US380910A - Patkick mogeb - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

P. MCGEB.

APPARATUS FOR GLBANING CHARGEDy GAS PIPES. No. l380,910.

Patented Apr. 10, 1.888..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK MCGEE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CHARGED GAS-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380.910, dated April 10. 1838.

Application filed April 13, 1887. Serial Nomi-1.5651'. (No model.)

lb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, PATRICK MGGEE, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Charged Gas-Pi pes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

t 'Ihisinvention relates to apparatus for cleaning the bores of the service or distributing pipes of gas-mains.

In the ordinary illuminating-gas-distributing systems the gas-main is run underground along a street and parallel to the building-lines of the houses to be supplied with gas. The indlvidual supplies are obtained by running lateral branch or service pipes from the main into the houses.

VThe mains are sometimes constructed so that some provision is made for keeping them from becoming foul and choked up with accumulated deposits. Vhen the branch pipes,which are of a comparatively small bore, become choked or stopped up with deposits, it is a difiicultmatter to clean the same, and often the pipes are dug up for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning them. Again, it is often attempted to clean the branch pipes by opening the pipe at a point in the cellar of the house between the main and the gas-meter and inserting cleaning or scraping devices in the pipe and loosening the dirt lodged therein, and the loosened dirt is blown out of the pipe by the outilowing gas with which the pipe is charged under pressure. These branch pipes are for the greater part straight, and it is therefore possible to clean them in this manner; but such a method is not at all practical, for the reasons that the escaping gas becomes a dangerous element and is injurious to the workman and contaminates the atmosphere of thehouse, and, moreover, renders liable the occurrence of an explosion. Besides these objections, the foul deposits removed from the Vpipe become scattered about the cellar, where they are lodged and remain very offensive for a prolonged period.

The objects of my invention are to provide apparatus for cleaning gas-pipes whereby the cleaning may be effected with perfect safety to Fig.

the workman and the surroundings and the work may be done with much thoroughness and cleanliness, and whereby the dirt removed from the pipes may be collected conveniently in a catch-receptacle.

To the above purposes my invention consists in the certain combinations set forth in the claims at the close of this specification, and which comprise the following mechanical features, namely: a charged gas-pipe, a cleaning device and cleaner-rod, a gate-valve adapted to be mounted upon the free end of the gaspipe, a packing-box for the cleaner-rod to work through, and an injector adapted to be entered within the gas-pipe.

In order vthat my invention may be fully understood, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will proceed to describe the best with the knowledge that the same admits of modiiications in details thereof. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a branch service gaspipe which has attached thereto the gate-valve provided with an attached packing-box. A cleaning device is inserted within the bore of the pipe, and the cleaner-rod extends therefrom through the gate-valve and the packing-box to the outside thereof, so as to be accessible for the necessary manipulation in operating the cleaning device. Fig. 2 represents asectional view of the gateyalve, taken on line 2 2in l. Fig. 3 represents a view in elevation of another form of cleaning device having a sectional cleaner-rod, which is shown partly broken away. Fig. 4 represents aview in elevation of a tubular injector made in section, and shown partly broken away.

In the said drawings like numbers of referencel designate corresponding parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings, the number 7 designates the branch or service gas-pipe, which may be supposed to lie within the cellar of a house, and from which a section of pipe has been removed to gain access to the interior of the branch leading to the main. The gas-pipe 7 is ofcourse charged with illuminating-gas, which is maintained under considerable pressure, and hence very efficient form thereof so far devised by me,

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sealing means are required to prevent the gas from escaping while the branch is being cleaned.

The gate-valve 8 consists of a casing or coupling, 9, open at both ends,whereit is provided with internal screw-threads. In the side of the-casing 9 is set a socket-piece, 10, through the central opening of which works the valvestem 11, which is provided with the hand- Wheel 12,keyed to the end of the same. The lower half, 13, ofthe gate-valve is secured in the bottom of the valve-casing and is provided with a rubber packing, 14,*which is formed with a longitudinal semi-cylindrical groove, 15, on its upper face. The upper half, 16, of the valve is secured to the foot of the valve-stem 11 and is likewise provided with a rubber packing, 17, similar to the piece 14. Vhen the upper half of the valve is closed down,on the fixed lower half, as shown in Fig. 1, the grooves of the rubber packings form a tubular channel, and when the said half is raised the opening of the valve is like that shown in Fig. 2.

