Abstract:
A copper pipe cleaning assembly has an interior cleaning member and an exterior cleaning member, which are easily joined or separated as required, depending on the area of the pipe to be cleaned.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a pipe cleaning system, and more particularly to a copper pipe cleaning system capable of cleaning the inside and outside of a copper pipe.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In any field wherein metal pipe is used, it is necessary to cut and bend, and then shape the pipe to its desired use. This is especially true in the field of electrical installations. Cutting of the pipe can and does result in a rough end of the pipe.  
           [0003]    Unfortunately, in the electrical fields, it is critical to have the end of the pipe smooth. This smooth end minimizes damage to the wire as the assembly is being completed and simplifies the installation of the electrical circuits. Also, the smooth end makes it easier to install a conduit fitting, a coupler or a connector.  
           [0004]    Soldering or brazing of pipe or tubing requires that the mating (or faying) surfaces of the pipe and fittings be thoroughly cleaned in order to present an oxide-free or a contaminant free surface, which can be wetted by the molten solder and brazing alloy. This is required to form sound joints which are free of porosity and voids, and which do not leak.  
           [0005]    This is normally accomplished by degreasing the joint components, if necessary, and then abrading the faying surfaces. Degreasing is accomplished by wiping with a solvent appropriate for the oily contaminant to be removed.  
           [0006]    This smooth end is especially desirable for electrometallic tubing, called EMT in the trade. While this tubing has a thin wall, it is still desirable and required to provide a smooth end after cutting the same in order for the pipe to fit into the circuit.  
           [0007]    A known cleaning device consists of a drill mounted brush holder for cleaning the outer surface of tube ends prior to soldering or brazing. It also includes provision for adjustment of the replaceable brush to account for wear. It provides advantages of being motor driven, having replaceable brushes, and having adjustment capability for the brush. The drill mounted brush holder has a number of deficiencies.  
           [0008]    This device cannot be used for cleaning the inside surfaces of fittings. Also, it may only clean part of the tube edge. Furthermore, its design requires a different unit for each size of tube to be cleaned. This is not a disadvantage in a manufacturing plant where a great number of assemblies are made using a single tube diameter. It will, however, be inconvenient for a household, or do-it-yourself plumber who may have to install several different sizes of tubing and fittings.  
           [0009]    It is also difficult to switch from cleaning the pipe interior to cleaning the pipe exterior. Changing from one tool to the other in a power drill can waste a lot of time. Yet, it is very desirable to be able to clean both the inside and the outside of a copper pipe in an efficient manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision a copper pipe cleaning system adapted to clean the inside or the outside of the copper pipe.  
           [0011]    A further objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, having an electric power supply.  
           [0012]    Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, having a manual power supply.  
           [0013]    A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which changes easily between exterior cleaning and interior cleaning.  
           [0014]    Another objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which is easily assembled.  
           [0015]    Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which is easily disassembled.  
           [0016]    Still, another objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which is easily stored.  
           [0017]    Also, an objective of this invention is the provision of a power-assisted method for cleaning a pipe.  
           [0018]    A further objective of this invention is the provision of an attachment for a power tool capable of cleaning a pipe.  
           [0019]    Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of an attachment for a power tool capable of simplifying the installation of electrical wires.  
           [0020]    A still further objective of this invention is the provision of an attachment for increasing the efficiency of an electrician.  
           [0021]    Another objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which is easily changed from the interior cleaning to exterior cleaning.  
           [0022]    Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of a copper pipe cleaning system, which is easily changed from exterior cleaning to interior cleaning.  
           [0023]    These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a copper pipe cleaning assembly having an interior cleaning member and an exterior cleaning member which are easily joined or separated as required. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the flag copper pipe cleaning system  100  of this invention in use on pipe  110  with power drill  112 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 depicts an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment in the form of flag copper pipe cleaning system  100  of this invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 depicts a perspective interior view of outer flag housing  140  for the flag copper pipe cleaning system  100  of this invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 depicts an exploded, perspective view of a second embodiment in the form of bayonet copper pipe cleaning system  200  of this invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 depicts a perspective interior view of outer bayonet housing  240  for the copper pipe cleaning system  200  of this invention. 
     
    
       [0029]    Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    Within the copper pipe cleaning system of this invention are both an interior cleaning device and an exterior cleaning device. The interior cleaning device has a drive member or drill mounting post at one end thereof, and an interior pipe cleaner at the other end thereof. Between the mounting post and the interior pipe cleaner is a male fastening mechanism. This male fastening mechanism can receive the exterior pipe cleaner.  
         [0031]    The exterior pipe cleaner is generally cylindrical with a female fastening mechanism at one end and an exterior brush assembly at the other. The fastening mechanisms permit a quick change as desired for cleaning a pipe. The exterior pipe cleaning device may be removed or placed on the interior pipe cleaner as desired. In this fashion, is very easy to switch from interior pipe cleaning to exterior pipe cleaning and back again.  
         [0032]    Almost any shape is suitable for the male fastening assembly and the female fastening assembly. Especially suitable for the pipe cleaning system are the cylindrical shape and the conical shape. The conical shape is preferably similar to a truncated cone with arced sides. With the shapes, the attachment of a female cleaning member to the male cleaning member is most efficient. Also with the shapes, the removal of the female cleaning member from the male cleaning member is most efficient.  
