US1899379A

US1899379A - Pipe cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: US1899379A
Application number: US525514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest H Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-03-26
Filing date: 1931-03-26
Publication date: 1933-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1950-02-28

Description

' Feb. 28, 1933. E. H. ADAMS PIPE CLEANING mcnmn Filed March 26. 19:51

, 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 28, 1933. E. H. ADAMS rm: cnmnme pmcam Filed larch 2a 1931 mill \\ ML Ml 3 Sheets-Sheet mum N law/WA mgcams 3 Shoots-Sheet 3 Filed March 26; 1931' Patented Feb. 28, 1933 p emu s'rA'rE-s 11. mars, or we anew, cannonm rm manmencms hpplleation ma ma as, ml. mm 80. 525,514.

Thisinvention relates to pipe machines, and has for an ob ect the PIOYISIPD of a 1pc cleaning machine which is readily porta 1e and of relatively small size and weight and therefore, better for relatively small jobs of pipe cleaning,

A more detailed object is the provision ofa pipecleaning machine having anannfllar.

rotor head adapted to encircle the pipe te m be cleaned, means for rotating the head, and

a plurality of flexible abrading members suc as chains secured to the head atpoints spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, these flexiblemembers beintg tensioned into frictional engagement wi the pipe, and of sucha nature that they are capa 1ev of thorou hly cleansing the exterior surface thereof when the head is rotated with respect thereto. 1

Another object is to provide meansifor simultaneously relieving the tension upon all of the abrading members, so as to permit the pipe cleaning machine to be advanced along the pipe and past a relatively large JOlllt between two pip: sections, regardless of whether the oint of the welded type or emplo an interiorly threaded sleeve.

A furt er object is to form the rotor head in such a manner, and to so en age the flexible abrading members therewith, that the pipe cleaning machine may be mounted in operative position upon the pipe to be cleaned and removed therefrom relatively quickly and easily.

The invention possesses other objects and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional rtion thereof,such as that presented by a view, the plane of section being taken upon the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1, and the direction of view indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a compound transverse vertical sectional view, the planes of section being taken upon the lines 44 of Fig. 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

-Fig. 5'is a transverse vertical sectional view of the rotor head, the plane of section being taken upon the line 5-5:of Fi 1, with the direction of view as indicated by the arrows. 4

Fi 6 is another transverse vertical section view of the rotor head, the plane of section being" taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, .with the direction of view as indicated by the arrows.

In terms of broad inclusion, the pipe cleaning machine of the present invention comprises a carriage provided with means 0 formovably supporting itupon the pipe to be cleaned. A motor of any suitable type mounted upon the carriage is operatively connected to a rotor head encircling the pipe below the carriage, so as to efiect rotation thereof, and this rotor head is provided with a plurality of flexible abrading members such as chains under tension between points spaced circumferentially with respect to the head, so as to cause the abrading members to be pressed into frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the pipe, whereby scraping action between the abra members and thedpipe is established w en the head is rotate v Specifically describing a preferred embodiment of my improved pipe cleaning machine, I have provided a carriage, indicated in its entirety at 11,, a motor 12 of any suitable desi mounted thereu on, and a rotor head 13 a apted to encircle t e pipe 14 to be cleaned, and disposed preferably directly below the carriage 11.

The carriage 11 comprises a frame in the form of a pair of lon itudinally extending bars 16, each of ,whic is deflected downwards, as at 17 .ateach end, presenting brackets upon .each side of the pipe 14, and spaced slightl from each end of the rotor head 13. A orizontal bracket 18 extends from each e d of the frame and carries a roller 19 which engages the upper surface of the pipe 14, as'best illustrated upon 1 and 2. Each of the rollers 19 is ourn ed by means of a pin 21 within a U-shaped member 22 adjustably secured to the associated bracket 18 by means of a'bolt 23 or its equivapose .preferably a lurality of handles 26 are these handles 26 being rigid V -with the carriage 11 and extendin sition .where they may be grasped provided, each of to a po conveniently by operators walking alongside the pipe 14. Obviously, if the pipe 14 is above the surface of the ground, handles 26 of different configuration will be employed, as compared with the handles used when the pipe being cleaned is disposed within a ditch or trench. v

Although the motor 12 illustrated is'an electric motor, obviously any other prime mover may be emplo ed, the

quirement being that it be 0 sufficient capacity to provide the force necessary to effect rotation of the rotor-head 13, as will readily be understood.

