SPRAY CLEANER FOR INTERIOR SURFACE OF PIPELINE

Abstract: This application discloses an automated apparatus for cleaning the interior surface of a pipe. The device includes a vehicle (18) which propels itself down the inside of the pipe. A cleaning system (19) is fixed to the vehicle (18) and uses arms (7) to reach the walls of the pipe. At the end of each arm (7) sits a spray nozzle assembly (10) equipped with spray nozzles (15). The spray nozzle assembly (10) rotates or oscillates to spray clean the pipe surface. The arms (7) and spray nozzle assembly (10) interchange with other such cleaning systems depending on the shape or type of pipe and the desired cleaning technique. The apparatus is tethered to a source of fluid under pressure and a power source both of which are located off-board the apparatus at a remote location. An operator supervises the device's operation, controlling the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle (18), the speed and direction of oscillation and rotation of the cleaning system (19), and the fluid pressure delivered by the spray nozzles (15).

Description: SPRAY CLEANER FORINTERIORSURFACE OF PIPELINE FIELD OFTHEINVENTION The present invention relates to a device for cleaning the interior surface of a pipe and more specifically for cleaning the interior surface of a sewer pipe. BACKGROUND OFTHEINVENTION Pipes used to carry liquids and gases commonly transport all types of materials including water, natural gas, solid and liquid sewage, as well as various other accumulations from the pipe. Over time, these pipes require servicing and cleaning. Taylor et al . disclose automated systems for cleaning the outside of a pipeline in U.S. patent number 5,520,734. Taylor et al . excavate under subterranean pipe and restore it by first cleaning the pipe and then applying a protective coating to the outer surface. As yet, however, nobody has automated a process for cleaning or restoring the inside of a pipe. The interior surface of a pipeline carrying solids, liquids and gases generally degrades over time as the pipe walls interact chemically and physically with the substances flowing through them. In particular, a sewer system's interior walls corrode and deteriorate because corrosive materials contaminate the surface degrading the metal and concrete used to build the sewer. The corrosive material arises from both the sewage and waste water itself, and also from the digestive by-products of bacteria found in the sewage which proliferate in the anaerobic environment. The corrosion causes the walls of the sewer pipe to physically decay, eventually reducing their overall thickness . The principal source of corrosion is sulfuric acid, which arises as a product of the materials transported in a sewer pipe and the sewer environment itself. Various metal sulfates found in the sewage quickly convert into hydrogen sulfide by: reducing to sulfide ions in the waste water, combining with hydrogen in the water and outgassing above the liquid as hydrogen sulfide gas. Additional hydrogen sulfide originates from bacteria containing contaminants which accumulate on the relatively rough concrete below the maximum liquid level. Bacteria found in these accumulations thrive in the anaerobic sewer environment producing hydrogen sulfide gas as a respiratory bi-product. Oxygen from the liquid below and oxygen condensing from the water in the air react with the hydrogen sulfide on the pipeline walls creating the highly corrosive sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid attacks the calcium hydroxide in the concrete sewer walls leaving calcium sulfates which ultimately crumble and fall off of the interior of the wall substantially reducing its thickness. The waste water level varies over the course of a 24 hour period. The flow is at its lowest level between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM in the morning but it rises distinctly in the daytime and the pipe may operate near capacity. Because of the gaseous nature of the hydrogen sulfide, the pipe walls are predominately corroded in the portions of the wall above the minimum liquid level. Portions of the walls which are always below the water level are not subjected to such high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfuric acid and consequently do not experience the same levels of decay. Eventually the sewer walls must be restored or they can suffer permanent damage leading to great expense. The restoration process is a two step operation that consists of first cleaning all of the contaminants (and possibly outer layers of corrupted concrete) from the surface of the pipe and then applying a protective coating over the newly cleaned pipe surface. Attempting to apply a protective coating without first cleaning the pipe surface is futile because it does not stop the decay that has already began underneath the coating. Furthermore, the protective coating itself does not adhere well to the contaminated