GB2250076A - Pipeline cleaning apparatus - Google Patents
Pipeline cleaning apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2250076A GB2250076A GB9123634A GB9123634A GB2250076A GB 2250076 A GB2250076 A GB 2250076A GB 9123634 A GB9123634 A GB 9123634A GB 9123634 A GB9123634 A GB 9123634A GB 2250076 A GB2250076 A GB 2250076A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- boom
- hydraulic
- cutter device
- cutter
- driving head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title abstract 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011083 cement mortar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003822 epoxy resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B44/00—Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
- E21B44/02—Automatic control of the tool feed
- E21B44/06—Automatic control of the tool feed in response to the flow or pressure of the motive fluid of the drive
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
- B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
- B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
- B08B9/043—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
- B08B9/045—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes the cleaning devices being rotated while moved, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
- E03F—SEWERS; CESSPOOLS
- E03F9/00—Arrangements or fixed installations methods or devices for cleaning or clearing sewer pipes, e.g. by flushing
- E03F9/002—Cleaning sewer pipes by mechanical means
- E03F9/005—Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/22—Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatus for cleaning out underground pipelines, includes a base frame (18), a boom (28) pivotally mounted on said base frame, a cutter driving head (32) slidably mounted on the boom, and a rotatably mounted adaptor element (33) forming part of said driving head and capable of driving a connected string of flexible rods (12) carrying a cutter device. So that the flexible rods are protected against breakage, first and second hydraulic motors (40 and 42) are provided for rotating the adaptor element and for advancing or retracting the cutter head (32) along the boom (28), said hydraulic motors being powered by respective pumps (53 and 57) driven by a common power unit (52), the arrangement being such that any increase in the rate of advance of the cutter device along the underground pipeline is accompanied by an increase in the rotational speed of the cutter device. <IMAGE>
Description
Pipeline boring apparatus.
The invention relates to pipeline boring apparatus, that is to say the apparatus which is used for example for boring out the various deposits, corrosion and dirt from within underground water supply pipes prior to their lining with bituminous or epoxy resin materials or with cement mortar.
So-called rack-feed borers are often used for this purpose, such a machine being located at ground level and arranged to rotate a cutter device operating within an underground pipe by means of a length of flexible metal rod. A length of underground pipe is generally worked upon in sections by first digging down from ground level, at distances of perhaps 200 yards to form access holes intersecting the pipeline, and then feeding a plurality of flexible rods, connected together end to end, down one of the access holes, a leading flexible rod carrying the cutter device referred to and a last flexible rod being connected to a driving head of the boring machine.
There is of course a considerable bending of the flexible rods where they extend downwards from the boring machine into the access hole and from the access hole into the pipeline. The access hole may be relieved at one side to minimise bending of the rods and the axis of the driving head of the boring machine may be inclined to match as nearly as possible the angle of the driving end of the flexible rod extending into the access hole.
Nevertheless, lengths of flexible rod do break from time to time and the retrieval of the lengths of rod and the cutter device remaining in the pipeline concerned at these times can be difficult and time consuming. The financial cost in lengths of rod and in 'down time' before the boring operation can be re-started can be considerable.
The invention has for its object to provide a rack-feed borer by means of which this particular problem will be at least alleviated.
According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for boring out underground pipelines, the apparatus including a base frame; a boom mounted on said base frame; a cutter driving head slidably mounted on said boom; a rotatably mounted adaptor element forming part of said driving head, said adaptor element being drivably connected to a first hydraulic motor for rotating said adaptor element and a connected cutter device; and a second hydraulic motor for advancing or retracting the cutter driving head along the boom and thereby advancing or retracting the cutter device; the first and second hydraulic motors being powered by respective first and second hydraulic pumps driven by a common power unit, the arrangement being such that the hydraulic motors are both driven at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the power unit whereby an increase in the rate of advance of the cutter device along the underground pipeline concerned is accompanied by an increase in the rotational speed of said cutter device.
The cutter driving head may be connected to an endless chain which encircles respective chain wheels at the opposite ends of the boom, said second hydraulic motor being drivably connected to one of said chain wheels. In this case, a bearing block carrier may be slidably mounted on the boom and connected to the endless chain some distance in advance of the cutter driving head.
The apparatus may include a further hydraulic pump for retraction movements of the cutter device and having a greater maximum rate of discharge than said second hydraulic pump, valve means being provided whereby said further hydraulic motor can be brought into operation to retract the cutter device at a more rapid rate than the maximum rate of advance of said device.
The boom may be pivotally mounted on the base frame and a hydraulic ram may be provided for varying the inclination of the boom relative to the base frame, the apparatus in this case also including valve means for effecting the flow of hydraulic fluid to or from the hydraulic ram.
In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of apparatus embodying the invention in use for boring out an underground pipeline,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus,
Figure 3 is a side view thereof,
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of some details of construction, and
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit of the apparatus.
Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, apparatus embodying the invention, and generally indicated 10, is shown in use for boring out an underground pipeline. As shown, access to the underground pipeline has been gained by digging down from ground level, at distances of perhaps 200 yards, to form access holes intersecting the pipeline. A plurality of flexible rods 12, connected together end to end, have been fed down one of the access holes, as shown, a leading flexible rod carrying a cutter device 14 which is to operate within the pipeline to scour it free from the various deposits, corrosion and dirt which have built up within its bore. The end of the flexible rod projecting above ground is connected to the apparatus 10, the latter being arranged to rotate the rod and simultaneously advance the rotating cutter device along the pipeline.As indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1, this technique is generally carried out against a flow of water through the pipeline which flushes the debris produced into the access hole from where it can be extracted and disposed of.
It will be seen that there is considerable bending of the flexible rods where they extend downwards from the boring machine into the access hole and from the access hole into the pipeline. A roller arrangement 16 is provided at the entry to the pipeline section being worked on and the access hole is shown to have been relieved somewhat adjacent the boring machine to minimise as much as possible the amount of bending of the rods.
However, because such relieving of the access hole entry can generally be of fairly limited extent, and because underground pipelines are at various depths beneath ground level, it will be understood that the angle of the flexible rod as it emerges from the access hole can vary considerably from one site to another.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 has a base frame 18 mounted on wheels 20 and provided with a drawbar 22 by means of which the apparatus can be connected to a towing vehicle to be towed from place to place. The base frame is also provided with screw jacks 24 which, as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 3, can be lowered to stabilise the apparatus before it is put into operation.
Pivotally mounted on the base frame about the axis of a horizontal shaft 26 is a boom 28 the inclination of which, as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 3, can be varied by the extension or retraction of a hydraulic ram 30, the latter being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the boom and to a rearward end of the base frame.
A cutter driving head 32 is slidably mounted on the boom and is connected to an endless chain 34 which encircles respective chain wheels 36,38 at the opposite ends of said boom. A rotatably mounted adaptor element 33, to which an endmost one of the flexible rods 12 can be drivably connected, is carried by said cutter driving head.
A first hydraulic motor 42 is drivably connected to the adaptor element 33 so that, when fed with oil under pressure, it can rotate the connected string of flexible rods to drive the cutter device 14. A second hydraulic motor 40 is drivably connected to the chain wheel 36 and when fed with oil under pressure can advance or retract the cutter driving head along the boom, as required, to advance or retract the cutter device operating within the underground pipeline.
A bearing block carrier 44 is also slidably mounted on the boom 28 and is connected to the endless chain 34 some distance in advance of the cutter driving head 32. A bearing block 45 which is mounted on the carrier 44 is formed in two halves (see Figure 4), that is to say a lower half 46 which is fixed on the carrier and an upper half 48 pivotally connected to said lower half. A quick release mechanism 50 is provided to permit the bearing block to be opened for the fitment of successive lengths of flexible rod to the string of such rods.
An internal combustion engine 52 is mounted on the base frame alongside the boom 28 and drives hydraulic pumps 53,55 and 57 (see Figure 5) for feeding oil under pressure to the hydraulic motors.
Flexible supply and return pipes 54 and 56 which are connected to the hydraulic motor 42 extend along a carrier device, generally indicated 58, which is constituted by a plurality of carrier elements 59 articulated together. The arrangement is such that, as illustrated diagrammatically in
Figure 2, the pipes 54 and 56 can extend neatly alongside the boom for a variable distance according to the position of the cutter driving head.
As illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5, the hydraulic pumps 53 and 57 are contained in separate hydraulic circuits for feeding oil under pressure to the first and second hydraulic motors 42 and 40 respectively.
The pump 53 is arranged to drive the hydraulic motor 42 to rotate the cutter device by way of a pressure relief valve 60 and a spool valve 62, oil being returned to sump 64 through a filter arrangement 66. The pump 57 is arranged to drive the hydraulic motor 40 to advance the cutter device along the underground pipeline by way of a pressure relief valve 68, a spool valve 70 and a spool valve 72. As drawn in Figure 5, when the spool of valve 70 is moved to the right, the discharge from pump 57 is directed through valve 72, the spool of which will also have been moved to the right, to drive the motor 40 in the direction to advance the cutter device. It will be seen that the discharge from the hydraulic pump 55 will simultaneously be directed back to sump by way of pressure relief valve 74, spool valve 70 and filter arrangement 65.
The pump 55, which has a far greater maximum rate of discharge than pump 57, is arranged to drive the hydraulic motor 40 to retract the cutter device along the underground pipeline at a fairly rapid rate. It will therefore be seen that when the spool of valve 70 is moved to the left, and the spool of valve 72 moved to the left also, the discharge from pump 55 drives the motor in the reverse direction from before, the discharge from motor 57 being simultaneously returned to sump.
The discharge from pump 57 can be used for extending the hydraulic ram 30 when the inclination of the boom 28 is to be increased. This is effected by moving (as viewed in Figure 5) the spool of valve 70 to the right and also moving to the right the spool of a further valve 74 so that oil from pump 57 can flow through a flow restrictor 76 and hydraulic fuse 78 to extend the ram 30 at a steady rate. When it is desired to retract the ram 30, the spool of valve 74 is moved to the left so that oil from within said ram can flow back to sump at a rate determined by the flow restrictor.The hydraulic fuse 78 is a device which is arranged to come into effect in the event of a hose failure, for example, to prevent the boom from falling freely; it will allow the reverse flow of hydraulic fluid to normally lower the boom 28 but will not allow the massive flow of fluid which might result from a hose failure.
