US3886694A

US3886694A - Ascension pipe cleaning apparatus with self-indexing suspension

Info

Publication number: US3886694A
Application number: US509466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmanual Victor Gouye
Original assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency
Current assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency
Priority date: 1974-09-26
Filing date: 1974-09-26
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning deposited materials from the interiors of gooseneck elbows of ascension pipes of a coke oven battery having a cutter head or abrading tool on a ram pivotally mounted within a cradle which is flexibly supported on a coal charging larry car by means of a suspension system which permits the ram to move freely in the lateral and vertical planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation. The ram is automatically aligned with the axis of the ascension pipe elbow by a male to female indexing device, the matching pieces of which are mounted separately on the outside of each gas ascension pipe and at the end of the supporting frame. In one embodiment, the cleaning tool is caused to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening in the ascension pipe by means of two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of the ram and at the other of their ends to the cradle and which traverse opposing curved paths while advancing the ram into the interior of the elbow. In another embodiment, this is accomplished by means of the cleaner ram rolling on curved tracks.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Gouye 1 June 3, 1975 [75] lnventor: Emmanual Victor Gouye,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: The United States 01' America as represented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 509,466

[ 52] US. Cl. 51/170 PT; 51/241 S; 15/104015 [51] Int. Cl B2411 19/00 [58] Field of Search 51/241 S, 241 G, 241 B, 51/72, 99, 170 R, 170 PT; l5/l04.03

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,244,586 6/1941 Venable 51/72 R 2,521,210 9/1950 Fulmer 51/170 PT 2,707,358 5/1955 Grunder.... 51/241 B 3,053,018 9/1962 Tracy 51/99 3,187,361 6/1965 Wheeler l 51/241 B 3,456,391 7/1969 Venesia 51/241 B 3,568,376 3/1971 Slater 51/241 S 12:: l v o I E ll 17 111 1 z 1 v W l\ a i \\\j\ a e 6 5 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for cleaning deposited materials from the interiors of gooseneck elbows of ascension pipes of a coke oven battery having a cutter head or abrading tool on a ram pivotally mounted within a cradle which is flexibly supported on a coal charging larry car by means of a suspension system which permits the ram to move freely in the lateral and vertical planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation. The ram is automatically aligned with the axis of the ascension pipe elbow by a male to female indexing device, the matching pieces of which are mounted separately on the outside of each gas ascension pipe and at the end of the supporting frame. 1n one embodiment, the cleaning tool is caused to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening in the ascension pipe by means of two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of the ram and at the other of their ends to the cradle and which traverse opposing curved paths while advancing the ram into the interior of the elbow. In another embodiment, this is accomplished by means of the cleaner ram rolling on curved tracks.

ASCENSION PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS WITH SELF-INDEXING SUSPENSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning the gooseneck elbows of coke oven battery ascension pipes by the removal therefrom of carbonaceous and like deposits.

2. Description of the Prior Art The usual coke oven is equipped with one or more ascension pipes for each coking chamber to carry the volatile products of combustion that are liberated during the coking process into the collecting mains that run along the sides of the coke battery. The ascension pipes are connected at their upper ends to gooseneck type elbows which connect the ascension pipes to the gas mains. Each elbow has at its upper part an oblique face sloping downwardly towards the top of the battery of ovens and furnished with an inspection opening covered by a hinged or removable lid. It is customary for rails to be provided on the top of the coke oven battery on which rails a Iarry car is traversable for charging the oven chambers with coal.

Exiting gases contain solids such as carbon, coal tar and the like which tend to accumulate and form heavy and hard deposits of carbon on the interior surface of the elbow of the ascension pipe and restrict the flow of volatile products of combustion through the elbow. It is therefore customary, after the discharging of an oven chamber and before the recharging of such chamber,

