US2803026A

US2803026A - Pipe cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2803026A
Application number: US444997A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Koffski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-22
Filing date: 1954-07-22
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

Aug. 20, 1957 J. H. KOFFSKI PIPECLEANER 1 Filed July 22, 1954 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

,g HN H. KOFFSKI AGENT 'Aug. 20, 1957 J. H. KOFFSKI v 2,803,026

7 PIPE CLEANER Filed July 22, -1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

L HN H. "KOFFSKI WKW AGENT United States Patent PIPE CLEANER JohnH. Kolfski, Chisholm, Minn.

Application July 22, 1954, Serial No. 444,997

1 Claim. (Cl. 15104.07)

This invention relates to a device for cleaning pipes such as water mains and the like, especially those which are vertically disposed such as those which are normally located in mine shafts and the like for pumping water out of the mine.

It is well known that underground mines usually :accumulate =water some of which is surface drainage and some -of which may be from underground water seams and the like. In order to maintain the underground mine in a working condition, this water must be eliminated and removed from the mine. The removal of water from an underground mine is usually accomplished by means of pumps which may be operated as desired by any suitable power means, the pumps forcing water upwardly through pipes which are carried in the mine shaft to the surface of the ground Where suitable water mains carry the water to a discharge point remotely located relative to the mine shaft.

The vertically disposed water mains above referred to are a source of annoyance to mine owners and operators in that they require considerable maintenance because the water mains accumulate a coating of scum and the like on the Walls of the pipe thereby reducing the diameter and carrying capacity of the pipe. To date no efiicient means have been provided to remove the accumulation from the inside walls of the vertically disposed water main in the mine shaft.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a device and means for operating same for cleaning the interior walls of a substantially vertically disposed water main.

Another object is to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to construct. Another object is to provide such a device which is simple to operate.

Another object is to provide such a device which is strong and durable and which will require a minimum of upkeep or maintenance.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my pipe cleaner showing same within a water main.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental broken perspective view showing parts of my pipe cleaner.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the cleaning instrumentality in folded position to permit the passing of immovable obstruction in the water main.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates a water main which is usually substantially vertically disposed in a mine shaft, not shown, the inner walls 2 of the water main usually accumulate a coating of scum and the like which reduces the carrying capacity .of the Water main 1 and which scum must be removed in order to restore the pipe '1 to its required capacity and efiiciency.

As means to .clean the scum from the inner walls 2 of the pipe v1 I provide .a discor plate member 3 having the same shape as the cross section of the pipe v1 .and being of just slightly smaller diameter than the pipe 1. As shown in the drawings, the disc 3 is of a circular shape. The disc 3 is divided into two halves A and B, and the halves A and B are pivotally united as by .a hinge 4.

The hinge 4 includes a pair of pintles5-5 extending in axially alined relationship from a tubular body member 6, tone of the pins .5 extending from each .side of the body member 6, see Fig. 2, whereby the parts A and :B are pivotally carried, one on each side of the body member 6. The disc .3.-is normally carried in a plate extending at right angles to the axis of the pipe 1 which it is to clean, Whenrin operating position, and the body member 6 is carried in substantial alinement with .the axis :of the pipe 1. In other words, .the axis of the body member-6 is .at right angles to the plate of the disc or plate member 3 when in operating position.

The plate member 3 is supported by a pair of brackets 77, one carried on each side of the body member 6 on the lower end thereof and below the pins or pintles 5. The brackets 77 have a fiat upper surface 8-8 on which the members A and B rest. The brackets 7 prevent the parts A and B from pivoting beyond a flat or even plane with each other in one direction.

At the upper end of the body member 6 I have provided a handle or bail 9 to Which is secured a cable 10. In operation, the cable 10 serves as a means to pull the pipe cleaner through the pipe 1. As the cleaner moves through the pipe 1, the disc or plate 3 picks up and carries with it the scale or scum'which is carried on the inner surface 2 of the pipe 1 and thereby cleans the pipe. The cable 10 may be pulled by any suitable means, such as by a winch or even by hand under suitable conditions.

As the cleaning device is moved through the pipe its normal direction of movement being upwardly, of course, if an obstruction should be reached which would prevent passing of the disc 3 through the pipe, the parts A and B may be pivoted as shown in Fig. 4 towards each other to reduce the diameter of the disc to permit same to clear an obstruction. By rotating the disc and body member 6 on the longitudinal axis of the body 6 any obstruction can be cleared, of course.

The means for accomplishing the folding of the disc or plate member 3 comprises a shaft member 12 carried axially of and within the tubular body member 6. The upper end of the shaft 12 has an eye 14 to which a separate cable 15 is attached, see Fig. 1, the cable 15 serving to provide means for operating the shaft 12 independently of the body member 6.

The lower end of the shaft 12 has a pair of oppositely disposed hook members 1616, one of the hook members being carried under the part or portion A of the disc 3 and the other of the hook members being carried under the part or portion B of the disc 3.

As may be seen in Fig. 4, the raising of the shaft 12 by means of the cable 15 will raise the book 16 relative to the body member 6 and cause the parts A and B to pivot on the pintles 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4 along the are shown in dotted lines at 17. This arrange ment will permit the device to clear obstructions which are immovable in the pipe.

When the obstruction has been cleared, the cable 15 may be slackened and the cable 10 pulled to bring the parts A and B back to normal position resting on the bracket 7 to continue the cleaning operation of the pipe.

than a limited amount.

A stop 18 is preferably provided on the tube 6 about the shaft 12 to maintain the latter in assembled relation with the tube 6, as shown, and to permit the shaft 12 to be reciprocated so as to serve as a hammer in the event the disc should become stuck in the pipe 1. The reciprocation of the shaft 12 will cause the eye-14 and hooks 16 to apply blows to the body member 6 and thereby jar loose the cleaning device if it does become stuck, for

the shaft 12 is captive in the sleeve due to the stop 18 I and the fork 16 preventing its being reciprocated more The slots 0 limit the reciprocation in one direction for the forks 16 engage the inner ends thereof, and in the other direction, the stop 18 stops the eye 14 from entering the sleeve.

The slots 0 serve to permit the forks to engage and pivot the halves of the disc as the shaft 12 is lifted and 'to limit the upward movement of the shaft.

With the device, as above described, vertically disposed water mains can be quickly and efliciently cleaned and restored to normal efliciency. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

- A device for cleaning pipes and the like comprising: a

--2,sos,o26 v p 4 her with the halves thereof each hinged on said pintles, bracket means on said body member below said disc for maintaining said halves in alined relationship with each other and in normal relationship to said body member,

and means attached to said body member above said disc for drawing the body member and disc through a pipe With said disc extending at substantially right angles to the axis of the pipe, and means for pivoting said halves on their pintles away from said bracket means including a shaft freely reciprocably carried within said body member, means on said body limiting the extent of reciprocation of said shaft and affording reciprocable captive hammer action by the latter should the body member and disc become stuck, means attached to the upper end of said shaft for reciprocating the same, and hook means extending from the lower end of said shaft and engageable with each of said halves to pivot the latter when said shaft is lifted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peek Jan; 8, 1901 2,328,060 Crane et a1; Aug. 31, 1943 2,328,093 Osborn et a1 Aug. 31, 1943 2,608,695

Skibowski Sept. 2, 1952