GB2546972A

GB2546972A - Duct cleaning tool

Info

Publication number: GB2546972A
Application number: GB1601610.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Geraint
Original assignee: DWR Cymru Cyfyngedig
Current assignee: DWR Cymru Cyfyngedig
Priority date: 2016-01-28
Filing date: 2016-01-28
Publication date: 2017-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-28
Also published as: GB201601610D0; GB2546972B

Abstract

A duct or pipe cleaning tool for removing blockages from within a duct comprises a head 20 for engaging with a blockage. The head 20 comprises a first blockage engaging portion 21 and a second blockage engaging portion 22 rigidly coupled together via an arcuate portion 23, such that the first and second portions 21, 22 define an acute angle therebetween. The first blockage engaging portion 21 comprises a substantially linear portion and the second blockage engaging portion 22 comprises a proximal region 22a which diverges away from the first portion 21, and a distal region 22b which diverges away from the first portion 21 at a rate greater than the proximal portion 22a. The first, second and arcuate portions 21, 22, 23 preferably define a mouth 24 for receiving the blockage.

Description

DUCT CLEANING TOOL

The present invention relates to a duct cleaning device for removing blockages from within a duct.

Domestic water supply pipes are connected to a central supply reservoir where the water undergoes water treatment works, and the waste pipes are connected to a sewer network, where the sewage is filtered and then disposed of by the water company. Both the water supply and waste pipes, can become fully or partially blocked over time. This blockage can be caused by many factors ranging from mineral deposits, waste food, grease, hair or other items which may have become lodged within the pipe during attempts to clear previous blockages, such as rods and the like.

In the case that a blockage occurs, the need to pass the waste or water through the orifice of reduced size can lead to excess pressures being exerted on the interior wall of the pipe and can lead to pipe breakages and consequential leakages. In respect of a water supply pipe, a fully blocked pipe can prevent water from flowing to a property and in the case of a fully blocked waste pipe blockages can lead to issues with the removal of waste from a property and may result in the outpouring of excess water which can cause flooding, both internally and externally to the property.

Therefore, it is an important part of the maintenance process of the pipe to remove such blockages and to alleviate the excess pressures built up in the pipe. The ultimate aim is to maximise the throughput through the interior of the pipe, by removal of material deposited on the internal walls of the pipe.

We have now devised a duct cleaning tool.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a duct cleaning tool for removing blockages from within a duct, the tool comprising a head for engaging with a blockage, the head comprising: a first blockage engaging portion and a second blockage engaging portion rigidly coupled together via an arcuate portion, such that the first and second portions define an acute angle therebetween, the first blockage engaging portion comprising a substantially linear portion; the second blockage engaging portion comprising a proximal region which diverges away from the first portion, and a distal region which diverges away from the first portion at a rate greater than the proximal portion.

In an embodiment, the first, second and arcuate portions define a mouth therebetween for receiving at least a portion of the blockage. The mouth formed by the first, second and arcuate portions comprise an opening which converges toward the arcuate portion, for gripping a blockage therebetween.

In an embodiment, the tool further comprises coupling means for detachably coupling the head with a handle. For example, the coupling means may comprise a coupling block which may be arranged to detachably couple with the head and the handle. Alternatively, the coupling block may be rigidly coupled to the head and detachably couplable with the handle.

In a further embodiment, the tool may comprise or further comprise coupling means for detachably coupling the head with extension portions, so that the length of the second portion may be varied. For example, the coupling means may comprise a coupling block which is arranged to detachably couple with a distal region of the second portion and an extension portion. Alternatively, the coupling block may be rigidly coupled to the distal region of the second portion and detachably couplable with the extension portion.

In an embodiment, the tool, further comprises a handle for enabling manipulation of the head.

In an embodiment, the tool head is formed of mild steel or a rigid plastics material.

In an embodiment, the first portion, second portion and arcuate portion are formed integrally.

In an embodiment, the first, second and arcuate portions extend in the same plane. However, in an alternative embodiment, the first, second and arcuate portions may extend in different planes.

In an embodiment, the arcuate portion and at least a portion of the first and second portions comprise a knurled surface to provide for an increased grip with the blockage.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to the present invention with a handle secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a side view of a head of the tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a first coupling block; and,

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a second coupling block.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a duct cleaning tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tool comprises a head 20 and a handle 30 detachably coupled to the head 20, so that the head 20 can be suitably manipulated within a duct (not shown) for gripping a blockage (not shown), such as a tree branch, or a cleaning rod which has become lodged within the duct during a previous cleaning event, for example.

