Patent Publication Number: US-10786839-B2

Title: Internal pipe cleaning tool and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Application U.S. Ser. No. 62/613,320, filed on Jan. 3, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     New water and sewer pipes have a smooth interior surface or wall, which is ideal for fluid flow through the pipes. Over time, material and debris can build up on the interior pipe wall, thereby minimizing laminate fluid flow and increasing turbulent fluid flow. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the interior pipe walls in order to maintain full fluid flow through the pipes. Cleaning of the inside wall of these pipes is also required before installing a liner sleeve. Prior art cleaning methods utilize high pressure water from rotating tools inserted into the pipe to clean the internal pipe wall. However, such high-pressure cleaning leaves the inside of the pipe rough, which is detrimental to optimum fluid flow and to relining. High pressure water tools also do not have the power of mechanical cleaning by a machine, and can damage the inside wall of the pipe or burst the pipe wall. 
     Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a tool and method for honing the inside of an existing pipe, without damaging the pipe. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tool and method for mechanically cleaning the inside wall of water and sewer pipes. 
     A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a tool and method for cleaning the inside wall of water and sewer pipes using a cleaning head which does not touch the inside wall of the pipes. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tool and method for honing the inside surface of pipes by stabilizing a honer head into close proximity with the interior pipe wall, without touching the head to the wall. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is a provision of a pipe cleaning tool to improve fluid flow through the pipe. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pipe cleaning tool which is rotated while pulled through the pipe to remove debris from the inside wall of the pipe. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a method of cleaning the inside wall of a pipe using a rotating reaming head pulled through the pipe. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pipe cleaning tool having interchangeable honer heads. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a pipe cleaning tool which is economical to manufacture, and durable and safe in use. 
     These and other objectives have become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The pipe cleaning tool of the present invention includes a honing or reaming head mounted on a hollow shaft which is pulled through a pipe while rotating so that the head removes debris from the inside wall of the pipe. The diameter of the head is in close proximity to the internal pipe wall. The head is stabilized by a plurality of legs attached to the shaft behind the honer head and extending longitudinally. The legs defined a perimeter slightly larger than the diameter of the honer head and slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe. 
     In use, the forward end of the shaft is coupled to a machine for pulling and rotating the tool within the pipe, so that the cutting elements of the honer head remove debris from the inside wall of the pipe. The legs stabilize the head to prevent direct contact of the cutting elements with the pipe wall. A lubricant, such as water, flows through the hollow shaft and is ejected through ports adjacent to the reamer head as a tool rotates, so as to provide lubrication during the cleaning operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pipe cleaning tool of the present invention, for use in a large diameter pipe. 
         FIG. 2  is an end elevation of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 , attached to shaft which pulls the tool through a pipe. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pipe cleaning tool, according to the present invention, for use in a small diameter pipe. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The pipe cleaning tool of the present invention is a close tolerance pipe honing reamer and is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1-3 . The reamer or tool  10  includes a honing head  12  having a plurality of cutting elements  14  on the forward end of the head. The honing head  12  is mounted on a hollow shaft  16 . The forward end of the shaft  16  includes threads  18  for connection to a horizontal drilling machine  20  or pit launch unit, which pulls the tool  10  through the pipe  30 , in the direction indicated by arrow  32  in  FIG. 3 , while rotating the honing head  12 . 
     The shaft  16  extends rearwardly behind the honing head  12  and supports a plurality of centering or stabilizing legs or bars  22 . Preferably, at least three legs are provided on the tool  10 . The legs  22  are fixed to the shaft  16  by support arms  24 . The legs  22  may have various configurations, but in one preferred embodiment, the legs are V-shaped, with the apex facing radially outwardly. In a preferred embodiment, the forward ends of the legs may have a bend, as shown in  FIG. 1 , which functions to direct the debris removed from the pipe wall rearwardly away from the head  12 . 
     The legs  22  are elongated and extend longitudinally to form a perimeter or diameter which is slightly less than the inside diameter of the pipe and slightly greater than the outside diameter of a perimeter defined by the honing head cutting elements  14 . The legs  22  thus provide stability to the honing head  12 , and maintain the honing head in close tolerance to the inside wall of the pipe, without the cutting elements  14  touching the inside wall. The cutting elements  14  thus clean the inside pipe wall and provide a smooth surface for laminar fluid flow or for liner installment. 
     The honing reamer tool  10  can be substantially of any size, for example, from 6 inches to 48 inches in diameter. The reamer tool  10  can cut out hard material quickly in a single pass due to the high rotation torque of the drilling machine  20 . The reamer tool  10  is more cost effective than prior art high pressure water jets, which sometimes require multiple passes through the pipe. The cutting elements  14  leave a very smooth internal pipe wall. 
     Each honing head  12  is custom built to fit a specific pipe size and material. Interchangeable heads  12  and support legs  22  can be mounted on the shaft  16 . The honing head is operated at high rotational speed and torque to provide fast and effective cleaning of the internal pipe wall. Long pipe runs can be cleaned with the tool  10 . The legs  22  center the honing head  12  within the pipe  30  to maintain close tolerance of the cutting elements  14 , without the elements  14  touching the internal wall of the pipe  30 . 
     The shaft  16  includes multiple outlets or holes  26  through which water or other lubricating fluid can be ejected inside the pipe as the tool  10  is operated. The water or liquid mixes with the debris and material cut by the elements  14  and helps flush the debris out of the pipe. 
     The cutting elements  14  are held in close tolerance, preferrably ⅛ inch- 1/16 inch to the internal pipe wall, leaving a very smooth finish needed for relining or to increase laminar fluid flow through the pipe and eliminating or minimizing turbulent flow. 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the cleaning tool  10 A for use in small diameter pipes, as compared to the tool  10  used in large diameter pipes. Tools  10  and  10 A have substantially similar components and function in substantially the same way. More particularly, the tool  10 A includes a honer or reaming head  12 A with cutting elements  14 A. The head  12 A is mounted on a hollow shaft  16 A which is adapted to be coupled to the machine to pull and rotate the tool  10 A, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to tool  10 . Tool  10 A has stabilizing legs  22 A mounted to the shaft  16 A via collars  24 A with short legs standing radially outwardly between the collar  24 A and the legs  22 A. A ring  28  is provided on the rear end of the shaft  16 A, to allow the tool  10 A to be connected to a cable or other means for pulling the tool  10 A rearwardly through the pipe. 
     The tools  10  and  10 A and their method of use protects the pipe  30  from damage. The tools  10  and  10 A can remove hard deposits inside the pipe  30 , such as calcium, which often is not removed by high pressure water cleaning. 
     The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.