surface. Thus, cleaning is an essential element of the restoration process. As previously mentioned, a sewer system typically operates at high capacity during the day with decreasing flow overnight. In order to restore the sewer pipes without diverting the flow (a costly and sometimes impossible alternative) , a bulk of the work must be done at night during the brief period when the flow is at a minimum. As previously outlined, the restoration process involves both cleaning the pipe surface and applying a protective coat. In practice, the rate of restoration is impaired because manual cleaning takes a proportionally greater amount of time than does the application of the protective coat. Consequently, a need exists for an automated cleaning process. Such a process will improve the rate of cleaning of the pipeline's interior walls making restoration without diversion a cost-effective possibility. Further, automation of the process can help to ensure that the same intensity of cleaning is applied to the entire surface without the quality variation that is inherent in manual execution. Several patents such as Taylor et al . (U.S. patent 5,520,734), describe automated processes for cleaning the outside surface of pipelines using spray nozzle jets; however, none have attempted to automate the cleaning of the interior surface of a pipeline. SUMMARY OFTHEINVENTION The following is a brief description of the invention, its parts and its functionality. The present invention is a two part system for cleaning the interior surface of a pipe which includes a "vehicle" which can move along the interior of the pipe and a "cleaning system" attached to that vehicle. As the vehicle moves, the cleaning system cleans a selected region of the interior surface of the pipe. According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for cleaning an interior surface of a pipe. The apparatus has a nozzle for discharging fluid under pressure against the interior surface of the pipe and includes a vehicle moveable linearly along an interior of the pipe substantially parallel to an axis thereof and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly is connected to the vehicle and is extendible so as to place the fluid nozzle assembly at a location adjacent the interior surface of the pipe. The fluid nozzle assembly is operative to rotate and oscillate. As the vehicle moves through the pipe, the cleaning assembly cleans a swath of the interior surface of the pipe. The assembly may further comprise a flow control valve coupled to a source of pressurized fluid and an exchanger with an input attached to the flow control valve. The cleaning assembly may also have a plurality of nozzle receptacles dimensioned to receive respective branches of a plurality of branches and a plurality of nozzles affixed to a distal end of each of the nozzle branches. The exchanger, nozzle branches and nozzles are operative to rotate relative to the vehicle. The exchanger is further operative to direct streams of a pressurized fluid into each of the nozzle branches and out of each of the nozzles. The pressurized fluid emerges from the nozzles as a jet stream of fluid which is capable of scarifying on impact the interior surface of the pipe. The cleaning assembly may also include an arm connected at one end to the vehicle, with the fluid nozzle assembly rotatably mounted thereto. The fluid nozzle assembly and arm are both adjustable so to enable the fluid nozzle assembly to be positioned proximate the interior surface of the pipe. Alternatively, there may be provided a cleaning assembly with a plurality of branches mounted to the vehicle which are rotatable about a common axis parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle. A plurality of fluid nozzles may be each attached to a corresponding one of the branches, and be operative to expel the pressurized fluid onto the interior surface of the pipe. The branches may be extended to position the fluid nozzles adjacent to the interior surface of the pipe. Advantageously, the cleaning assembly may be removed from the vehicle to allow the vehicle to pass through openings which are too small to allow the vehicle to pass through if the cleaning assembly were attached thereto . According to the invention there is also provided a cleaning assembly including a telescoping arm pivotally attached to the vehicle and pivotal through an angle from 0 degrees to the horizontal when said vehicle is on a level surface to 180 degrees. Affixed to a distal end of the telescoping arm is a nozzle assembly which is one of rotatable and oscillatory about a longitudinally extending axis of the arm. