Patent ID: 11859453
Assignee: FRICTION TOOL SOLUTIONS INC.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus for mounting on a tubular structure for traversing a hole, the tubular structure having a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:
a tubular segment comprising two or more portions couplable to form the tubular segment for mounting over the tubular structure such that the tubular segment is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the tubular segment having an outer face that faces away from the tubular structure when mounted;
a plurality of ridges on the outer face of the tubular segment, the ridges being spaced apart and arranged around a circumference of the tubular segment and angled with respect to an axial direction of the tubular segment to induce rotation of the apparatus responsive to contact of the apparatus against a wall of a hole as the apparatus traverses the hole;
the ridges each having a non-uniform height with a lower section and a raised section relative to the outer face of the tubular segment, the raised section having a greater height than the lower section, the ridges alternating between having the raised section located at or near the first end of the tubular segment and at or near the second end of the tubular segment.