Patent ID: 7828903

Claim:
A method of cleaning a tuberculated sanitary water line, comprising: selecting a section of sanitary water line to be cleaned; flowing sanitary water into the section of the sanitary water line; introducing a rotary cleaning tool which is a drill bit having a circular side profile which fits closely with the sanitary water line, which bit is mounted on a hollow drill string having a flow channel therein into the sanitary water line section at its proximal end, which drill string and cleaning tool are in a sanitary condition; rotating the cleaning tool and advancing it towards the distal end of the section in a manner effective to remove buildup from the inside of the line; drawing water and particulates removed from the inside of the sanitary water line section through an opening in a front face of the bit, which opening communicates with the flow channel in the drill string; ejecting the water and particulates from the drill string; maintaining flow of sanitary water into the water line section to one or more locations ahead of the drill bit; then withdrawing the cleaning tool and drill string from the sanitary water line section wherein the sanitary water line remains in a sanitary condition during the steps of the cleaning method.