Patent ID: 8572792
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: B08B

Abstract:
1. A cleaning tool for a pipe having an internal mantle surface, the cleaning tool being moved inside the pipe in a feeding direction while rotating about an axis of rotation that is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the pipe, the cleaning tool comprising: a mount that extends along the axis of rotation from an upper end to a lower end; at least two cleaning bodies, each cleaning body being coupled to the mount by a respective shaft, each cleaning body being rotatable, and each cleaning body and respective shaft extending at an angle to the axis of rotation, inwardly towards the lower end of the mount; wherein each cleaning body comprises an external surface that at least partially faces the internal mantle surface of the pipe and that tapers inwardly towards the lower end of the mount; wherein each of the cleaning bodies is formed of an upper truncated sphere portion that smoothly transitions into a lower conical portion, the lower conical portion having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having a larger outer diameter than the lower end, wherein the upper truncated sphere portion has an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the upper end of the lower conical portion such that a smooth transition joins the upper truncated sphere portion and the lower conical portion; each cleaning body and respective shaft being oriented with respect to the mount such that as the cleaning tool is rotated about the axis of rotation and moved inside the pipe in the feeding direction, each cleaning body contacts scales on the internal mantle surface of the pipe, and such that scales that extend inwardly from the internal mantle surface of the pipe towards the central longitudinal axis are contacted by both the upper truncated sphere portion and the lower conical portion of the cleaning bodies.