The arrangement is such that throughout the operation of the apparatus the first and second hydraulic motors are both driven at a speed directly proportional to engine speed.
Consequently, if engine speed is increased in an attempt to increase the rate of advance of the cutter device along the underground pipeline, the rotational speed of the cutter device is increased in the same proportion. In this way the rates of feed and rotational speed of the cutter device are no longer variable independently of each other by the operatives of the apparatus and this has the effect of cutting down the incidence of breakage of the flexible rods driving the cutter device.
A secondary reason why the incidence of rod breakage has been reduced in the apparatus illustrated is that because the boom is pivotally mounted on the base frame it can very quickly and easily be adjusted to exactly the correct angle to suit the angle of the endmost flexible rod extending upwards from the access hole. The tendency is therefore for the apparatus to be operated with a minimum of flexing of the flexible rods.
Various modifications may be made. For example, the inclination of the boom need not necessarily be variable by the extension or retraction of a hydraulic ram; it could be variable by mechanical means including a screwthreaded adjustment for making fine adjustments to the inclination of the boom. Indeed, the inclination of the boom could be fixed, that is to say the boom could be fixed on the base frame.
Claims (6)
1. Apparatus for boring out underground pipelines, the apparatus including a base frame; a boom mounted on said base frame; a cutter driving head slidably mounted on said boom; a rotatably mounted adaptor element forming part of said driving head, said adaptor element being drivably connected to a first hydraulic motor for rotating said adaptor element and a connected cutter device; and a second hydraulic motor for advancing or retracting the cutter driving head along the boom and thereby advancing or retracting the cutter device, the first and second hydraulic motors being powered by respective first and second hydraulic pumps driven by a common power unit, the arrangement being such that the hydraulic motors are both driven at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the power unit whereby any increase-in the rate of advance of the cutter device along the underground pipeline concerned is accompanied by an increase in the rotational speed of said cutter device.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the cutter driving head is connected to an endless chain which encircles respective chain wheels at the opposite ends of the boom, said second hydraulic motor being drivably connected to one of said chain wheels.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which a bearing block carrier is slidably mounted on the boom and is connected to the endless chain in advance of the cutter driving head.
4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including a further hydraulic pump for retraction movements of the cutter device and having a greater maximum rate of discharge than said second hydraulic pump, valve means being provided whereby said further hydraulic motor can be brought into operation to retract the cutter device at a more rapid rate than the maximum rate of advance of said device.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the boom is pivotally mounted on the base frame and a hydraulic ram is provided for varying the inclination of the boom relative to the base frame, the apparatus also including valve means for effecting the flow of hydraulic fluid to or from the hydraulic ram.
6. Apparatus for boring out underground pipelines, the apparatus being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909025340A GB9025340D0 (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1990-11-21 | Pipeline boring apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9123634D0 GB9123634D0 (en) | 1992-01-02 |
| GB2250076A true GB2250076A (en) | 1992-05-27 |
Family
ID=10685760
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909025340A Pending GB9025340D0 (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1990-11-21 | Pipeline boring apparatus |
| GB9123634A Withdrawn GB2250076A (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1991-11-07 | Pipeline cleaning apparatus |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909025340A Pending GB9025340D0 (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1990-11-21 | Pipeline boring apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9025340D0 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL1032060C2 (en) * | 2006-06-26 | 2008-01-02 | Nacap B V | Method and assembly are for cleaning a pipe conduit and involve coupling of a cleaning device with end of pipe or pipe extent |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2037630A (en) * | 1978-12-22 | 1980-07-16 | Salzgitter Maschinen Ag | Hydraulic drilling machine |
| GB2057929A (en) * | 1979-09-13 | 1981-04-08 | Boa Drilling Equipment Inc | A mobile drill unit |
| GB1590816A (en) * | 1978-01-23 | 1981-06-10 | Cooper Ind Inc | Controls for hydraulic percussion drill |
-
1990
- 1990-11-21 GB GB909025340A patent/GB9025340D0/en active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-11-07 GB GB9123634A patent/GB2250076A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1590816A (en) * | 1978-01-23 | 1981-06-10 | Cooper Ind Inc | Controls for hydraulic percussion drill |
| GB2037630A (en) * | 1978-12-22 | 1980-07-16 | Salzgitter Maschinen Ag | Hydraulic drilling machine |
| GB2057929A (en) * | 1979-09-13 | 1981-04-08 | Boa Drilling Equipment Inc | A mobile drill unit |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL1032060C2 (en) * | 2006-06-26 | 2008-01-02 | Nacap B V | Method and assembly are for cleaning a pipe conduit and involve coupling of a cleaning device with end of pipe or pipe extent |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9025340D0 (en) | 1991-01-02 |
| GB9123634D0 (en) | 1992-01-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |