Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning the interior sidewall of a large diameter tube includes a centrally-apertured circular brush plate adapted to fit within a lumen of the tube. A fluid conduit is mounted in the aperture so that an upper part of the fluid conduit is positioned above a plane of the circular brush plate and a lower part is positioned below the plane. A nozzle assembly is disposed in radial relation to the lower part of the fluid conduit. A hose provides fluid communication between a remote source of water under pressure and the fluid conduit. The circular brush plate is inserted into the lumen of the tube and is gradually advanced through the tube. The nozzle assembly is rotated about an axis defined by the fluid conduit as the circular brush plate is advanced through the tube so that water under pressure cleans the interior sidewall of the tube.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates to cleaning devices. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus that cleans nuclear missile and other large diameter tubes. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an apparatus that cleans the interior sidewall of a large diameter tube such as a nuclear missile tube is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. The inventive structure includes three primary moving parts under hydraulic control. A first primary moving part is a flat, circular brush plate adapted to fit within a lumen of a large diameter tube. The circular brush plate has a disc or generally saucer shape and thus is sometimes referred to as the floating saucer, the flying saucer, or just the saucer. The saucer is raised and lowered within the lumen of the tube at a rate of speed under hydraulic control. An aperture is formed in the saucer, centrally thereof, and a fluid conduit is mounted in the aperture so that an upper part of the fluid conduit is positioned above a plane of the saucer and a lower part of the fluid conduit is positioned below the plane. A hub is in fluid communication with the lower end of the fluid conduit, i.e., the hub is positioned below the plane of the saucer. 
   At least one nozzle assembly having a spray axis is disposed in radial relation to the hub. A source of water under pressure is disposed in remote relation to the fluid conduit and an elongate, flexible hose is disposed in fluid communication between the source of water under pressure and the fluid conduit. The hub and nozzle assembly are the second of the three primary moving parts. The rotation of the hub and nozzle assembly is under hydraulic control. 
   An insertion means under hydraulic control inserts the saucer into the lumen at a top end of the tube and gradually advances the saucer to a bottom end of the tube. The insertion means includes a stand including at least three legs adapted to sit atop an uppermost end of the tube. The insertion means further includes an electro-hydraulic power pack, a reel secured to an output shaft of a hydraulic motor for conjoint rotation therewith, and an elongate cable wound in coiled relation about the reel. The elongate cable has a distal free end from which the saucer is suspended so that the saucer is raised when the cable is reeled in and lowered when the cable is played out. The raising and lowering of the saucer is under hydraulic control so that its rate of movement in the up or down direction is controlled by adjusting valves and hydraulic pressure in a way that is well-known in the art of hydraulics. 
   A hydraulically-powered rotation means rotates the hub and nozzle assembly in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis defined by the hub as the saucer is advanced from the top end to the bottom end of the tube. Water under pressure therefore cleans the interior sidewall of the tube. 
   An annular brush is secured to the saucer about a radially outward periphery thereof. The brush has a radially outermost end disposed in abutting contact to the sidewall of the tube and inhibits dust and debris from traveling from a closed space below the plane of the saucer to an open space above the saucer. A missile tube equipped with a vacuum source at its lowermost end may be kept debris-free throughout the cleaning process by connecting the vacuum to the area of the tube below the saucer so that paint and other debris blasted from the interior wall of the tube is vacuumed from the lumen of the tube as soon as it is blasted from said wall. 
   A plurality of truncate cables interconnects the distal free end of the elongate cable and the saucer. Each truncate cable of the plurality of truncate cables has a proximal end connected to the distal end of the elongate cable and has a distal end secured to the saucer at a peripheral edge thereof. Each of the truncate cables is equidistantly and circumferentially spaced with respect to one another about the periphery of the saucer. 
   A leveling means maintains the saucer in a substantially horizontal plane as it is being inserted in the lumen of the upstanding tube. The leveling means includes a first and a second set of rotatably mounted pneumatic wheels. The first set of wheels rollingly engages the interior sidewall of the tube at a first elevation and the second set of wheels rollingly engages the interior sidewall of the tube at a second elevation. The difference in elevations maintains the saucer in a substantially horizontal plane as it is hydraulically raised or lowered within the lumen of the tube. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the novel apparatus when the brush assembly is about to be inserted into a tube; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tripod support detailing the pulley and cable attachments; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view depicting how the cables are attached to the apparatus; 
       FIG. 4  is the first animation of a three-drawing animation depicting the lowering of the brush into the tube; 
       FIG. 5  is the second drawing of said three-drawing animation; 
       FIG. 6  is the third drawing of said three-drawing animation; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the underside of the plate assembly; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a nozzle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1 , novel apparatus  10  is initially positioned above a top end of a large-in-diameter tube  12  that requires cleaning, in axial alignment therewith. In most applications, the tube to be cleaned will be upstanding so that the novel apparatus will be lowered into the lumen of the tube to clean it and raised therefrom when the cleaning is completed. However, the novel apparatus will work even if the tube to be cleaned is oriented in a horizontal plane or some other non-vertical position. In such case, the insertion means described herein would require modification but the principle of operation would remain the same. For example, among other changes the flexible cable would require replacing with a rigid rod or a pulley system. 