to remove these solid carbonaceous deposits from the elbows of the ascension pipes. Heretofore, the removal of such carbon deposits was accomplished manually by inserting a chisel-like rod or tool mounted at the end of a long ramming bar through an ascension pipe lid opening and chipping the carbon deposits from the interior wall of the elbow casting. This manual method of decarbonizing the ascension pipes is unsatisfactory since not only is it time consuming and arduous but also hazardous because of the location of the ascension pipes on the sides and roof of the battery and of the excessive heat conditions. In more recent years a powered gooseneck cleaner comprising a ring-type cutter at the end of a mechanized ramming bar has been mounted on the coal charging car. This type of cleaner works well on new batteries but is not able to enter many ascension pipes on older batteries since it has been found that the top of ascension pipes may move considerably off from their initial alignment over a period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages and limitations of the prior art are alleviated by the present invention. The present invention includes an apparatus for removing deposited materials from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a ring-type cutter head or abrading means on a ram pivotally mounted within a cradle which is flexibly supported on a coal charging larry car by means of a suspension system which permits the cradle and ram to move freely in the vertical and lateral planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suspension system on which the cradle is flexibly supported comprises three pivotally connected parallelogram support systems. A first parallelogram support system permits the cradle and ram assembly to move from an inoperative position to an operative position. A second parallelogram support system which is pivotally mounted to the first parallelogram support system permits the assembly to move freely in the vertical plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation. A third parallelogram support system which is pivotally mounted to the second parallelogram support system permits the assembly to move freely in the lateral plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation. The cradle and ram are automatically aligned with the axis of the ascension pipe elbow by means of a guiding funnel mounted on each pipe and an indexing pin mounted on the cradle within which the ram is located or by means of an indexing pin mounted on each pipe and a guiding funnel mounted on the cradle. In one embodiment, the cutter head or abradidng means is caused to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening by means of two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of the ram and at the other of their ends to the cradle and which traverse opposing curved paths while advancing the ram into the interior of the elbow of the gas ascension pipe.

In another embodiment, the apparatus is advanced from its parked position to its operative position by means of a carriage which is adapted to roll along a straight track. A double parallelogram type suspension system similar to that described above used in conjunction with the guiding funnel and indexing pin assembly permit parallel alignment with the axis of the elbow of the ascension pipe. The cutter head or abrading means is caused to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening by means of a ram which is adapted to roll along a curved track.

For a further understanding of the present invention and for advantages and features thereof, reference may be made to the following description in conjunction with the following drawings which show, by way of example, the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the cleaner apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus as seen from the left side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. I showing the means by which the abrading tool is caused to dodge under the upper lip of a gooseneck opening;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the means for causing the abrading tool of the apparatus of FIG. 5 to dodge under the upper lip of a gooseneck opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, the apparatus is parked in position A supported by pivot axle I and elastomer resting pad 2. In this position the apparatus will not fall forward in the event of failure of cylinder 3 since its center of gravity is safely past the pivot axle. Main support parallelogram 4 is pivotally mounted to pivot axle 1. When the apparatus is in its operative position, the forward knee of main support parallelogram 4 rests on elastomer resting pad 18. A means for moving the apparatus from its parked position to its operative position such as an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, designated as 3, is pivotally mounted at one end to the larry car and at the other end to linkage 21 which is in driving connection with parallelogram 4 and is pivotally mounted to pivot axle l. Pivotally connected to support parallelogram 4 is vertical motion parallelogram system 8 which permits vertical alignment of the apparatus. Supporting springs support the assembly through the vertical motion parallelogram system and can be adjusted to carry the assembly at a mean elevation by means of adjustment nut 11 at one end of each spring.

Cradle frame 12 has spaced vertical pivot posts 12A fixed to its upper side. Cradle frame 12 is supported by and pivotally connected to lateral motion parallelogram 7 which is pivotally connected to posts 12A. The parallelogram 7 is in turn supported by and pivotally connected to vertical motion parallelogram 8. Centering springs 9 provide additional help to gravity in centering the lateral motion parallelogram system 7. Mounted at the end of frame 12 nearest the gas ascension pipe 23 is a tire shield 22, which is positioned so that sparks caused by the cleaning operation will not interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus. and an indexing pin 6. Guiding funnel 5 is mounted on the outside of gas ascension pipe 23, such that when the frame 12 is advanced, indexing pin 6 will engage the interior surface of guiding funnel 5. Alternatively, the guiding funnel may be mounted at the end of the frame and the indexing pin may be mounted on the outside of the gas ascension pipe. It is to be understood that any male to female indexing device may be used to force aside the cleaner ram cradle to align it with the ascen sion pipe. The female indexing means may have cone, pyramidal, hyperbolic, parabolic, spherical or camed contours. The male indexing means may comprise a pin, roller or other matching part to transmit lateral and vertical motion to the cleaner ram cradle. The indexing means may be made of one or more pieces and may be of fixed or articulated construction. Cleaner ram 13 near its operative end is pivotally mounted to an upper extension ofcradle frame 12 by means oflinkage (FIGS. 1 and 4) and at its rear end is pivotally mounted to a lower extension 12B of cradle frame 12 by means of linkage l4. Mounted to a piston rod 13A extending from cleaner ram 13 is a cleaning tool 17 such as a ring-type cutter head or abrading means. A means 16 for advancing the cleaner ram 13 so that the cleaning tool 17 will dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening of ascension pipe 23, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, is pivotally mounted at one end to a lower extension 12C of frame 12 and at the other end to the middle of linkage 14. As shown in FIG. 2, elastomer pads 24 positioned on brackets extending from lateral motion support parallelogram 7 limit the lateral motion of the frame when it is being swung up or down between its parked and operative positions. Cleaning tool 17 may have a section cut out from the edge of the tool so that the tool may be reciprocated within the elbow of an ascension pipe having openings 25 therein.