Referring to figure 2 of the drawings, the head 20 comprises a single piece unit which may be formed of a metal, such as mild steel, or a rigid plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride. The head 20 comprises an elongate rod or similar which is turned through an angle in the range of 90°-180°, but more preferably 135°-170°, to create a first blockage engaging portion 21 and a second blockage engaging portion 22 which extend from opposite ends of an arcuate portion 23 and thus define an acute angle therebetween. Flowever, it is to be appreciated that the first, second and arcuate portions 21,22, 23 may be formed separately and rigidly coupled together.

The first portion 21 comprises a substantially linear portion, whereas the second 22 portion comprises a distal region 22b which diverges from the first portion 21 at a greater rate than a proximal region 22a of the second portion 22. The first and second portions 21, 22, together with the arcuate portion 23, define a mouth 24 therebetween within which a blockage is locatable, and the reduced opening of the mouth 24 toward the arcuate portion 23, due to the convergent nature of the first and second portions 21, 22 toward the arcuate portion 23, facilitates a gripping of the blockage therebetween. In an embodiment, the surface of the arcuate portion 23 and at least a portion of the first and second portions 21,22 comprise a knurled surface 25 to provide an enhanced gripping of a blockage.

In the illustrated embodiments, the first, second and arcuate portion 21, 22, 23 extend in substantially the same plane, however, it is to be appreciated that the portions 21, 22, 23 may alternatively extend in different planes. For example, it is envisaged that the first and second portions 21, 22 may extend in separate planes which extend along a common axis, but which are rotated relative to each other about the axis, by approximately 5°-10°, to facilitate a scooping of the blockage into the mouth 24.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the tool 10 further comprises coupling means for detachably coupling the head 20 to a handle 30 such as an elongate rod or similar, so that the head 20 may be inserted along a duct using the handle 30 and suitably manipulated to grip the blockage. The coupling means may comprise a first coupling block 40 which may be rigidly coupled to a distal end of the first portion 21 via a weld or similar, or detachably couplable therewith, and detachably couplable with the handle 30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the detachable coupling is facilitated by a first and second recess 41,42 separately formed within a first and second end face 43, 44 of the first block 40, which extend along a longitudinal axis thereof. The first recess 41 is arranged to receive a distal region of the first portion 21, and comprises an internal thread (not shown) for detachably coupling with an external thread (not shown) formed at the distal region of the first portion 21. The second recess 42 is arranged to receive a proximal region of the handle 30, and comprises an internal thread (not shown) for detachably coupling with an external thread (not shown) formed at the proximal region of the handle 30. However, in order to prevent any undesirable rotation of the first coupling block 40 relative to the head 20 or the handle 30, and thus any undesirable uncoupling thereof, the handle 30 and first portion 21 are rotationally locked to the first coupling block 40 via a respective locking member (not shown), such as a pin. In this respect, the first coupling block 40 comprises a first and second pair of apertures 45, 46 which extend through side walls of the block 40 at diametrically opposed locations, either side of the first and second recesses 41, 42, respectively. The proximal region of the handle 30 and the distal region of the first portion 21 further comprise an aperture (not shown) which extends therethrough along a diameter thereof, such that the pin is arranged pass through aligned apertures to rotationally lock the head 20 and handle 30 to the first coupling block 40.

Referring to figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, the tool further comprises coupling means for detachably coupling extensions portions 60 with the second portion 22 of the head 20 so that the length of the second portion 22 can be varied to accommodate a diameter of the duct and/or the size of the blockage. The coupling means may comprise a second coupling block 50, similar to that described above, which may be rigidly coupled to a distal end of the second portion 22 via a weld or similar, or detachably couplable therewith.