The rotor head 13 comprises a pair of

annuluses

31 and 32 rigidly interconnected and retained in spaced axial relationship by means of a plurality of stay bolts 33. The

. two

annuluses

31, 32 are split diametrically .Vm cross sectional configuration.

I rotor head 13 upon a as at 34, in a common plane, thereby present ing a pair of

rotor head sections

36 and 37, each of which is substantially semi-cirlcular The

sections

36 and 37 are pivotally joined at one side byv an suitable hinge construction 38, and area apted to be releasably interconnected along the other side by means of a bolt 39 pivoted to a lug 41. rigid with one of the sectlons, say the section 36, and adapted to extend through a bifurcated lug 42 rigid with the other section 37. Hence, when a nut 43 threaded upon the bolt 39 is ti htened,the two

sections

36 and 37 will be re easably but firmly clamped in annular form. This construction makes it possible to position the necessity of having to s end of the ipe. Instea the head 13 ma be openedy release of the bolts 39 wi e enough to permit slipping the head laterally onto the p'ge, after which" the sections-36 and37 may s extending pro ipe 14 without the if the head over an' mg to closed position with the head encircling the pipe 14, and the bolts then tightened.

the brackets 17 at the associated end of the head 13. Hence, the rotor head 13 is interconnected with the carriage 11 in such a mannerthat the head may rotate freely with respect thereto, but is. caused to advance along the pipe 14 as the carriage 11 is advanced. An annular flange 51 on one of the annuluses, say the annulus 31, is provided with a preferably V-shaped groove 52 for the reception of abelt 53 which also engages a pulley 54 carried by the shaft results in rotation of the rotor head 13.

The rotor head 13 carries preferably a lu-- are in frictional engagement with, and which either partially or completely encircle the pipe 14, so as to develop the scraping or abrading action necessary to thoroughly cleanse the exterior surface of the the head 13 is rotated. members 57 I prefer to employ chainsfthe links of which are provided with outwardly 'ections or. points for scraping and cleaning t e pipe 14.

56 of the motor 12, whereby energization of the motor 12' pi when For these. ahi'ading The means for mounting the chains 57 I upon the rotor head 13 is in the form of a plurality of rods 58-rigid with and extendg between the corresponding sections 36,

'37 of the two

annuluses

31 and 32. These rods 58 are disposed u on opposite sides of and closely ad acent t within which the rotor best illustrated upon Fig. 4. Carried by each of the rods 58 is a bar 59, each rod 58 and its bar 59 being adjustably interconnected by means of a bolt 60 adjacent each end thereof and threaded through the rod 58, and extending' through a clearance hole in the bar 59, there bein a nut 61 or other suitable abutting shoulder rigid with the bolt 60 upon each side of the bar 59 so as to retain vthe bar 59 in selected spaced relationship .with respect tothe rod 58. A plurality of hooks 62 have their shanks 63 extendin each of the rods 58, and these shanks, which preferably are threaded, also extend through the associated bar 59 and each carries a nut e diametrical plane 1 head 13 is split, as Y slidably through i 64 in engagement with that face of'the bar 7 59 which is remote from the hook 62. Hence, each of the hooks 62 may be individuall adjusted by manipulation of its associated nut 64or all of the hooks 62, the shanks 63 of which extend through any one of the rods 58, may be simultaneously adjusted by manipulation of the associated bolts 61, whereby the bar 59 with which'those hooks 62 areconand extend almost completely around the tiallywith respect to the rotor head 13 the tension imposed upon the chains will cause the chains to wrap themselves about and come into frictional engagement withthe exterior surface of the pipe 14. The chains 57 may be engaged upon the hooks 62 in various manners. For example, each chain may be relatively short and engaged at its

ends tions

36 or 37, under which circumstances each chain will make contact with thepi e la throughout substantially of arc. r, if desired, the chains may be relatively long pipe 14,.so as to be engaged at its ends'with hooks carried by rods 58 on both

sections

36 and 37, and upon the same side of the rotor head. The stay bolts 33 are provided with spaced perforations and the chains 57 may be.

fastened to the stay bolts 33 by means of bolts 60 and nuts 61 in the same manner as described in connection with the rods 58.