The cleaning cycle begins by pivoting the apparatus by means of cylinder 3 from parked position A, in which the main support parallelogram 4 is supported by pivot axle l and elastomer resting pad 2, to operative position B in which the forward knee of main support parallelogram 4 rests on elastomer pad 18. ()nce the forward knee of support parallelogram 4 has come to rest on elastomer pad 18, further retraction of the piston rod within cylinder 3 causes the apparatus to move forward from position B to position C through interaction between linkage 21 and parallelogram 4. During this forward motion the cradle and ram assembly is guided into lateral and vertical alignment with the axis of the ascension pipe elbow by means of the guiding funnel 5 mounted on the outside of ascension pipe 23 and the indexing pin 6 mounted on frame 12. As the indexing pin slides along the interior surface of the guiding funnel, the cleaner ram and cradle assembly are moved laterally and vertically while maintaining the cleaning assembly in a parallel orientation by means of lateral motion parallelogram system 7 which supports the assembly, and vertical motion parallelogram system 8 which supports parallelogram system 7. Centering springs 9 provide additional help to gravity in centering the lateral motion parallelogram system. Supporting springs 10 support the assembly through the vertical motion parallelogram system and can be adjusted to carry the assembly at a mean elevation by means of adjustment nuts 11 at one end of each spring. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, to advance cleaner ram 13 from position C to position D in which the cleaning tool 17 is within the elbow of gas ascension pipe 23, cylinder 16 is retracted thereby pulling linkage 14 and pivoting linkages l4 and 15 in opposing curved paths about their fixed pivots on frame 12 and causing the cleaning tool 17 to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening in the gas ascension pipe.

Linkages

14 and 15 and cylinder 16 are not necessary if the gooseneck opening is designed to permit straight motion of the cleaning tool from position C to position E. The cleaning stroke of the cleaning tool from position D to position E or from position C to position E, as noted above, is accomplished by reciprocating the piston rod 13A within cylinder or ram 13. After cleaning, all above described sequences are reversed to bring the apparatus back to its parked postion A. Note, that when main support parallelogram 4 is backed up to position B, contacting surfaces 19 and 20 on parallelogram 4 meet to force parallelogram 4 to swing upward about pivot axle 1.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the main support carriage 27 is mounted on wheels 28 which roll on tracks 29 which are mounted at an angle on coal charging larry car 26 substantially parallel to the axis of the gooseneck elbow of ascension pipe 45. The rear end of tracks 29 may be curved downward so that the apparatus can be parked in an upstanding position similar to that discussed with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. A means for moving the apparatus from its parked position to its operative position. such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, designated as 30, is pivotally mounted to the larry car at one end and to the middle of linkage 31 at the other end. Linkage 31 is pivotally mounted at one end to the larry car and at the other end to linkage 32,

which in turn is pivotally mounted to support carriage 27. Pivotally connected to support carriage 27 is vertical motion parallelogram system 33 which permits vertical alignment of the cleaning assembly. Supporting springs 34 support the assembly through the vertical motion parallelogram system and can be adjusted to carry the assembly at a mean elevation by means of adjustment nut 35 at one end of each spring. Frame 36 is supported by and pivotally connected to lateral motion parallelogram system 37 by way of vertical pivot posts 36A. The system 37 is in turn supported by and pivotally connected to vertical motion parallelogram system 33. Mounted at the end of frame 36 nearest gas ascension pipe 45 is an indexing pin 38. Guiding funnel 39 is mounted on the outside of the gas ascension pipe such that when frame 36 is advanced, indexing pin 38 will engage the interior surface of guiding funnel 39. Referring to FIG. 7, a cleaner ram means 40, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is mounted on wheels 41 which roll in tracks 42. Mounted to the piston rod 46 extending from cylinder 40 is a cleaning tool 44 such as a ring-type cutter head or abrading means. A means for advancing the cleaner ram means along tracks 42 such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is not shown. The rear portion of the tracks 43 may be curved so that the cleaning tool will dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening as the cleaning ram is advanced.