The packing-box l8is provided with the annular packing 19 at the outer end thereof, while the inner end is formed with a reduced portion, 20, having an external screw-thread designed to fit into the outer mouth ofthe valve-casing 9, as shown in Fig. 1.

' The cleaningV device consists of a bar, 2l, having two scraper-flanges, 22, running spirally around the same in opposite directions.

' One end of the bar 21 is screw-threaded to receive l the internally-screw-threaded cleanerrod 23, which forms an even joint therewith.

In Fig. 3 the cleaning device is formed differently from that in Fig. 1, and in place of the spiral cleaner-flanges the scraper-head 22 is used, and the same consists of a body hav ingasharpened circumferential edge and provided With a central perforation, so as to receive the endof the cleaner-rod 23, which is secured thereto by the nut on the screwthreaded end of the rod, as illustrated.

In Fig. et the injector 24 consistsof a tube or pipe having one end closed and provided with the perforation 25, and the cleaner-rod 23 is a pipe which is secured thereto, so that any liquid may be forced therein and out of the injector.

The method of using my improved apparatus will be easily understood. Before removing thesection of pipe from the charged branch pipe to gain access to the interior thereof I insert the cleaner-rod 23 or the bar 21, bearing the cleaning device, in theopening of the gatevalve, which I then close tight. Next Iremovethe section of pipe from the charged branch 7 and quickly insert the cleaning device in the bore of the saine and screw the gate-valve upon the opened free end ofthe pipe, as shown in Fig. l. This leaves the cleaning device within the pipe, and at the same time the rubber packing ofthe gate-valve prevents any leakage of gas around the rod or bar. Under this condition the cleaning device vmay be readily moved about within the pipe-bore to scrape the walls of the same, but

only for a limited distance.

In order to reach a greater distance within the pipe, I attach lanother section of cleanerrod 23 to the bar or rod, and in case of the even coupling-j oint shown in the drawings the same may be pushed through the closed gate-valve and worked as desired. However, as I intend to use ordinary gas-pipes of small diameter for the sectional cleaner-rods, and as the same are usually coupled up by means of a couplingsleeve of greater diameter than the pipes, the joint formed will be uneven and cannot be pushed through the closed gate-valve. I therefore have provided a packing-box, 18, before described,and which,after a section of cleanerrod is coupled on, is introduced over the free end of the' same until the uneven couplingjoint is within the box, when the cleaner-rod of uniform diameter is pushed through the closed gate valve till the packing box isL brought into position to be secured onto the valve-casing 9,as shown in Fig. 1. When this is accomplished,the gate-valve is opened wide, and thereby permits the uneven coupling-j oint to pass therethrough and the cleaning device to be introduced farther into the branch pipe toward the main and to clean the bore of the pipe, while the packing 19 of the box securely seals the box against the'leakage of gas during the `working of the cleaner.

It is to be understood that when a new section of cleaner-rod is to be added and which has an uneven coupling-joint the gate-valve is first closed to prevent escapement of gas, then the packing-box is released and slid back clear oft' the cleaner-rod while the new section is added,after which the packing-box is replaced, as above described.

The injector may be entered within the branch pipe and the escapement of gas prevented by followingthe same method and using the same appliances hereinbefore described in the operations of the cleaning device. The injector is used for the purpose of washing the pipes out by the use of a liquid-such, for example, as naphtha.

By the use of my invention all the evils resulting from the voluminous escapement of gas and the scattering about the premises of the removed filth of the pipes are completely obviated, and especially is the operator protected against the injury of escaping gas.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- `1. The combination, as hereinbefore set forth, with a gas-pipe, of a cleaning device provided with a rod, a clamping device provided with means Whereby it may be fastened upon the opened end of the gas-pipe and support the cleaning-rod within said pipe, and a packing-box mounted upon the outer endgof the gate-valve casing, the said cleaning-rod extending through the gate-valve and the packing-box, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

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2. The combination, as hereinbefore set the rod to provide against leakage, and a reforth, with a gas-pipe, of a cleaning device movable packing-box mounted upon the outer fo provided with a sectional rod, a removable end of the valve-casing for preventing the esgate-valve provided with means whereby it cape of gas, substantially as described.

5 may be fastened to the open end of the pipe PATRICK MCGEE.

and support the eieaningrod Within said pipe, Witnesses: and having the two parts of the valve pro J. A. MILLER, Jr.,

vided with grooved rubber packing for packing M. F. BLIGH.

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