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of spraying an interior surface of a pipe which includes the steps of propelling an apparatus linearly along an interior of a pipe parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pipe, and moving a spraying system having fluid discharging nozzles. The spraying system is mounted on the apparatus and is extendible so that it is proximate the interior surface of the pipe. The method further includes the steps of spraying the interior surface of the pipe with a fluid, and circulating the nozzles of the spraying system so as to one of (i) rotate, (ii) oscillate and (iii) rotate and oscillate relative to the apparatus in such a manner that the spraying step is completed over a desired portion of the interior surface of the pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the first embodiment showing the vehicle and the cleaning system consisting of the arm and the spray nozzle assembly. FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment showing the arm in a vertical orientation. FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment. The arm is a vertical orientation giving a clear view of the spray nozzle assembly. FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment showing the arm extended at a radial angle to reach the interior surface of the pipe. FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment showing the arm mounted vertically on the front of the vehicle and the branches of the spray nozzle assembly pointing radially at the pipe surface. FIG. 6 is a front view of the second embodiment showing the arm mounted vertically on the front of the vehicle and the branches of the spray nozzle assembly pointing radially at the pipe surface. FIG. 7 is a top view of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a top view of the spray nozzle assembly used in the first and third embodiments. Shown clearly, are the symmetrical branches holding the spray nozzles. FIG. 9 is a side view of the spray nozzle assembly used in the first and third embodiments. Shown clearly, is the vertical orientation of the spray nozzles . FIG. 10 is a side view of the third embodiment showing the principal arm and the subsidiary arms holding the spray nozzle assemblies. The spray nozzle assemblies are the type shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a front view of the third embodiment showing the principal arm and the subsidiary arms holding the spray nozzle assemblies. The spray nozzle assemblies are the type shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is a top view of the third embodiment. FIG. 13 depicts the swath cleaned by the first embodiment showing how several passes are required to clean the entire pipe. FIG. 14 shows a side view of the fourth embodiment used for cleaning the bottom surface of a pipe. FIG. 15 shows a front view of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16 depicts a top view of the fourth embodiment . DESCRIPTION OFTHEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT The four embodiments envisaged in this invention are outlined below with reference to the drawings. The First Embodiment The first embodiment of the apparatus for spraying clean the interior surface of a pipeline is depicted in Figures 1-4. Figures 1-3 depict side, front and top views respectively of the first embodiment with the arm 7 oriented in a vertical position. Figure 4 depicts a front view of the apparatus with the arm 7 at a transverse angle. The spray nozzle assembly 10 of the first embodiment is depicted in Figures 8 and 9. The apparatus comprises a vehicle 18 that propels itself along a longitudinal direction inside of a pipe, cleaning the interior surface as it travels . The apparatus is equipped with a cleaning system 19 comprising an arm 7 and a spray nozzle assembly 10. The cleaning system 19 extends from the vehicle to the wall of the conduit and uses spray nozzles to clean the pipe surface . The vehicle 18 includes a chassis 2 which moves longitudinally along the bottom floor of the pipe on its track assembly 1. The tracks 1 are propelled along rollers 3 by a hydraulic motor (not shown) sitting on board the chassis 2. Although tracks 1 are included in this description of the preferred embodiment, any actuator capable of moving the vehicle 18 under power from the hydraulic motor will suffice. The hydraulic motor is powered by an external hydraulic reservoir (not shown) coupled to the apparatus by a hydraulic coupler (not shown) also mounted on the chassis 2. It will be noted that, although a hydraulic motor is used in this embodiment, that any power providing means, both external or on-board but preferably exhaustless, may be used for this application. The direction of motion of the vehicle is that of arrow 16 or 17. An on-board battery 4 powers hydraulic switches (not shown) which control the speed and direction of motion of the vehicle. The motor, hydraulic coupler and hydraulic switches are covered with plate 5 to protect their sensitive parts from debris dislodged during cleaning. When spray nozzles 15 are employed to clean the walls of the conduit, recoil forces may tend to disturb the vehicle trajectory. Accordingly, a number of guiding bars 20 may be attached to the chassis 2 of the vehicle 