         [0033]    The male fastening assembling and the corresponding female fastening assembly may be of any suitable type. One preferred type of fastening assembling is the flag assembly. Another preferred type of fastening assembly is the bayonet style of fastening assembling.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, ease of assembly and disassembly is a major advantage of the flag copper pipe cleaning system  100  of this invention. The flag copper pipe cleaning system  100  can be switched from the flag interior pipe cleaning mode  120  to flag exterior pipe cleaning mode  138  in a relatively simple fashion.  
         [0035]    The flag interior cleaning mode  120  of the copper pipe cleaning system  100  is depicted. Flag interior housing  122  supports flag inner brush  124  for flag interior cleaning mode  120  and permits the flag inner brush  124  to be used for cleaning a pipe interior, especially a copper pipe  110 .  
         [0036]    More particularly, flag interior housing  122  has the flag inner brush  124  extending therefrom. Also mounted on flag interior housing  122  and oppositely disposed from flag inner brush  124 , is drive arm  126 . Drive arm  126  fits into an electric drill  112 . In this fashion, flag inner brush  124  permits power cleaning of a pipe  110 .  
         [0037]    Flag interior cleaning mode  120  is converted to flag exterior cleaning mode  138  by attaching outer flag housing  140  to flag interior housing  122 . Outer flag housing  140  is likewise easily removed for conversion back to interior cleaning mode  120 .  
         [0038]    In a preferred form, outer flag housing  140  has the general shape of a truncated cone, with rounded sides, that is to say an arced conical shape. Female notched fasteners  142  are situated at the large end thereof. Flag exterior brush assembly  146  is situated at the small end thereof. However, a cylindrical shape is also suitable for use.  
         [0039]    Flag inner brush  124  and flag exterior brush assembly  146  can be any suitable brush assembly capable of cleaning a pipe. This is especially suitable for cleaning a copper pipe used in electrical systems.  
         [0040]    On flag interior housing  122  are a series of flag male notched fasteners  130 . Outer flag housing  140  has a set of flag female notched fasteners  142  adapted to receive flag male notched fasteners  130  and lock the outer flag housing  140  on flag interior housing  122  in a removable fashion. In this fashion, the copper pipe cleaning system  100  can clean the inside and outside of a pipe, especially a copper pipe  110 .  
         [0041]    Also, mounted in flag outer housing  140  is the flag exterior brush assembly  146 . Exterior brush assembly  146  is oppositely disposed from flag female notched fasteners  142 . Female notched fasteners  142  join with male notched fasteners  130  as desired, in order to achieve bayonet exterior pipe cleaning mode  138 . Exterior brush assembly  146  is adapted to receive the exterior end of copper pipe  110 .  
         [0042]    The term flag is adapted in order to generically refer to flag male notched fasteners  130  and flag female notched fasteners  142 . These fasteners  130  and  142  cooperate to permit easily attaching and detaching of outer flag housing  140  relative to flag interior housing  122 .  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, ease of assembly and disassembly is a major advantage of the bayonet copper pipe cleaning system  200  of this invention. The bayonet copper pipe cleaning system  200  can be switched from the bayonet interior pipe cleaning mode  220  to bayonet exterior pipe cleaning mode  238  in a relatively simple fashion.  
         [0044]    The bayonet interior cleaning mode  220  of the bayonet copper pipe cleaning system  200  is depicted. Bayonet inner housing  222  supports bayonet inner brush  224  for bayonet interior cleaning mode  220  and permits the bayonet inner brush  224  to be used for the cleaning of a pipe interior, especially a copper pipe  110  (FIG. 1).  
         [0045]    More particularly, bayonet inner housing  222  has the bayonet inner brush  224  extending therefrom. Also mounted on bayonet inner housing  222  and oppositely disposed from inner brush  224 , is drive arm  226 . Drive arm  226  fits into an electric drill  112  (FIG. 1) or other power source. In this fashion, inner brush  224  permits power cleaning of a pipe  110 .  
         [0046]    Bayonet interior cleaning mode  220  is converted to bayonet exterior cleaning mode  238  by attaching outer bayonet housing  240  to bayonet inner housing  222 . Outer bayonet housing  240  is likewise easily removed for conversion back to bayonet interior cleaning mode  220 . On bayonet inner housing  222  are bayonet male notched fasteners  230 .  
         [0047]    Bayonet outer housing  240  is generally cylindrical in shape and has a set of bayonet female notched fasteners  242  at one end thereof. Bayonet female notched fasteners  242  are adapted to receive bayonet male notched fasteners  230  and lock the outer bayonet housing  240  on inner bayonet housing  222  in a removable fashion. In this fashion, the copper pipe bayonet cleaning system  200  can clean the inside and outside of a pipe, especially a copper pipe  110 .  
         [0048]    Although outer bayonet housing  240  is depicted as cylindrical, as is inner bayonet housing  222 , it is clear from this disclosure that an arced conical shape is also operable.  
         [0049]    Thus, ease of attaching and reattaching outer bayonet housing  240  is provided.  
         [0050]    Also, mounted in bayonet outer housing  240  is the bayonet exterior brush assembly  246 . Exterior brush assembly  246  is oppositely disposed from female notched fasteners  242 . Female notched fasteners  242  join with male notched fasteners  230  as desired, in order to achieve bayonet exterior pipe cleaning mode  238 . Exterior brush assembly  246  is adapted to receive the exterior end of copper pipe  110 .  
         [0051]    The term bayonet is adapted in order to generically refer to bayonet male notched fasteners  230  and bayonet female notched fasteners  242 . These fasteners  230  and  242  cooperate to permit easily attaching and detaching of outer bayonet housing  240  relative to inner bayonet housing  222 .  
         [0052]    This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.  
         [0053]    Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.