GB2540396A

GB2540396A - A tool for removing material from an interior surface of a pipe

Info

Publication number: GB2540396A
Application number: GB1512398.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Geraint
Original assignee: DWR Cymru Cyfyngedig
Current assignee: DWR Cymru Cyfyngedig
Priority date: 2015-07-15
Filing date: 2015-07-15
Publication date: 2017-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-15
Also published as: GB201512398D0; GB2540396B

Abstract

A tool and method are disclosed for removing material from an interior surface of a pipe. The tool comprises an elongate main body 2 extending in an axial direction and manual motive means (5, fig 1) configured to allow the tool to be manually manoeuvred longitudinally along the pipe, the manual motive means (5, fig 1) being attached to the elongate main body 2. The tool further comprises at least one hook 6 having a remote end 7, at least part of the hook extending radially from an outer surface of the elongate main body 2. The manual motive means may include a wheel 10 and an actuator 16, in the form of an elongate handle is preferably connected to the elongate body 2 The tool is particularly directed to cleaning waste pipes.

Description

A TOOL FOR REMOVING MATERIAL FROM AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF A

PIPE

This invention relates to a tool for a pipe, in particular a tool for cleaning the interior of waste pipes.

Clean water is an essential element in our day to day lives and for centuries it has been supplied to dwellings and commercial premises via a system of pipes. Many materials have been used for such pipes, ranging from wood, ceramics, metals and plastics. Also, in more recent years domestic and commercial waste has been removed from premises by means of waste pipes. Such pipes connect the premises to a centralised pipe network that is managed and maintained by a water company.

Therefore, the water pipes are connected to a central supply reservoir where the water undergoes water treatment works and the waste pipes are connected to a sewer network, where the sewage is filtered and then disposed of by the water company. Both the water supply and waste pipes, can become fully or partially blocked over time. This blockage can be caused by many factors ranging from mineral deposits, waste food, grease hair or other items. This blockage is particularly problematic in regions possessing high lime scale and hard water.

In the case that a blockage occurs, the need to pass the waste or water through the orifice of reduced size can lead to excess pressures being exerted on the interior wall of the pipe and can lead to pipe breakages and consequential leakages. In respect of a water supply pipe, a fully blocked pipe can prevent water from flowing to a property and in the case of a fully blocked waste pipe blockages can lead to issues with the removal of waste from a property and may result in the outpouring of excess water which can cause flooding, both internally and externally to the property.

Therefore, it is an important part of the maintenance process of the pipe to remove such blockages and to alleviate the excess pressures built up in the pipe. The ultimate aim is to maximise the throughput through the interior of the pipe, by removal of material deposited on the internal walls of the pipe.

It is known to apply chemicals to the interior of the pipes to encourage removal or alleviate the blockage within the pipe, however this can on occasion exacerbate the problem as the chemical itself may react with the deposited material causing further material to build up. In the case of water pipes, the chemical itself may be detrimental to a person’s health and traces of the chemical may be found in the water supplied to a dwelling.

Alternatively to the chemical technique, a mechanical interaction may be provided between a tool applied and the material deposited on the interior walls of the pipe. This enables the mechanical removal of dirt deposits from the interior of the pipe. However, current tools are difficult to manoeuvre along the pipes interior, especially when they are partially blocked and the removal of the deposit is difficult to control in a reliable manner. This can often lead to unnecessary damage to the pipe on application of the tool and costly repairs are required as a result.

Therefore, the present invention and its embodiments are intended to address at least some of the above described problems and desires. In particular to provide a device to be applied to the interior of a pipe that efficiently removes deposits from the interior of a pipe in a reliable manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tool for removing material from an interior surface of a pipe, the tool comprising: an elongate main body extending in an axial direction; a manual motive means configured to allow the tool to be manually manoeuvred longitudinally along the pipe, the manual motive means being attached to the elongate main body; and at least one hook having a remote end, at least part of the hook extending radially from an outer surface of the elongate main body.

The manual motive means may be attached to the distal end of the elongate main body. A portion of the manual motive means may be arranged to be the forwardmost part of the tool at its distal end.