18 and telescopically extend to the walls of the pipeline. The guiding bars' wall engaging attachments 21 move along the pipe's walls and prevent the vehicle 18 from deviating from its path. The cleaning system 19 consists of a telescoping arm 7 and a spray nozzle assembly 10. The arm 7 includes two telescoping pipes in which the upper portion of the pipe 12 has a smaller diameter such that it slides down into the lower portion. The piston 26 controls the extension of the telescoping arm 7. This combination of telescoping parts permits the arm 7 to be extended or contracted depending on the diameter of the pipe surface to be cleaned. The arm 7 pivots on hinge 25 in a lateral direction so that it can reach any transverse angle between 0» and 180*. Consequently, the device can manipulate the cleaning system 19 so that the spray nozzle assembly 10 is in close proximity to the pipe walls. Since this embodiment contains only one arm 7, a stabilizing bar 8 is used to counteract the weight of the arm 7 as it is extended radially. The cleaning system 19 may be easily removed from the chassis 2 of the vehicle 18 in order to reduce the size of the apparatus so as to enter a sewer system through a small aperture such as a manhole. Furthermore, the width of the chassis 2 (i.e. separation between tracks 1) can be adjusted so as to position the vehicle 18 longitudinally in pipes of various sizes. The spray nozzle assembly 10 is mounted at the distal end of the arm's 7 telescoping pipes. Fluid coupler 9 with a flow control valve is attached to an external source of fluid under pressure (not shown) which is fed into exchanger/actuator 13. Referring to Figure 8, exchanger/actuator 13 causes the spray nozzle assembly 10 to rotate or oscillate and distributes the fluid to each branch 14 of the spray nozzle assembly 10. The direction of rotation is indicated by arrows 22 and 23. The actual spray nozzles 15 are jets aimed into the pipeline walls. The spray nozzles 15 discharge fluid to clean the interior surface of the pipe. The drawings show one spray nozzle 15 attached to each branch 14, but it should be obvious to one skilled in the art that a plurality of nozzles 15 may be coupled to each branch 14. Referring now to Figures 4 and 13, as the vehicle 18 travels up the center of the pipe floor 27, the cleaning system 19 cleans a swath of the pipe wall 28. The swath is approximately the same width 29 as the diameter of the spray nozzle assembly 10 and is centered approximately at the arm angle 30. Fully cleaning the interior surface of the pipe requires that the vehicle 18 make several passes back and forth, changing the arm angle 30 with each pass. The vehicle chassis is outfitted with a drawbar (not shown) which holds the hydraulic and pressurized fluid tethers away from the apparatus so that it may easily travel forwards or reverse without running over the tethers . An additional safety feature not shown in the drawings is a "deadman" which is a safety switch operative to cut off the high pressure from the moving parts of the cleaning system 19. The deadman is useful in both emergency situations and when minor adjustments must be made to the apparatus during a job. This apparatus is the preferred embodiment when the conduits or pipes are not perfectly cylindrical in shape (i.e. they are some other shape such as semicircular in cross section) . This embodiment can also be used for a cylindrical pipe when flow diversion is impossible. A false floor 31 is layered on top of the minimum flow mark 32 and the cleaning is performed above the false floor 31. Since most of the corrosion occurs in levels above the minimum liquid level 32, this cleaning method is acceptable for restoration applications . The Second Embodiment The second embodiment of the spray cleaner for the interior surface of a pipeline is depicted in Figures 5-7. The figures depict side, front and top views respectively of the second embodiment with the arm 7 mounted on the front of the vehicle. As with the first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a vehicle 18 that propels itself along a longitudinal direction inside of a pipe, cleaning the interior surface as it travels. The apparatus is equipped with a cleaning system 19 including an arm 7 and a spray nozzle assembly 10. The cleaning system 19 extends from the vehicle 18 to the wall of the conduit and uses spray nozzles 15 to clean the pipe surface. The vehicle 18 is the same as the first embodiment and includes a chassis 2 which moves longitudinally along the bottom of the pipe floor on its track assembly 1. The tracks 1 are propelled along rollers 3 by a hydraulic motor (not shown) sitting on board the chassis 2. Although tracks 1 are included in this description of the preferred embodiment, any actuator capable of moving the vehicle 18 under power from the hydraulic motor will suffice. The hydraulic motor is powered by an external hydraulic reservoir (not shown) coupled to the