Method for cleaning water pipe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of cleaning a pipe comprising the steps of:
- (1) communicating a source of liquid to the pipe, and flowing the liquid through the pipe towards an outlet;
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for cleaning water pipe. The pipe is preferably connected to a source of water which normally flows through the pipe to an outlet. A valve is positioned at the outlet and is rapidly opened and closed. When the valve is closed a pressure pulse is created in the pipe and travels towards the source of fluid. This wave is reflected back from the source towards the outlet. The alternate waves expand and contract the pipe wall, and cause pressure fluctuations within the pipe. The combined action removes scale from the wall of the pipe, and when the valve is opened the removed scale passes out of the pipe.
38 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of cleaning a pipe comprising the steps of:
(1) communicating a source of liquid to the pipe, and flowing the liquid through the pipe towards an outlet; - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. (2) positioning a valve at the outlet;
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(3) rapidly closing and opening the valve at a rate of several times a minute to alternately block and allow flow of fluid from the pipe out of the outlet, blocked the fluid with the closed valve creating pressure waves within the pipe, removing scale from the interior of the pipe walls. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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13. A method of cleaning a pipe comprising the steps of:
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(1) communicating a source of fluid flow to a pipe, inlet and flowing the fluid from the source through the pipe inlet to an outlet; (2) mounting a rotary valve which is movable between a limited circumferential extent between opened and closed positions on the outlet; and (3) controlling the opening and closing of the rotary valve to achieve a desired cycling frequency of valve opening and closing times, the cycling frequency being greater than one cycle per minute.
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Specification