The cleaning cycle begins by moving the apparatus from an upstanding parked position when tracks 29 are curved at their rear end or by advancing the apparatus from parked position A, shown in FIG. 5, to operative position B by means of cylinder 30. During this forward motion the apparatus is guided into lateral and vertical alignment with the axis of the ascension pipe elbow by means of the guiding funnel 39 mounted on the outside of the ascension pipe and the indexing pin 38 mounted on frame 36. As the indexing pin slides along the interior surface of the guiding funnel, the cleaner ram and frame assembly is moved laterally and vertically. The cleaning assembly is maintained in a parallel orientation by means of lateral motion parallelogram system 37 which supports the assembly 36 and vertical motion parallelogram system 33 which supports the lateral motion parallelogram system. Supporting springs 34 support the assembly through the vertical motion parallelogram system 33 and can be adjusted to carry the assembly at a mean elevation by means of adjustment nuts 35 at one end of each spring. To advance cleaner ram 40 from position B to position C in which the cleaning tool 44 is within the elbow of gas ascension pipe 45, a means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, not shown in the Figures, is operated thereby moving the cylinder 40 and the rear wheels 41 over the curved portion 43 of the tracks 42 causing the cleaning tool 44 to dodge under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening in the gas ascension pipe. The cleaning stroke of the cleaning tool from position C to the rear end of the gooseneck opening is accomplished by the reciprocating operation of piston rod 46 within cylinder 40. After cleaning. all above described sequences are reversed to bring the apparatus back to an upstanding position or to parked position A.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising:

a cradle means having a first male to female indexing means mounted at one end, said cradle being flexibly supported on said larry car by means of a suspension system which permits said cradle to move freely in the vertical and lateral planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation;

a ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is pivotally mounted within said cradle means to said cradle means and to said suspension system;

an abrading means mounted on the free end of said piston rod and reciprocable with said piston rod;

a means for said ram means forward from its inoperative position under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening ofa gas ascension pipe to its operative position;

a matching second male to female indexing means to said first male to female indexing means which is mounted on the outside of said gas ascension pipe such that when said cradle is moved forward the indexing means mounted thereon engages the matching indexing means and moves the ram means and cradle means vertically and laterally to an orientation on the axis of said gas ascension pipe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said suspension system comprises a first parallelogram support system which permits movement of the cradle and ram assembly from an inoperative position to an operative position, a second parallelogram support system pivotally mounted to said first parallelogram support system which permits said assembly to move freely in the vertical plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation, and a third parallelogram support system pivotally mounted to said second parallelogram support system'which permits said assembly to move freely in the lateral plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for moving said ram means forward from its inoperative position under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening of the gas ascension pipe to its operative position comprises two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of said ram and at the other of their ends to said cradle and which traverse opposing curves while advancing said ram into the interior of the elbow of said gas ascension pipe.

4. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising:

a cradle means having a first male to female indexing means mounted at one end, said cradle flexibly supported on said larry car by means of a suspension system which permits said cradle to move freely in the vertical and lateral planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation;

3 ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is pivotally mounted within said cradle means to said cradle means and to said suspension system;

a means for moving said ram means forward from its inoperative position under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening of a gas ascension pipe to its operative position, said means comprising two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of said ram and at the other of their ends to said cradle and which traverse opposing curves while advancing said ram into the interior of the elbow of said gas ascension pipe;

5. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising:

first and second support means mounted to the top of said larry car;

an inclined track means mounted to the top of said larry car;

a rigid parallelogram support means adapted to roll along said inclined track means;

a first parallelogram linkage support means pivotally mounted to said rigid parallelogram support means to permit movement in the vertical and horizontal planes;

a second parallelogram linkage support means pivotally mounted to said first parallelogram linkage support means to permit movement in the lateral plane;

a cradle having a first male to female indexing means mounted at one end. the top side of both ends of said cradle being pivotally mounted to said second parallelogram linkage support means;

a track means having a curved portion at one end which is mounted to said cradle;

a ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is adapted to roll along said track means; an abrading means mounted on the free end of said piston rod and reciprocable with said piston rod;

a first linkage means pivotally mounted to said rigid parallelogram support means;

a second linkage means pivotally mounted at one end to said first linkage means and pivotally mounted at the other end to said first support means mounted on said larry car; i