apparatus by a hydraulic coupler (not shown) also mounted on the chassis 2. It will be noted that, although a hydraulic motor is used in this embodiment, that any power providing means, both external or on-board but preferably exhaustless, may be used for this application. The direction of motion of the vehicle 18 is that of arrow 16 or 17. An on-board battery 4 powers hydraulic switches (not shown) which control the speed and direction of motion of the vehicle. The motor, hydraulic coupler and hydraulic switches are covered with plate 5 to protect their sensitive parts from debris dislodged during cleaning. When spray nozzles 15 are employed to clean the walls of the conduit, recoil forces may tend to disturb the vehicle trajectory. Accordingly, a number of guiding bars 20 may be attached to the chassis 2 of the vehicle 18 and telescopically extend to the walls of the pipeline. The guiding bars' wall engaging attachments, 21 move along the pipe's walls and prevent the vehicle 18 from deviating from its path. Once again, the vehicle 18 may be adjusted in width by adjusting the chassis 2, so as to position the vehicle 18 longitudinally in pipes of various sizes. Similarly to the first embodiment, the vehicle chassis 2 is equipped with a drawbar (not shown) to hold the hydraulic and high pressure fluid tethers away from the vehicle 18. In the second embodiment, the cleaning system 19 consists of a vertical arm 7 attached to the front of the chassis 2 and a spray nozzle assembly 10. The entire cleaning system 19 may be easily removed from the chassis 2 of the vehicle 18 in order to reduce the size of the apparatus so as to enter a sewer system through a small aperture such as a manhole. The arm 7 includes adjusters 6 which raise the fluid coupler 9 at the center of the spray nozzle assembly 10 to align it roughly with the center of the pipe. This alignment permits even spray on all portions of the pipeline walls. The arm 7 has a stabilizing bar 8 which helps to counteract the weight of the arm 7 in front of the vehicle 18. The spray nozzle assembly 10 attaches to the vertical arm 7. Fluid coupler 9 with a flow control valve is attached to an external source of fluid under pressure (not shown) . The fluid is fed into exchanger/actuator 13. Referring to Figure 6, exchanger/actuator 13 causes the spray nozzle assembly to rotate or oscillate and distributes the fluid to each branch 14 of the spray nozzle assembly 10. The direction of rotation of the spray nozzle assembly 10 is indicated by arrows 22 and 23. The branches 14 are laterally extendible so as to bring the spray nozzles 15 (which are mounted on the ends of the branches 14) into proximity of the pipeline walls and direct them at the wall's interior surface. The spray nozzles 15 discharge fluid to clean the interior surface of the wall. Again it is understood as being obvious to one skilled in the art, that there may be a number of nozzles 15 for each branch 14. As the vehicle 18 travels longitudinally along the center of the pipe floor in a direction indicated by arrows 16 and 17, the cleaning system 19 cleans a transverse circumferential line along the interior of the pipe wall. Unlike the swaths in the first embodiment, this apparatus is capable of cleaning the entire interior surface in a single pass through the pipe. However, because a significantly larger area is being cleaned, the vehicle 18 must travel more slowly than it does in the first embodiment ensuring adequate coverage of the walls . An additional safety feature not shown in the drawings is a "deadman" which is a safety switch operative to cut off the high pressure from the moving parts of the cleaning system 19. The deadman is useful in both emergency situations and when minor adjustments must be made to the apparatus during a job. This apparatus is preferred over the first embodiment when the conduits or pipes are cylindrical in shape and the entire 360* circumference of the pipe is being cleaned. The Third Embodiment The third embodiment is a combination of the first and second embodiments and is depicted in Figures 10-12, which show side, front and top views, respectively. The principal arm 7 is connected to the front of the chassis 2 as in the second embodiment, but the spray nozzle assemblies 10 are that of the first. The vehicle 18, chassis 2, motor (not shown), guiding bars 20, guiding bar attachments 21, battery 4, hydraulic coupler, deadman and drawbar (not shown) are substantially the same as that of the first two embodiments. The cleaning system 19, however, is considerably different. The principal arm 7 is oriented vertically and is essentially the same as the arm in the second embodiment, but it has a plurality of additional subsidiary arms 11 which extend transversely from the center of the principal arm 7. The adjusters 6 move vertically to align the center of the subsidiary arms 11 with the center of the pipe. The subsidiary arms 11 are telescopically adjustable so