GB2194613A - Pipe surface cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material, the device comprising a flexible elongate strip 1 of a material e.g. steel having a multiplicity of teeth in the form of tangs 4 projecting from one surface of the strip 1 for engaging the surface of the pipe so as to remove the layer when the teeth 4 are moved across the surface of the pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material The present invention relates to a device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material.

New or replacement gas, water or sewer mains usually comprise a series of adjoining synthetic resin pipes, e.g. polyethylene pipes.

The ends of the adjoining pipes are fused together after inserting them into a polythene electrofusion sleeve.

In order to promote fusion of the pipes to the sleeve it is essential that any contamination on that pipe surface to which the sleeve is to be welded is removed before welding.

The contamination can be, for example, dirt, grease or compounds added, during manufacture, to aid extrusion of the pipe.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing contamination from the surface of the pipe before the pipe is fused to the sleeve.

According therefore to the present invention, we provide a device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material, the device comprising a flexible elongate strip of a material having a multiplicity of teeth projecting from the surfaces of the strip for engaging the surface of the pipe so as to remove the layer when the teeth are moved across the surface of the pipe.

Embodiments of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a part of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing a portion of the strip and a handle joined by a clip, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 showing a different type of means by which the strip can adjoin the clip and, Figure 3A is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a further type of means by which the strip can adjoin the clip and, Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of the device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a steel strip in the form of a band 1 which is sufficiently thin to be flexible and a pair of straps 2, which are attached to each end of the band by means of C-shaped clips 3.

The band 1 has a multiplicity of teeth in the form of tangs 4 which have been pressed out from the surface of the strip 1 to project thereabove.

The ends 5 of the band are folded back to provide an eye 6 by means of which the band 1 can be temporarily secured to one arm 7 of the clip 3. The straps 2 which can be made of leather or other similar material are folded to form an eye 8 by means of which the strap 2 can be temporarily secured to the adjacent arm 9 of the clip 3. The band 1 and the straps 2 can be removed from the clip 3 after use of the device.

In Fig. 3 the band 10 engages in a longitudinal slots provided in one arm 11 of the clip 12, the edge 13 of the band 10 having a thickness greater than that of the remainder of the band 10 to prevent removal of the band 10 from the clip 12 through the slot in a direction away from the clip 12 while permitting positioning of and removal of the band 10 in the direction of the plane of the paper.

The band 10 can be removed from the clip 12 after use. Otherwise the handle strap 2 and its manner of attachment to the clip 12 is identical to that described with reference to Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3A the band 10 engages in crossed slots provided in one arm 11 of the clip 12, the end 14 of the band 10 being bent to prevent removal of the band 10 from the clip 12. Otherwise the arrangement is similar to that described with reference to Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 4, here the handle straps 20 are attached directly to the band 21 by means of rivets, staples or the like. The handle straps 20 may be of a synthetic resin e.g. polyethylene and the entire device may be discarded after use.

In use of the device, the band is gripped by the handles and is moved to and fro across the surface of the pipe from which the contamination layer is to be removed with the tangs 4 arranged to engage the surface of the pipe so as to effect a removal of the layer by an abrading action.

1. A device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material, the device comprising a flexible elongate strip of a material having a multiplicity of teeth projecting from one surface of the strip for engaging the surface of the pipe so as to remove the layer when the teeth are moved across the surface of the pipe.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the strip is of metal.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the metal is steel.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the strip has at either end a portion forming a handle for the strip.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which each handle is detachable from the strip.

6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the teeth comprise tangs pressed out from the strip.

7. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material The present invention relates to a device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material. New or replacement gas, water or sewer mains usually comprise a series of adjoining synthetic resin pipes, e.g. polyethylene pipes. The ends of the adjoining pipes are fused together after inserting them into a polythene electrofusion sleeve. In order to promote fusion of the pipes to the sleeve it is essential that any contamination on that pipe surface to which the sleeve is to be welded is removed before welding. The contamination can be, for example, dirt, grease or compounds added, during manufacture, to aid extrusion of the pipe. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for removing contamination from the surface of the pipe before the pipe is fused to the sleeve. According therefore to the present invention, we provide a device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material, the device comprising a flexible elongate strip of a material having a multiplicity of teeth projecting from the surfaces of the strip for engaging the surface of the pipe so as to remove the layer when the teeth are moved across the surface of the pipe. Embodiments of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a part of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing a portion of the strip and a handle joined by a clip, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 showing a different type of means by which the strip can adjoin the clip and, Figure 3A is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a further type of means by which the strip can adjoin the clip and, Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of the device. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a steel strip in the form of a band 1 which is sufficiently thin to be flexible and a pair of straps 2, which are attached to each end of the band by means of C-shaped clips 3. The band 1 has a multiplicity of teeth in the form of tangs 4 which have been pressed out from the surface of the strip 1 to project thereabove. The ends 5 of the band are folded back to provide an eye 6 by means of which the band 1 can be temporarily secured to one arm 7 of the clip 3. The straps 2 which can be made of leather or other similar material are folded to form an eye 8 by means of which the strap 2 can be temporarily secured to the adjacent arm 9 of the clip 3. The band 1 and the straps 2 can be removed from the clip 3 after use of the device. In Fig. 3 the band 10 engages in a longitudinal slots provided in one arm 11 of the clip 12, the edge 13 of the band 10 having a thickness greater than that of the remainder of the band 10 to prevent removal of the band 10 from the clip 12 through the slot in a direction away from the clip 12 while permitting positioning of and removal of the band 10 in the direction of the plane of the paper. The band 10 can be removed from the clip 12 after use. Otherwise the handle strap 2 and its manner of attachment to the clip 12 is identical to that described with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 3A the band 10 engages in crossed slots provided in one arm 11 of the clip 12, the end 14 of the band 10 being bent to prevent removal of the band 10 from the clip 12. Otherwise the arrangement is similar to that described with reference to Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 4, here the handle straps 20 are attached directly to the band 21 by means of rivets, staples or the like. The handle straps 20 may be of a synthetic resin e.g. polyethylene and the entire device may be discarded after use. In use of the device, the band is gripped by the handles and is moved to and fro across the surface of the pipe from which the contamination layer is to be removed with the tangs 4 arranged to engage the surface of the pipe so as to effect a removal of the layer by an abrading action. CLAIMS

1. A device for removing a layer of material from the surface of a pipe of a synthetic resin material, the device comprising a flexible elongate strip of a material having a multiplicity of teeth projecting from one surface of the strip for engaging the surface of the pipe so as to remove the layer when the teeth are moved across the surface of the pipe.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the strip is of metal.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the metal is steel.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the strip has at either end a portion forming a handle for the strip.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which each handle is detachable from the strip.

6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the teeth comprise tangs pressed out from the strip.

7. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.