a means for moving said rigid parallelogram support means from its parked position to its operative position which is pivotally mounted at one end to said second support means mounted on said larry car and which is pivotally mounted at the other end to the center of said second linkage means;

a means for moving said ram forward from its inoperative position under the lip of the gooseneck opening of a gas ascension pipe to its operative position along said track means; and

a second matching male to female indexing means to said first male to female indexing means which is mounted on the outside of said gas ascension pipe such that when said cradle is moved forward the indexing means and cradle means vertically and laterally to an orientation on the axis of the elbow of said gas ascension pipe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said first male 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said male indexing means is an indexing pin and said female indexing means is a guiding funnel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising: a cradle means having a first male to female indexing means mounted at one end, said cradle being flexibly supported on said larry car by means of a suspension system which permits said cradle to move freely in the vertical and lateral planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation; a ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is pivotally mounted within said cradle means to said cradle means and to said suspension system; an abrading means mounted on the free end of said piston rod and reciprocable with said piston rod; a means for said ram means forward from its inoperative position under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening of a gas ascension pipe to its operative position; a matching second male to female indexing means to said first male to female indexing means which is mounted on the outside of said gas ascension pipe such that when said cradle is moved forward the indexing means mounted tHereon engages the matching indexing means and moves the ram means and cradle means vertically and laterally to an orientation on the axis of said gas ascension pipe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said suspension system comprises a first parallelogram support system which permits movement of the cradle and ram assembly from an inoperative position to an operative position, a second parallelogram support system pivotally mounted to said first parallelogram support system which permits said assembly to move freely in the vertical plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation, and a third parallelogram support system pivotally mounted to said second parallelogram support system which permits said assembly to move freely in the lateral plane while remaining parallel to its original orientation.

4. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising: a cradle means having a first male to female indexing means mounted at one end, said cradle flexibly supported on said larry car by means of a suspension system which permits said cradle to move freely in the vertical and lateral planes while remaining parallel to its original orientation; a ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is pivotally mounted within said cradle means to said cradle means and to said suspension system; an abrading means mounted on the free end of said piston rod and reciprocable with said piston rod; a means for moving said ram means forward from its inoperative position under the upper lip of the gooseneck opening of a gas ascension pipe to its operative position, said means comprising two linkages which are mounted at one of their ends to opposite sides and at opposite ends of said ram and at the other of their ends to said cradle and which traverse opposing curves while advancing said ram into the interior of the elbow of said gas ascension pipe; a matching second male to female indexing means to said first male to female indexing means which is mounted on the outside of said gas ascension pipe such that when said cradle is moved forward the indexing means mounted thereon engages the matching indexing means and moves the ram means and cradle means vertically and laterally to an orientation on the axis of said gas ascension pipe.

5. An apparatus for removing deposited material from the interiors of the elbows of a row of gas ascension pipes at the top of a battery of horizontal coking chambers having a coal charging larry car movable over the top of the battery alongside the row of ascension pipes into position for charging the chambers of the battery severally, said apparatus comprising: first and second support means mounted to the top of said larry car; an inclined track means mounted to the top of said larry car; a rigid parallelogram support means adapted to roll along said inclined track means; a first parallelogram linkage support means pivotally mounted to said rigid parallelogram support means to permit movement in the vertical and horizontal planes; a second parallelogram linkage support means pivotally mounted to said first parallelogram linkage support means to permit movement in the lateral plane; a cradle having A first male to female indexing means mounted at one end, the top side of both ends of said cradle being pivotally mounted to said second parallelogram linkage support means; a track means having a curved portion at one end which is mounted to said cradle; a ram means having a piston rod extending therefrom which is adapted to roll along said track means; an abrading means mounted on the free end of said piston rod and reciprocable with said piston rod; a first linkage means pivotally mounted to said rigid parallelogram support means; a second linkage means pivotally mounted at one end to said first linkage means and pivotally mounted at the other end to said first support means mounted on said larry car; a means for moving said rigid parallelogram support means from its parked position to its operative position which is pivotally mounted at one end to said second support means mounted on said larry car and which is pivotally mounted at the other end to the center of said second linkage means; a means for moving said ram forward from its inoperative position under the lip of the gooseneck opening of a gas ascension pipe to its operative position along said track means; and a second matching male to female indexing means to said first male to female indexing means which is mounted on the outside of said gas ascension pipe such that when said cradle is moved forward the indexing means and cradle means vertically and laterally to an orientation on the axis of the elbow of said gas ascension pipe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said first male to female indexing means is a male indexing means and said second matching male to female indexing means is a female indexing means.