that they can extend transversely to the inner surface of the pipeline walls. A fluid coupler 9 with flow control valve receives fluid under pressure from an external source (not shown) . An exchanger/actuator 33 simultaneously rotates or oscillates the subsidiary arms 11 and distributes the fluid. At the end of each subsidiary arm 11 is a spray nozzle assembly 10 that is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. Each spray nozzle assembly 10 has a secondary fluid coupler 24, an exchanger/actuator 13, symmetrical branches 14, and spray nozzles 15. The vehicle 18 travels longitudinally along the center of the pipe in a direction indicated by arrows 16 or 17, while the subsidiary arms 11 rotate or oscillate in the direction of arrow 22 or 23, moving the spray nozzle assemblies 10 laterally across the inner circumference of the pipeline wall. The spray nozzle assemblies 10 are simultaneously rotating or oscillating such that they are cleaning a swath similar to the first embodiment, but the swath is laterally oriented. The third embodiment (like the second) is most useful for cleaning the entire circumference of the interior of a cylindrical pipe. However, the wide swath enabled by incorporating the spray nozzle assembly 10 from the first embodiment permits the vehicle 18 to travel faster down the pipeline floor and still maintain adequate coverage of the walls. The Fourth Embodiment The fourth embodiment is also a combination of the first and second embodiments which is particularly adapted to clean the bottom surfaces of pipelines . The fourth embodiment is depicted in Figures 14-16, which show side, front and top views respectively. The principal arm 7 is connected to the front of the chassis 2 as in the second embodiment but the spray nozzle assembly 10 is that of the first. The vehicle 18, chassis 2, motor (not shown), guiding bars 20, guiding bar attachments 21, battery 4, hydraulic coupler, deadman and drawbar (not shown) are substantially the same as those of the first two embodiments. The cleaning system 19, however, is considerably different. The principal arm 7 is oriented vertically and is essentially the same as the arm in the second embodiment, but it has an additional subsidiary arm 11, which extends horizontally from the principal arm 7. The adjusters 6 move vertically up the principal arm 7 to adjust the height of the subsidiary arm 11. The subsidiary arm 11 holds the spray nozzle assembly 10, and the fluid coupler 9 with flow control valve which are basically the same elements as in the first embodiment. The spray nozzle assembly 10 is outfitted with an exchanger actuator 13, symmetrical branches 14, and spray nozzles 15. Note: these elements are shown in Figures 8 and 9. A stabilizing bar 8 extends from the front end of the subsidiary arm 11 to the top end of the principal arm 7 to help stabilize the front of the apparatus when it is carrying the additional weight of the spray nozzle assembly 10. The vehicle 18 travels longitudinally along the center of the pipe in a direction indicated by arrows 16 or 17, while the branches 14 of the spray nozzle assembly 10 rotate or oscillate, moving the spray nozzles 15 around on the bottom surface of the pipeline. The spray nozzles cut a swath similar to the first embodiment except that the swath is on the bottom surface of the pipe rather than at a radial angle . The fourth embodiment is specifically suited for cleaning the bottom surface of a pipeline.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An apparatus for cleaning an interior surface of a pipe, said apparatus having a nozzle for discharging fluid under pressure against the interior surface, comprising: (a) a vehicle moveable linearly along an interior of said pipe substantially parallel to an axis thereof; and (b) a cleaning assembly connected to said vehicle having a fluid nozzle assembly operative to one of rotate and oscillate, said cleaning assembly being extendible to place said fluid nozzle assembly at a location adjacent the interior surface of said pipe and operative to clean a selected region along the interior surface of said pipe when the fluid from said fluid nozzle assembly is directed against the interior surface of said pipe as said vehicle moves along the interior of said pipe. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly has a flow control valve coupled to a source of pressurized fluid and an exchanger with an input coupled to said flow control valve, and a plurality of nozzle receptacles dimensioned to receive respective branches of a plurality of branches and a plurality of nozzles affixed to a distal end of each of said nozzle branches, said exchanger, nozzle branches and nozzles operative to rotate relative to said vehicle and said exchanger operative to direct streams of a pressurized fluid into each of said nozzle branches and out of each of said nozzles as a jet stream of fluid capable of scarifying on impact the selected region of the interior surface of said pipe. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly further comprises an arm connected at one end to said vehicle, having the fluid nozzle assembly rotatably mounted to said arm, and one of said fluid nozzle assembly and said arm being adjustable so as to position said fluid nozzle assembly in proximity with the interior surface of said pipe. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said fluid nozzle assembly includes: (a) a plurality of branches mounted to said vehicle, rotatable about a common axis parallel to a direction of travel of said vehicle; and (b) a plurality of fluid nozzles, each attaching to a corresponding one of said branches, each of said fluid nozzles operative to expel said pressurized fluid onto the interior surface of said pipe wherein said branches are extendible to position said fluid nozzles adjacent to the interior surface of the pipe. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said nozzle assembly cleans a helical swath over the interior surface of said pipe as said vehicle moves along an interior of said pipe. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly is removable to allow said vehicle to pass through openings smaller than an opening that would permit passage therethrough of said vehicle with the cleaning assembly attached to said vehicle. 7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of said arm and said spray nozzle assembly is positionable to locate said nozzles adjacent to a bottom surface of said pipe and said pressurized fluid expelled from said nozzles impacts the bottom surface of said pipe. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises: (a) a chassis operative to support said apparatus, said chassis being adjustable to accommodate various pipe sizes and having a track assembly operative upon rotation to propel said vehicle along a longitudinal direction in the interior of said pipe; (b) a motor mounted on said chassis and coupled to said track assembly, said motor operative to rotate said track assembly; and (c) a power coupler mounted on said chassis and coupled to a power source, said power coupler operative to conduct power to said apparatus. 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises: (a) a chassis operative to support said apparatus, said chassis being adjustable to accommodate various pipe sizes and having a track assembly operative upon rotation to propel said vehicle along a longitudinal direction in the interior of said pipe; said vehicle being moveable by an external driving force, said driving force being one of mechanical and human powered. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is capable of travel in both a forward and a reverse direction. 11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cleaning assembly includes a telescoping arm pivotally attached to said vehicle and pivotal through an angle from 0 degrees to the horizontal when said vehicle is on a level surface to 180 degrees and a nozzle assembly affixed to a distal end of said arm, said nozzle assembly being one of rotatable and oscillatory about a longitudinally extending axis of said arm. 12. An apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises an appliance which is one of mechanical, electromechanical and electric, said appliance being operative to enable selection of a speed and a direction of motion of said vehicle by controlling said power coupler and said motor in response to user input, which user input is applied to said appliance from one of a direct source and a remote source. 13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said power coupler is operative to provide power to an actuator, said actuator operative to move said cleaning assembly with respect to said vehicle. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, which further comprises an appliance which is one of mechanical, electromechanical and electric, said appliance being operative to enable selection of a speed and a direction of said cleaning assembly as said cleaning assembly is being moved with respect to said vehicle by controlling said actuator in response to user input, which user input is applied to said appliance from one of a direct source and a remote source. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said actuator is operative to move said cleaning assembly in one of an oscillatory manner, a fully rotational manner and a combination of oscillatory and fully rotational manners . 16. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said exchanger is further operative to use energy from said pressurized fluid to move said cleaning assembly with respect to said vehicle. 