form of bolts are passed through apertures in the fixing member 108, the pad section 104 and the body 100 so as to secure the pads in place.

In this embodiment a pair of opposing pad sections are provided such that each pad is formed of only two sections.

Radially aligned apertures 110 are provided in the outer face of the cleaning pads 104 for insertion of bristles therein (not shown). An array of apertures is provided having a I 0 plurality of rows and/or columns. As in the embodiments of figures 1 to 6, the bristles are tightly packed in the apertures 110 such that they are firmly held therein for use. The free ends of the bristles protrude radially outwardly of the apertures and provide the cleaning or scouring action of the cleaning apparatus as it passes along a pipe to be cleaned.

A raised section 112 may be provided on the inner face of the pads 104 for location in the corresponding channels 102 of the body 100. the pad sections are arranged to be a tight fit about the body in order to avoid potential misalignment of the pads or movement of the pads axially along the body during use.

As with the previous embodiments, the body is generally tubular in shape and has a hollow core. Apertures and br cut-outs 114 may be provided in the body to facilitate fluid flow about the body upon passage along a pipe during use. Such cut-outs 114 may assist in allowing passage of fluid and debris from the body. The cut-outs may be provided at peripheral ends of the body or else between the spaced channels 102 in which the pads 104 are located.

The cleaning members described in relation to figures 8 and 9 may be used in conjunction with the embodiment of figures 1 to 7. Furthermore it is intended that any features described in relation to any one of the embodiments above are to be considered to be interchangeable as far as practicably possible with corresponding features of any of the alternative embodiments.

It will be appreciated that any reference to "cleaning" of pipes referred to within the present application is intended to refer to the process of passing an apparatus along the pipe to remove or dislodge material deposited on the inner wall of the pipe and/or debris within the pipe. It is not intended that the interpretation of the word "cleaning" be limited by any other chemical or mechanical actions which may be associated with other cleaning processes unless otherwise stated in this application.

Claims

Claims: I. Pipe cleaning apparatus comprising: a body arranged for passage along a pipe during use; and one or more support members shaped for location about a peripheral portion of said body, said support member being removably attachable to said body and serving to retain a plurality of bristles about the periphery of said body for use such that the bristles protrude radially outwardly of said support member for contact with an inner wall of a pipe to be cleaned.
2. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is substantially symmetrical about its axis.
3. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support member is substantially annular or tubular in shape.
4. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member comprises a single ring or sleeve shaped element which is shaped to hold a plurality of bristles.
5. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of support elements which are connectable so as to form a generally annular support for a plurality of cleaning members.
6. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of support members in an adjacent or spaced arrangement along an axis of the body.
7. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each support member is spaced form an adjacent support member by a spacer.
8. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the bristles are arranged in spaced groups such that a first group of cleaning formations are spaced about the axis of the body from a further group of cleaning formations.
9. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 6, wherein a first support member is angularly offset from an adjacent support member such that one group of bristles on the first support member overlaps a group of bristles on the adjacent support member.
10. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member has an array of recesses therein for holding bristles, said recesses being arranged circumferentially about said annular support member and opening in a radially outward direction therefrom.
11. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of support elements which are connectable about the body in an end to end arrangement using fastening means.
12. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises a location formation for alignment of the support member against the body during use.
13. Pipe cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the location formation comprises a peripheral wall or channel.
14. Modular pipe cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.