GB845338A - Pipeline scraper - Google Patents

Abstract

845,338. Pipeline cleaning devices. WILLIAMSON Inc., T. D. Oct. 10, 1958, No. 32413/58. Class 99(2). A pipeline scraper 21 comprises a body 22 adapted to be moved longitudinally through a pipeline by the flow of a fluid therethrough, and a number of scraping elements 24 carried in laterally balanced relationship upon arms 25 extending from the body for resiliently engaging the elements with the internal wall of the pipeline. The elements are disposed in a single annular row around the body and each element is wider at one end than at the other and has the wide end disposed laterally opposite the narrow ends of elements to each side thereof, adjacent elements being spaced sufficiently closely together so that the wide ends overlap laterally of one another when the elements are engaged with the wall of the pipeline and so as to provide full scraping coverage of the wall. As shown, the scraping elements comprise wire brushes 32 carried on leaf springs 25 connected to the body 22, and cups 23 are secured to the ends of the body, each cup consisting of two adjacent rows A, B of outwardly extending flaps 37 of rubber, the adjacent flaps in each row providing an outwardly divergent tapered space between the side edges thereof, and the side edges of flaps in adjacent rows over-lapping laterally of one another; the flaps are foldable as the cups move into the pipeline, and where such folding is likely to result in leakage of fluid between the flaps rings 40, 45 of rubber are provided, the peripheries of which rings are adapted to engage the wall of the pipeline upon folding back of the flaps of the cups a predetermined amount. To facilitate retraction of the spring-mounted brushes 24 from the wall of the pipeline when the device becomes stuck in the pipeline, a piston 49 slidable in the body 22 is connected to the brushes by cords 57 so that as the piston is urged forwardly in the body the brushes are retracted. During insertion of the device into the pipeline the brushes are retracted by a screw-threaded stem 69 received within a spider 70 and engageable with the piston. To audibly indicate the position of the device in the pipeline, rollers 73, mounted on leaf springs 74 and formed with a cam part having a spiralled periphery, are arranged to jar against the wall of the pipeline. The device may be used for separating fluids on opposite sides of the cups.