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly further comprises: (a) a principal arm attached to said vehicle; (b) a plurality of telescoping subsidiary arms rotatably mounted to said principal arm; (c) a nozzle assembly mounted to a distal end of each of said subsidiary arms, each nozzle assembly being one of rotatable and oscillatory about an axis parallel to a longitudinally extending axis of said each subsidiary arm and operative to emit jets of pressurized fluid outwardly away from said distal end substantially parallel to said longitudinally extending axis. 18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly includes a nozzle assembly attached to a subsidiary arm extending out substantially horizontally from a front of said vehicle, said nozzle assembly having a plurality of branches with a nozzle at an end of each branch oriented to direct fluid under pressure against a bottom of said pipe. 19. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle further comprises a plurality of guiding bars affixed to said chassis and having wall engaging attachments laterally adjustable with respect to said vehicle, said wall engaging attachments when contacting the interior surface of said pipe operative to move along an interior surface of said pipe and maintain orientation of said vehicle along a longitudinal axis of said pipe and wherein said guidebars have no nozzles mounted thereon. 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said guiding bars are adjustable so as to extend from said vehicle to the interior surface of said pipe. 21. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle has a cab to safely hold a human operator. 22. An apparatus for spraying an interior surface of a pipe, which comprises: (a) a vehicle moveable linearly along an interior of said pipe substantially parallel to an axis thereof; and (b) a spraying system extendible relative to said vehicle to be positioned proximate an interior surface of said pipe and connected to said vehicle, said spraying system capable of moving with respect to said vehicle so as to apply spray to a selected region along an interior surface of said pipe as said vehicle moves along the interior of said pipe. 23. A method of spraying an interior surface of a pipe which comprises the steps of: (a) propelling an apparatus linearly along an interior of said pipe parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pipe, (b) moving a spraying system having fluid discharging nozzles, said spraying system being mounted on said apparatus and extendible so that it is proximate the interior surface of the pipe; (c) spraying said interior surface of the pipe with a fluid; and (d) circulating said nozzles of said spraying system so as to one of (i) rotate, (ii) oscillate and (iii) rotate and oscillate relative to said apparatus in such a manner that said spraying step is completed over a desired portion of said interior surface of said pipe. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said circulating step is done in such a manner so as to complete said spraying step over an entirety of said interior surface of said pipe. 25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said circulating step is accomplished via one of the steps of: (a) rotating said spraying system along a circumferential path of said interior surface during said propelling step; (b) oscillating said spraying system along a circumferential path of said interior surface during said propelling step; (c) rotating and oscillating said spraying system along a circumferential path of said interior surface during said propelling step; (d) rotating said spraying system about an arm perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pipe during said propelling step and then pivoting said arm about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pipe a number of times, each time executing a longitudinal pass, so as to complete said spraying step over a selected area of said surface; and (e) oscillating said spraying system about an arm perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pipe during said propelling step and then pivoting said arm about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pipe a number of times, each time executing a longitudinal pass, so as to complete said spraying step over a selected area of said surface. 26. A method according to claim 23, wherein said spraying step comprises at least one of: (a) expelling a pressurized fluid onto said interior surface of said pipe, coating said interior surface with said pressurized fluid; and (b) cleaning said interior surface of said pipe; said expelling step being accomplished by a plurality of spray nozzles contained in said spraying system. 27. A method according to claim 23, wherein a rate and a direction of said propelling, spraying and circulating steps are controlled in response to user input, which user input is applied from one of a direct source and a remote source.

Inventors: BOSE VERNON, MACNEIL DAVID, MACNEIL GERARD, MACNEIL GORDON, BOSE, VERNON, MACNEIL, DAVID, MACNEIL, GERARD, MACNEIL, GORDON
Applicants: MAC & MAC HYDRODEMOLITION INC, MAC & MAC HYDRODEMOLITION INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B08B9
IPC codes: B08B9, E03F9