The manual motive means may comprise a wheel bracket extending from the distal end of the elongate main body.

The manual motive means may further comprise a wheel, the wheel being movably attached to the wheel bracket. A portion of the wheel may extend past the remote end of the wheel bracket and may be the forwardmost part of the manual motive means.

The wheel may be connected to the wheel bracket via an axle.

The longitudinal axis of the at least one hook and the longitudinal axis of the elongate main body may be configured in a parallel arrangement.

At least a portion of the at least one hook may be attached to the outer surface of the elongate main body.

The remote end of the hook may be terminated by an apex.

The apex of the hook may be directed towards the proximal end of the elongate main body.

The curved part of the hook may extend past the distal end of the elongate main body.

At least two hooks may be arranged to extend radially from the elongate main body of the tool in a spaced apart configuration.

At the proximal end of the elongate main body there may be provided a recessed region arranged for receiving an actuation member.

The actuation member may be securable within recessed region by means of a fixing means.

The fixing means may be a nut and bolt assembly. A first and second aperture may be positioned at opposing sides of the elongate main body with the recessed internal region positioned there-between and in use, the actuation member may have a third aperture extending therethrough wherein the bolt is arrangeable to pass through the first and second aperture of the elongate main portion and the third aperture of the actuation member and the nut may be applied to the end of the bolt.

The actuation member may be an elongate handle.

The elongate main body may be substantially formed of a cylindrical part and a tubular part.

An actuation member receivable within the tubular part.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of removing material from an interior surface of a pipe the method comprising the steps of: a) attaching an actuation member to the tool; b) inserting the tool into the interior of a pipe to be cleaned; c) applying a force to the actuation member in a first direction so as to manoeuvre the tool longitudinally along the pipe via the manual motive means; d) applying a force on the actuation member in a second direction which opposes the first direction so as to manoeuvre the tool along the interior of the pipe via the manual motive means, thereby bringing the remote end of the hook into contact with the material to be removed; and e) continuing the application of the force so as to manoeuvre the tool further in the second direction such that at least a portion of the deposited material is removed from the side wall of the pipe via the hook.

The first direction may relate to a forward longitudinal direction and the second direction may relate to a backwards longitudinal direction along the pipe.

Whilst the invention has been described above it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following description, drawings or claims. For example, any features described in relation to any one aspect of the invention is understood to be disclosed also in relation to any other aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the tool according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the wheel bracket and wheel according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of the tool of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side view of the tool according to the invention including a handle.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a tool 1 for clearing debris and deposits from the interior of a pipe. The tool 1 comprises an elongate main body 2. The main body has a first part 3 which is substantially cylindrical and second part 4 which is substantially tubular. A manual motive means 5 is attached to the distal end 2a of the elongate main body 2, specifically the end of the cylindrical part 3 of the main body 2. At least one hook 6 extends radially from an outer surface of the elongate main body 2. The hook 6 has a first straight portion 6a, a curved portion 6b and a second straight portion 6c that is arranged substantially parallel with the first straight portion 6a. The second straight portion 6b is terminated by a remote end 7. The remote end 7 of the hook 6 is terminated by an apex 8 or point. The longitudinal axis of the hook 6 and the longitudinal axis of the elongate main portion 2 are parallel.

The hook 6 is attached to the outer surface of the elongate main body 2 via the first straight portion 6a such that the apex 8 is directed towards the proximal end 2b of the elongate main body. The curved part 6b of the hook 6 extends past the distal end 2a of the elongate main body 2. A portion of the manual motive means 5 is arranged to be the forwardmost part of the tool 1. This enables the tool 1 to be manually manoeuvred longitudinally along the pipe such that the tool rides smoothly over any blockages or other material, for example attached to the surface of the pipe which is to be cleaned.

The manual motive means 5 comprises a wheel bracket 9 extending from the distal end 2a of the elongate main body 2. The manual motive means 5 also comprises a wheel 10 which is movably attached to the wheel bracket 9 and is arranged such that a portion of the wheel 10a extends past the end of the wheel bracket 9 and is the forwardmost part of the manual motive means 2.

