Patent ID: 6550486
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B08B,E03F

Abstract:
A method of scarifying an interior surface of a pipe to remove contaminants and corrosion products, comprising the following steps:a) providing a vehicle having a scarifying assembly coupled to a source of pressurized fluid, said scarifying assembly having a fluid nozzle assembly, said fluid nozzle assembly having a plurality of nozzles mounted at distal ends of respective nozzle branches, said fluid nozzle assembly being capable of one of rotation and oscillation, wherein said scarifying assembly is extendible such that said nozzles can be placed proximate the interior surface of the pipe; b) positioning said fluid nozzle assembly so that said nozzles are at a desired position proximate a first selected region of the interior surface of the pipe; c) rotating or oscillating said fluid nozzle assembly; d) applying pressurized fluid to said nozzles so that they each emit a jet of fluid that scarifies the interior surface of the pipe along the direction of travel of said vehicle; and e) moving one of said vehicle and said fluid nozzle assembly so as to scarify a swath of the interior surface of the pipe.