   For a vertically-oriented tube, the insertion means includes an electro-hydraulic power pack  14 , and a stand preferably in the form of tripod assembly  16  having legs collectively denoted  18 . The stand may have three or more legs. Flat plates, collectively denoted  20 , are secured to the respective lower ends of legs  18  and overlie flat top edge  22  of tube  12 . Said plates  20  are equidistantly spaced apart from one another and are circumferentially spaced with respect to said flat top edge  22 . The respective upper ends of said legs are pivotally secured as at  24  to mounting members  26  that are equidistantly and circumferentially mounted about the periphery of mounting disc  28 . 
   Brushes  30  are preferably of the plastic brush type and are mounted about the periphery of saucer  32 . A plurality of stiffeners, which may take the form of angle irons, collectively denoted  34 , is secured to the top of saucer  32  to inhibit flexing of said saucer  32 . The power to raise and lower saucer  32  is supplied by hydraulic motor  36  that is in communication with electro-hydraulic power pack  14  by means of connectors collectively denoted  38 . Electro-hydraulic power pack includes a hydraulic reservoir and an electric motor that generates hydraulic power. The rate of saucer lifting and lowering is thus under hydraulic control. 
   Hydraulic motor  36  includes an output shaft to which reel  40  is secured for conjoint rotation. Hydraulic motor  36  and reel  37  are mounted to flat mounting plate  40  that may be secured to any preselected leg  18  of said plurality of legs. Cable  42  is in coiled relation to reel  37  and is therefore played out when reel  37  rotates in a first direction and is reeled in when reel  37  rotates in a second direction opposite to said first direction. 
   As best depicted in  FIG. 2 , the free end of cable  42  extends over a pulley in pulley housing  44  and the distal free end  42   a  of cable  42  is secured to a “U”-shaped connector  46 . Pulley housing  44  is supported by link  48  that is supported by link  50  that is formed integrally with rod  52  that extends through a central aperture formed in mounting plate  28  and which terminates in link  54  which is adapted to be engaged by a crane or other means, not depicted, that transports novel assembly  10 . 
   Bolt  56  extends between and interconnects the transversely opposed arms of “U”-shaped connector  46 . Ring  58  is captured by said bolt  56 . A plurality of cables, collectively denoted  60 , is captured by said ring  58  at their respective uppermost ends. More particularly, the uppermost end of each cable  60  terminates in a loop that engages ring  58 . Only one of said loops is indicated by reference numeral  60   a  to avoid cluttering of the drawings. 
   The lowermost end of each cable  60  is also formed into a loop, denoted  60   b  in  FIG. 3 . Each loop  60   b  engages a ring  62  that is captured by an opening formed in mounting lug  64 . Brace  66  supports mounting lug  64 . As best depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there are three of such braces and each brace  66  is radially disposed with respect to the center of saucer  32 . More particularly, the radially innermost end of each brace  66  is mounted to saucer  32  but said radially innermost end is spaced radially away from the center of said saucer  32 . The radially outermost end of each brace  66  is secured to upstanding truncate post  68  that is secured to saucer  32  adjacent its peripheral edge. Pneumatic wheel  70  is rotatably mounted on an axle the opposite ends of which are secured to transversely opposed arms, collectively denoted  72 , that are secured to truncate mounting post  68  and which have a height sufficient to enable rotation of said wheel. 
   As best depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , there are three of said pneumatic wheels  70  disposed in equidistantly spaced apart relation relative to one another and circumferentially spaced apart relation relative to saucer  32 . Another set of rotatably mounted wheels, collectively denoted  74 , are also equidistantly spaced apart relative to one another and are also disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation relative to saucer  32 . Each wheel  74  is positioned at a circumferential midpoint between two contiguous wheels  72 , i.e., first set of wheels  70  and second set of wheels  74  are equidistantly spaced apart relative to one another and are circumferentially spaced apart relative to saucer  32 . However, each wheel  74  of the second set of wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle between two transversely opposed arms, collectively denoted  76 , and said arms  76  are secured to flat mounting plates, collectively denoted  78 , that lie flat atop and are secured to saucer  32 . Thus, each wheel  74  is mounted at a lower elevation than each wheel  70 . All wheels are pneumatic so that they conform to any seams, cracks, or other surface irregularities that may be present. 
