Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
HENRY JOHN INWOOD BILTON and THOMAS TIMMINS both of Athlone Villa,
Sycamore Road, Smethwick, near Birmingham Civil Engineers do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The machine is intended for inserting into pipes and consists of two or more
pistons and scrapers combined capable of cleaning the pipe of any accummulated
rust or silt and of passing any ordinary or permanent obstruction, of going round
any ordinary bend and of being set to any scraping power required as limited by
the pressure in the pipe behind it. It may be forced through the pipes by the
ordinary pressure in the mains or by a force pump.
The machine consists of two metal cones with short projecting tubes behind each
(in one casting). These are about the diameter of the pipe apart. Steel spindles
run through the tubes & cones united by a universal joint. The longitudinal
section of the machine so far described might be illustrated by two arrow heads
connected by a centre line. The back end or base of each cone is slightly dished
or cup shaped. The diameter of the base of each cone is such as will allow ample
clearance in passing any obstruction. On or about the line of cones maximum
diameter, or base of each cone, a number of steel tumblers are suspended on a
ring or by pivots, these fit loosely into grooves in the cones. They extend in
length from the tube to the inside of pipe and depend in number on the size
of pipe to be cleaned, but preferably about sixteen. A separate machine will
probably be required for each size of pipe.
The base of the cone in elevation would be represented by a number of radial
lines extending from the tube to the rim of the pipe. The sectors thus formed
are of equal area & represent a space and a tumbler alternately. The spaces
however are filled to the extent of the diameter of the cone base by metal webs
which are portion of the cone casting and out of which the dish shape is turned.
The tumblers are also dish shaped like the webs at base of cones but project
beyond the cones leaning slightly backwards on the pivots. The outer ends of
these tumblers bear on the inside of the pipe. Those in the front cone bear
alternately with those in the back cone so that every portion of the pipe's
perimeter is scraped. The scraping edge is diamond shaped or triangular, oue
side of the tumbler being bevilled off so as to present a cutting edge. At the
back of these tumblers a rubber disc is placed, which is pressed into position by a
regulating screw working on the tube above mentioned. These rubber discs
almost cover the area of the pipe when the water pressure is on, a small space being
left all round through which a fine jet of water passes and plays immediately on the
scraping ends of the tumblers. In passing any obstruction one or more of these
tumblers is capable of depressing at right angles and the rubber is curled inwards,
by its doing so through the inner portion taking up the bearing on the webs, the
lower half of tumbler receding into its groove. The diameter of the pivot's circle
on which the tumblers turn is such that the greater area of the outer portion of
tumblers over that of the near portion when the water pressure is on causes a
balance of pressure & the scraping ceases. This excess or balance of outer

page_text: pressure can be regulated by the above mentioned regulating screw so that the
scraper may be set to just skim the pipe or bear heavily on it as desired.
The length of the machine is about three times the diameter of its particular
size of pipe.
Dated th
131
1000
ISAAC TIMMINS,
Agent.
Machine for Scraping Water and other Pipes.
We, HENRY JOHN INWOOD BILTON of No. 29 Edsall Street Malvern near
Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria Civil Engineer, and THOMAS TIMMINS of
Thanet Street Malvern aforesaid, Civil Engineer, both late of Athlone Villa,
Sycamore Road, Smethwick, near Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This appliance is intended for insertion into water and other mains or pipes and
is capable of cleaning them of any accumulated rust, silt or other deposits, and of
passing any ordinary permanent obstruction, of going round any ordinary beud, and
of being set to any scraping power required, limited by the setting of certain
regulating nuts, and the pressure of the fluid in the pipe behind it. It may be
forced through the pipes by the ordinary pressure in them or by a force pump,
using either air or any other fluid.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a view half in section and half in elevation of this improved
appliance for scraping the interior of water and other mains and pipes.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the front cone of the appliance with the cutters
in position.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the back cone, whilst,
Figuro is a vertical central section of the front cone, and
Figure 5 is a rear elevation thereof.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section of the rear cone, and
Figure 7 is a rear elevation thereof.
Figures 8 and 9 are side and rear elevations of the cutters on the front cono
shown detached, and
Figures 10 and 11 are similar views of the cutters on the rear conc.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A. represents a screw threaded spindle fitted with two metal cones B and C
constructed as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 to 7 with radial grooves and c in
each of which is placed a pivotted cutter D or E constructed as illustrated in
Figures 8 to 11 respectively.
The cutters D D on the front cone are threaded at their inner ends upon a
split spring steel ring F which is let into a turned groove in the rear face of the
front cone B whilst the cutters E on the rear cone are threaded at about their
centres upon a smaller ring Glet into a groove g in the rear face of the rear
cone C.
Behind the cutters on the front cone are arranged a set of stout rubber or other
resilient washers H H gradually decreasing in size to the rearmost one bolind
which is arranged a metal ring or washer 1 and behind that again a pair of
nuts whereby any desired degree of pressure may be put upon the rubber
washers HH and therefore upon the cutters so as to force them with any desired
degree of pressure against the interior of the pipe.

page_text: Behind the cutters E a leather cup-shaped disc K is arranged of a slightly
Emaller diameter than the bore of the pipe, whilst behind said disc is a rubber
washer L similar to the washers H. H. and behind that again a pair of adjusting
nuts M M working upon the screw threaded spindle A. The rear end of this
latter is fitted with a ring N to which a wire or rod can be attached or whereby
the appliance can be conveniently handled, whilst if preferred a bar magnet may
be attached to enable the position of the scraping appliance to he readily located
in case it gets jambed in the pipe or main.
The cutters E on the rear cone are arranged in true alignment with the spaces
between the cutters D D on the front conc so that every portion of the perimeter
of the pipe will be scraped; and the bevel of one set of cutters is set in the
opposite direction to the other set of cutters in order to counteract any tendency
of the appliance to rotate.
The scraping power of the cutters on the rear cone is obtained by the excess of
pressure of the fluid on the larger area of the outer portion -y over that of
the inner portion 2-2 which is capable of being regulated by the regulating
nuts M M bearing on the loose collar N, thereby enabling the cutters on the rear
cone also to make a light or heavy cut as required, the cutting power in this case
being obtained by the pressure of the fluid.
The number of the cutters is immaterial subject to a proper support to the disc
being obtained.
On passing any ordinary obstruction one or more of the cutters can depress
thus allowing the appliance to pass, after which said cutters are forced again into
cutting position by the washers H H and the disc K, which latter is of slightly
smaller diameter than the pipe. This, with the inequalities of the pipe, permit
the passage of the necessary amount of fluid at a high pressure to scour the pipe
clean and drive forward the deposit removed by the cutters and for this latter
purpose the front cone is made smaller than the rear one thus leaving larger
spaces between the cutters for the passage of such sediment or chips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1. The berein described appliance for scraping the interior of water or other
mains or pipes consisting of the various parts constructed combined and arranged
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In an appliance of the kind herein described for scraping the interior of
water or other mains or pipes the combination of a series of radial pivotted cutters
with one or more resilient washers or disca together with an adjusting nut or nuts
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In an appliance of the kind herein described for scraping the interior of
water or other mains or pipes the combination with a series of pivotted radial
cutters of a leather disc forced against said cutters by the pressure of water or
other fluid in the pipe or main whereby said Huid is used to force the cutters
outwards against the interior of said pipe or main in addition to its ordinary use
as a propelling force substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of July One thousand eight hundred and
HENRY JOHN INWOOD BILTON.
THOMAS TIMMINS.