In the illustrated embodiment, the detachable coupling is facilitated by a first and second recess 51, 52 separately formed within a first and second end face 53, 54 of the second block 50, which extend along a longitudinal axis thereof. The first recess 51 is arranged to receive a distal region of the second portion 22, and comprises an internal thread (not shown) for detachably coupling with an external thread (not shown) formed at the distal region of the second portion 22. The second recess 52 is arranged to receive a proximal region of an extension portion 60, and may similarly comprise an internal thread (not shown) for detachably coupling with an external thread (not shown) formed at the proximal region of the extension portion 60. However, in order to prevent any undesirable rotation of the second coupling block 50 relative to the head 20 or the extension portion 60, and thus any undesirable uncoupling thereof, the head 20 and extension portion 60 are rotationally locked to the second coupling block 50 via a respective locking member (not shown), such as a pin. In this respect, the second coupling block 50 comprises a first and second pair of apertures 55, 56 which extend through side walls of the block 50 at diametrically opposed locations, either side of the first and second recesses 51, 52, respectively. The proximal region of the extension portion 60 and the distal region of the second portion 22 further comprise an aperture (not shown) which extends therethrough, along a diameter thereof, such that the pin is arranged pass through aligned apertures 55, 56 to rotationally lock the head 20 and extension portion 60 to the second coupling block 50.

In use, a handle 30 is coupled to the head 20 via the first coupling block 40 and rotationally locked thereto using the locking pin, as described above. If required extension portions 60 may be coupled with the head 20 to increase the opening to the mouth 24 for example, for locating the blockage therein. The head 20 is then inserted within the duct, such as a sewage pipe (not shown) via an access port, such as a drain (not shown). Handle extension sections (not shown) may be coupled to the handle 30 to extend the length of the handle 30 so that the head 20 can be moved along the pipe and suitably located at the site of the blockage. In order to facilitate this location, it is envisaged that a proximal region of the handle 30 may comprise a camera (not shown) for communicating a view of the interior of the sewage pipe, and in particular a view forwardly of the head 20, to a display unit (not shown) viewable by the tool operator (not shown). The tool operator can then locate the blockage within the mouth 24 of the head 20 to effectively hook the blockage. However, to further grip the blockage, the operator may rotate the handle 30 to rotate the head 20, so that the blockage becomes gripped between an upper and lower side of the first and second portions 21,22. Accordingly, once the blockage has been hooked and gripped, the operator pulls on the blockage to draw the blockage along the sewage pipe and out from the pipe via the drain.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the tool obviates any requirement to excavate the ground to expose the sewage pipe to provide direct access to the blockage, and thus provides for a rapid unblocking of the pipe without causing any disturbance to the surrounding area.

Claims

1. A duct cleaning tool, for removing blockages from within a duct, the tool comprising a head for engaging with a blockage, the head comprising: a first blockage engaging portion and a second blockage engaging portion rigidly coupled together via an arcuate portion, such that the first and second portions define an acute angle therebetween, the first blockage engaging portion comprising a substantially linear portion; the second blockage engaging portion comprising a proximal region which diverges away from the first portion, and a distal region which diverges away from the first portion at a rate greater than the proximal portion.

2. A duct cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and arcuate portions defines a mouth therebetween for receiving at least a portion of the blockage.

3. A duct according to claim 2, wherein the mouth formed by the first, second and arcuate portions comprises an opening which converges toward the arcuate portion, for gripping a blockage therebetween.

4. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising coupling means for detachably coupling the head with a handle.

5. A duct cleaning tool according to claim 4, wherein the coupling means comprises a coupling block which is be arranged to detachably couple with the head and the handle.

6. A duct cleaning tool according to claim 4 wherein, the coupling block is rigidly coupled to the head and detachably couplable with the handle.

7. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim further comprising coupling means for detachably coupling the head with extension portions, so that the length of the second portion may be varied.

8. A duct cleaning tool according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a coupling block which is arranged to detachably couple with a distal region of the second portion and an extension portion.

9. A duct cleaning tool according to claim 7, wherein the coupling block is rigidly coupled to the distal region of the second portion and detachably couplable with the extension portion.

10. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, further comprising a handle for enabling manipulation of the head.

11. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the tool head is formed of mild steel.

12. A duct cleaning tool according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the tool head is formed of a rigid plastics material.

13. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion, second portion and arcuate portion are formed integrally.

14. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the first, second and arcuate portions extend in the same plane.

15. A duct cleaning tool according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first, second and arcuate portions extend in different planes.

16. A duct cleaning tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the arcuate portion and at least a portion of the first and second portions comprise a knurled surface to provide for an increased grip with a blockage.