An advantage of this particular type of pipe cleanin machine is that it is consider-- ably less su ject to becoming clogged up with the extremely tenacious material wit which the exterior surfaces of pipe lines are frequently provided so as to prevent deter ioration of the pi e from rusting and the like. Those machines which employ rigid scrapers have been found to be'more or less unsatisfactory, because of the factthat each scraper accumulates a ball of this coatin material mixed with dirtpflakes of rust, an

other material frequently to such an extent that the operation of the scra er itself is seriously interfered with. The c ains 57 apparently are not subject to such uns'atisfam tory operation, especially when these chains are designed in accordance with my copendingapplication, Serial No. 525,515, filed March 26, 1931. Moreover, the entire portion of the rotor head 13 within which the chains 57 are operative is o n, thereby permitting material scraped mm the pipe 14 to fall freely from the head, and thus preventing an accumulation of this material, as frequently occurs in other types of cleaning machines.-

As has been stated hereinabove, it is intended that the cleaningmachine shall be advanced along the pipe manually. As such advance takes place joints between pipe sections wiil be encountered at intervals, and when this takes place all the chains 57 can be loosened simultaneously by proper mani ulation of the appropriate bolts 61, there y permitting the cleaning machine to pass the oint, after which the chains ma again be tightened. It should be explaine ,however,

that simultaneous loosenin and tightening.

of all the chains can be e ected only if an end of each chain is connected to a common rod 58. Fig. 4, however, illustrates the chains arranged with their ends in staggered relationship, i. e., one chain ends at one side .of the head 13, the next chain ends at the other side of the head, and so on. Under such circumstances, half the chains may have their tension varied by manipulation of. one set of bolts 61, and the other half of.

the chains by manipulation of another set of bolts 61, as will readily be understood.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subj eat to alteration within the spirit or scope of the a pended claims.

I c aim: r

1. In a pi head comprising a pair-of annuluses adapted to encircle a ipe, rods interconnecting said annuluses and spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, chains under tension between said rods and frictionally enga' ing said pipe, ad'ustable means interpose between said chains and said rods for varying the tension of said chains, andmeans for turning said head with respect to said pipe.

2. In a pipe cleaning machine, a rotor head comprising a pair of annuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting said annuluses and spaced circumterentiall with tension of all of said chains simultaneously,

and means for turning said head with respect tosaid pipe.

3. In a pipe cleaning machine, arotor head comprising a pair of annuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting said annuluses and spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, a bar extending adjacent each of said rods, adjusting means for vary ing the distance betwin each-of said bars and its associated rod, a plurality'of hooks having shanks connected to each of said bars and extending slidably through the associated rod, and chains under tension between hooks of spaced rods and frictionally engaging said pipe. I

4. In a pipe cleaningmachine, a rotor head comprising a pair of annuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods interconnecting said annuluses and spaced circumferentially with respect thereto, abrading means engaging said pipe, said abrading means including a flexible member under tension between said rods, adjustable means interposed between said flexible member and said rods for varype cleaning machine, a rotor ing the tension of said flexible member, and

means for turning said head with respect to said pipe.

5. In a p pe cleaning machine, a rotor head comprising a pairbf annuluses adapted to encircle a pipe, rods' interconnecting said ann'uluses and spaced circumferentially with res ect thereto abrading means an? g sai pipe, sai abrading means inc u 1n 6 flexible members under tension between said rods, adjustable means interposed between said flexible members and said rods for mying the tension of .said flexible members, means for turning said head with respect to 10 said pipe, and means for relieving the tension of all of said flexible members simultaneously. V In testimony whereof I have signed, my

name to this specification. ERNEST H. ADAMS.