   The reason for such difference in elevation of mounts for wheels  70  and  74  is to provide a leveling means for saucer  32  as perhaps best understood in connection with  FIGS. 4-6 . In  FIG. 4 , saucer  32  has been lowered from its  FIG. 1  position by playing out of cable  42  from reel  37 . Saucer  32  is substantially flush with the uppermost end of tube  12  in  FIG. 4  and neither upper wheels  70  not lower wheels  74  have engaged the inner wall of said tube. In  FIG. 5 , more cable  42  has been played out from reel  37  and saucer  32  has therefore descended into the lumen of tube  12  and interior wall  12   a  is now engaged by brush  30  that circumscribes saucer  32 . Two upper wheels  70  and one lower wheel  74  can be seen in this  FIG. 5 . The height-staggering of circumferentially-adjacent wheels serves to hold saucer  32  in a substantially horizontal plane. 
   Almost all of cable  42  has been played out from reel  37  in the configuration depicted in  FIG. 6 . Thus it is understood that saucer  32  and brush  30  mounted thereabout are approaching the bottom of tube  12  and the cleaning process is almost complete. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it will there be seen that a nozzle assembly of a pair of nozzle assemblies, collectively denoted  80 , is respectively mounted to the distal free end of a pair of rigid tubes, collectively denoted  82 , and that said nozzle assemblies and rigid tubes are mounted below saucer  32 . Rigid tubes  82  are mounted to a central hub  84  in diametrically opposed relation to one another. Nozzle assemblies  80 , rigid tubes  82  and hub  84  rotate conjointly with one another under hydraulic control and are collectively the second of said three primary moving parts. 
   Hub  84  is mounted for rotation, as indicated by directional arrows  87  in  FIG. 7 . As best understood by comparing  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , hub  84  and therefore tubes  82  are rotated by a hydraulic rotation means that includes connector  86  positioned below saucer  32 . Rotation of connector  86  is caused by rotation of pulley  88  that is mounted for rotation on the upper side of said saucer  32 . Pulley  88  is denoted by its reference numeral in  FIGS. 1 and 4  but the belt that rotates it is not to avoid cluttering of the drawings. The unnumbered belt is driven by hydraulic motor  90  that is in communication with electro-hydraulic power pack  14  by means of connectors  92 . Accordingly, the speed of rotation of hub  84  and rigid tubes  82  is hydraulically controlled. 
   Water under pressure is delivered to nozzle assemblies  80  by hose  94  that is in fluid communication with a source of water under pressure and hub  84 . Reference numeral  96  in  FIG. 4  denotes a fluid conduit to which the distal end of hose  94  is secured, it being understood that said fluid conduit  96  is in fluid communication with said hub  84  and said nozzle assemblies  80 . Accordingly, aperture  32   a  is formed in the center of saucer  32  as depicted in  FIG. 7  to accommodate said fluid conduit  96 , i.e., fluid conduit  96  is mounted in said aperture  32   a.    
   The inside wall  12   a  of tube  12  is cleaned by water under pressure from said nozzle assemblies as said hub  84  rotates. 
   Each nozzle assembly  80  includes a rotatably mounted nozzle head  100  that includes a plurality of nozzles, collectively denoted  98 , that are circumferentially spaced apart from one another and which spin to eject water at differing angles as may be determined by observing the differing orientations of each nozzle  98  in  FIG. 8 . Each nozzle head  100  is self-rotating, i.e., the rotation is provided by the impulse of the water dispensed from nozzles  98 . Since the water pressure is under hydraulic control, the speed of rotation of each nozzle head  100  is under hydraulic control. Each nozzle head is thus understood as the third of the three primary moving parts. Brushes  30  inhibit the escape of dust and debris during the cleaning process but do not perform a substantial part of the cleaning process. Nozzles  98  are self-propelled by water pressure due to the angle of the nozzles as water is emitted at high pressure from said nozzles. Nozzle head  100  spins about the longitudinal axis of its associated nozzle assembly  80 , thereby providing more coverage. More particularly, a swath formed by a spinning nozzle head may be from about two to four inches (2″-4″), depending on the standoff distance between the nozzle head and the material being removed from the tube. 
   All three primary moving parts of the inventive structure are thus understood to be under hydraulic control. The saucer, the rotating hub, rigid tubes, nozzle assemblies, and the spinning nozzle heads are interdependent. Thus, the speed of the saucer as it is lowered may determine the speed of rotation of the hub, the nozzle heads, and the spin of the nozzles. The speeds that are selected are dependent upon the application, i.e., what is being removed from the tubes and how clean the tubes are when the job begins. 
   The novel assembly accomplishes all of its objectives. In cutting the man-hours for cleaning a plurality of nuclear missile tubes from several thousand hours to three hours per tube, it represents a pioneering breakthrough in the art and the claims that follow are therefore entitled to broad interpretation to protect the heart or essence of the invention. 
   It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Now that the invention has been described,