Pipeline servicing tool

• US 4,475,260 A
• Filed: 01/31/1983
• Issued: 10/09/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Beck
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Beck
• Inventors: Beck, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US06/462,528
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 15/104.05, 15/104.09, 15/104.12, 15/104.13, 15/104.3 R
• US Class Current: 15/104.12
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/047 the cleaning devices having internal motors , e.g. turbines for powering cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/051 the cleaning devices having internal motors , e.g. turbines for powering cleaning tools

Abstract

A liquid operated motor assembly has an exterior housing arranged to be driven rotatably by fluid pressure. The exterior housing has a cutter at its leading end which is dimensioned and arranged to clear a path through a pipe at least as large in cross section as trailing portions of the motor assembly. The motor assembly is connected at its trailing end to radially expandable links arranged when expanded to engage the inner surface of a pipe and stabilize the position of the motor assembly and arranged when retracted to allow retrieval of the tool through a bore made by the cutter. Operation of the expanding links is accomplished by a fluid operated cylinder assembly in the same circuit as the motor whereby to be expanded when the motor is in operation. Fluid supply for the motor includes forwardly directed orifices that clean debris away from the front of the tool. The discharge outlet for the motor is located within the cutter housing so that discharged fluid cools the cutter.

Claims

1. The pipeline servicing tool arranged to be pulled through a pipeline and arranged for connection to a pressured liquid source, said tool comprising

(a) a fluid driven motor assembly having leading and trailing ends and having a drive portion,

(b) connector means on said motor assembly for moving it through a pipe to be cleaned,

(c) an exterior tubular housing on said motor assembly arranged to be driven rotatably on said motor assembly by fluid pressure,

(d) said housing having an open leading end into which said connector means extends for securement to said motor assembly,

(e) said leading end comprising a circular toothed cutting edge,

(f) fluid transmitting means connected to said motor assembly for admitting pressured liquid to said motor assembly from a pressured liquid source,

(g) said cutting edge being dimensioned and arranged to clear a path through a pipe larger in diameter than trailing portions of said motor assembly.

2. The pipeling servicing tool of claim 1 including a fluid operated cylinder assembly secured on the trailing end of said motor assembly, and radially expandable and contractible link means connected to said fluid operated cylinder assembly arranged to be expanded against the interior of a pipe when said cylinder assembly is supplied with fluid pressure to stabilize said tool interiorly of a pipe, said link means in the contractible condition thereof being smaller in diameter than said cutting edge.

3. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 including a fluid operated cylinder assembly secured on the trailing end of said motor assembly and being connected into the fluid driving portion of said motor whereby said cylinder assembly is actuated concurrently with the actuation of said motor assembly, and radially expandable and contractible link means connected to said fluid operated cylinder assembly arranged to be expanded against the interior of a pipe when said cylinder assembly is supplied with fluid pressure to stabilize said tool interiorly of a pipe, said link means in the contractible condition thereof being smaller in diameter than said cutting edge.

4. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 including a fluid operated cylinder assembly secured on the trailing end of said motor assembly, radially expandable and contractable link means connected to said fluid operated cylinder assembly arranged to be expanded when said cylinder assembly is supplied with fluid pressure, and wheel means on the end of said link means arranged for rolling engagement with the interior surface of a pipe when said link means is expanded to stabilized said tool interiorly of a pipe, said link means in a contractible condition thereof being smaller in diameter than said cutting edge.

5. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 including a fluid operated cylinder assembly secured on the trailing end of said motor assembly, radially expandable and contractible link means connected to said fluid operated cylinder assembly arranged to be expanded when said cylinder assembly is supplied with fluid pressure, wheel means on the end of said link means arranged for rolling engagement with the interior surface of a pipe when said link is expanded to stablilize said tool interiorly of a pipe, said link means in the contractible condition thereof being smaller in diameter than said cutting edge, and stabilizing wheel means on the leading end of said motor assembly.

6. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 5 wherein said connector means is secured to the leading end of said motor assembly for pulling the assembly through a pipe, and means on the trailing end of said motor assembly arranged for connection to a retrieving line.

7. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a conduit-like member establishing communication between said motor assembly and a pressured liquid source.

8. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a conduit-like member establishing communication between said motor assembly and a pressured liquid source, said conduit-like member also comprising a tongue arranged to be connected to a pulling source.

9. The pipeline servicing tool of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a conduit-like member establishing communication between said motor assembly and a pressured liquid source, and nozzle means in said conduit-like member directing some of the pressured liquid interiorly of a pipe at the leading end of said motor assembly to wash debris ahead of said tool.