As shown in Figure 2, the wheel bracket 9 is arranged to secure the wheel 10 to the other components of the tool 1. The wheel bracket 9 extends from the distal end of the elongate main portion along the longitudinal axis of the elongate main portion 2. The wheel bracket 9 is formed of a first wall 11 and second wall 12 configured in a parallel arrangement and joined at the end by the distal end of the elongate main portion 2a. The wheel bracket 9 therefore has a substantially ‘U’ shaped cross section when viewed from above. The wheel 10 is inserted within the space between the first wall 11 and second wall 12, wherein one end of the wheel 10a extends past the distal end of the wheel bracket 9. A central wheel axle 13 connects the wheel 10 to the wheel bracket 9, for example a nut and bolt arrangement 14 behaves as the axle 13 and is arranged to be received by apertures positioned in the first wall 11 and second wall 12 of the wheel bracket 9 and a central aperture of the wheel 10. Each of the apertures are aligned to allow passage of the bolt therethrough and a co-operable nut is applied to secure the wheel 10 to the wheel bracket 9. Therefore, the wheel bracket 9 is terminated by the wheel 10.

As shown in Figure 3, four hooks 6, 6’, 6”, 6”’ are arranged to extend radially from the outer edge of the elongate main body 2. Each of the hooks 6, 6’, 6”, 6”’ are spaced apart from each other so as to extend from differing circumferential locations around the elongate main body 2. The hooks 6, 6’, 6”, 6”’ are fixed into position relative to each other and are configured to access different internal regions of the pipe to which the tool 1 is to be applied so as to hook onto the material to be removed as the user pulls back on the tool.

As shown in Figure 4, to enable the user to apply the tool 1 in a forward and rearward motion the other proximal end of the elongate main body comprises a recessed region 15 configured to receive a co-operable actuation member 16, for example a handle. The handle 16 is elongate and substatnially rigid, and may comprise a drainage rod, for example. The handle 16 is securable within the recessed region 15 of the tubular part 17 by means of a fixing means, for example a nut and bolt arrangement 14. Therefore, the distal end of the actuation member 16 e.g. handle is securable within the recessed region 15 of the tubular part 17. A first and second aperture 18, 19 are positioned at opposing sides of the elongate main body 2 (or more specifically the tubular part 17 of the elongate main body 1) and the handle 16 has a third aperture (not shown) extending therethrough. When the first, second and third apertures are aligned, the bolt is arrangeable to pass through the tubular part 17 and the handle 16 and the nut is threaded onto the end of the bolt to secure the handle 16 to the tubular part 17.

In use, the tool 1 removes deposited material from the interior surface of a pipe. This is achieved by firstly attaching the actuation member 16, e.g. handle to the tool 1. The tool 1 and at least part of the handle 16 is subsequently inserted into the interior of a pipe to be cleaned. A force is applied by the user to the handle 16 in a first direction so as to move the tool 1 along the interior of the pipe via the manual motive means 5. This first direction is a forward movement whereby the tool 1 is moved away from the direction of the user. Once the tool 1 has ridden over the blockage via the wheel 10 of the manual motive means 5, the user then applies a force to the handle 16 in a second direction opposing the first direction so as to move the tool 1 along the interior of the pipe via the manual motive means 5. This second direction is a backwards movement whereby the tool 1 is moved towards the user (or entry point of the tool 1). As the tool 1 is moved in this second direction the remote end 7 of the hook 6 comes into contact with the material to be removed. If the user continues to move the tool 1 in this second direction at least a portion of the deposited material (i.e. the blockage) is removed from the side wall of the pipe by means of the remote end 7 of the hook 6. The fact that multiple hooks 6, 6’, 6”, 6”’ are utilised ensures that material is removed from varying positions around the circumference of the elongate main body 2 in one application of the tool 1.

The tool 1, is formed from mild steel, which may be hardened or plated to minimise corrosion.

Beneficially, the tool 1 is able to ride over a blockage via the wheel 10 and then to remove the blockage from several directions as the tool 1 is pulled back towards the user (or tool 1 entry point).

Various modifications to the principles described above would suggest themselves to the skilled person. For example, the remote end of the hook could be reversed in direction such that material may be removed from the pipe as the tool 1 is pushed forwards via the handle 16.

The wheel may be provided in a differing position, for example multiple wheels may instead be provided on the underside of the elongate main body 2.

Instead of a wheel 10 another form of manual motive means 5 having a curved surface may be implemented, for example a roller.

An alternative fixing means 14 may be implemented to secure the handle or other actuation member to the tubular part, or to moveably secure the wheel 10 to the wheel bracket 9.

The tool 1 may be made from alternative materials to mild steel, for example a composite material or reinforced plastic may be used.

Alternatively, the handle 16 or other actuation member 16 and the elongate main body 2 of the tool 1 may be integrally formed.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the hooks or multiple hooks are moveable about the circumference of the elongate main body 2, such that the hooks can be rotated so as to target a known region of deposited material in the pipe.

Claims

1. A tool for removing material from an interior surface of a pipe, the tool comprising: an elongate main body extending in an axial direction; a manual motive means configured to allow the tool to be manually manoeuvred longitudinally along the pipe, the manual motive means being attached to the elongate main body; and at least one hook having a remote end, at least part of the hook extending radially from an outer surface of the elongate main body.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the manual motive means is attached to the distal end of the elongate main body.

3. A tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a portion of the manual motive means is arranged to be the forwardmost part of the tool at its distal end.

4. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the manual motive means comprises a wheel bracket extending from the distal end of the elongate main body.

5. A tool according to claim 4, wherein the manual motive means further comprises a wheel, the wheel being movably attached to the wheel bracket.

6. A tool according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the wheel extends past the remote end of the wheel bracket and is the forwardmost part of the manual motive means.

7. A tool, according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the wheel is connected to the wheel bracket via an axle.

8. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal axis of the hook and the longitudinal axis of the elongate main body are configured in a parallel arrangement.

9. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the hook is attached to the outer surface of the elongate main body.

10. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the remote end of the hook is terminated by an apex.

11 .A tool according to claim 10, wherein the apex of the hook is directed towards the proximal end of the elongate main body.

12. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the curved part of the hook extends past the distal end of the elongate main body.

13. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein at least two hooks are arranged to extend radially from the elongate main body of the tool in a spaced apart configuration.

14. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein at the proximal end of the elongate main body there is provided a recessed region arranged for receiving an actuation member.

15. A tool according to claim 14, wherein the actuation member is securable within recessed region by means of a fixing means.

16. A tool according to claim 15, wherein the fixing means is a nut and bolt assembly.

17. A tool according to claim 16, wherein a first and second aperture are positioned at opposing sides of the elongate main body with the recessed internal region positioned there-between and in use, the actuation member has a third aperture extending there-through wherein the bolt is arrangeable to pass through the first and second aperture of the elongate main portion and the third aperture of the actuation member and the nut is applied to the end of the bolt.

18. A tool according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the actuation member is an elongate handle.

19. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the elongate main body is substantially formed of a cylindrical part and a tubular part.

20. A tool according to claim 19 further comprising an actuation member receivable within the tubular part.

21 .A method of removing material from an interior surface of a pipe, the method comprising the steps of: f) attaching an actuation member to the tool of claim 1; g) inserting the tool into the interior of a pipe to be cleaned; h) applying a force to the actuation member in a first direction so as to manoeuvre the tool longitudinally along the pipe via the manual motive means; i) applying a force on the actuation member in a second direction which opposes the first direction so as to manoeuvre the tool along the interior of the pipe via the manual motive means, thereby bringing the remote end of the hook into contact with the material to be removed; and j) continuing the application of the force so as to manoeuvre the tool further in the second direction such that at least a portion of the deposited material is removed from the side wall of the pipe via the hook.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the first direction relates to a forward longitudinal direction and the second direction relates to a backwards longitudinal direction along the pipe.

23. A tool with reference to the accompanying text and drawings.

24. A method with reference to the accompanying text and drawings.