Industrial pipe thread cleaner

• US 4,372,003 A
• Filed: 06/10/1980
• Issued: 02/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Tool & Supply Co., Inc. (International Tool & Supply)
• Original Assignee: International Tool & Supply Co., Inc. (International Tool & Supply)
• Inventors: Toelke, Lester W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US06/158,342
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 15/21 R, 15/56, 15/71, 15/75, 15/88, 15/97 R, 15/104.03, 15/104.04, 15/104.05, 15/104.1 R, 15/76, 15/181
• US Class Current: 15/88
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/021 Cleaning pipe ends or pipe fittings, e.g. before soldering grinding tube ends B24B9/007

Abstract

A powered pipe thread cleaner for oil pipe and oil casings has a housing which defines a sump for collecting dirty solvent during the thread cleaning process. The thread cleaner is of the driven brush type and employs specially configured brushes and brush support structures for minimal interference where the flow of dirty fluid within the housing during cleaning. The thread cleaner is designed for operator comfort and ease of operation.

Claims

1. A powered thread cleaner especially adapted for cleaning threads of industrial tubulars, comprising:

(a) a housing having an end for receiving the threaded member to be cleaned;

(b) a brush support structure rotatably supported and driven within said housing;

(c) a set of brushes supported around the periphery of said brush support structure, said brush support structure having an irregularly shaped perimeter defining a plurality of perimeter portions extending from a central portion, said perimeter portions having means for adjustably securing a respective brush in a selected orientation with respect to the threads to be cleaned, and

(d) and set of brushes including one or more brush assemblies having (i) a shaped mandril upstanding from the brush support member and (ii) a plurality of relatively thin circular brushes spaced from one another on said mandril and mounted on said mandril in an adjustably fixed orientation with respect thereto.

2. The thread cleaner according to claim 1, wherein each said perimeter portion includes a plurality of receptacles for receiving the mandril.

3. The thread cleaner according to claim 2 and including means for injecting a cleaning solvent onto the threads during cleaning, and wherein said housing further includes sump defining structure at the bottom part of said housing for receiving said solvent after it has washed the threads being cleaned.

4. The thread cleaner according to claim 3 and including a connector at the bottom of said sump defining structure for receiving a line for passing the solvent away from the housing.

5. The thread cleaner according to claim 3, wherein said sump defining structure extends substantially along the entire bottom portion of said housing.

6. The thread cleaner according to claim 1 and including:

(a) a reversible motor for alternately moving said brush support structure in opposite rotational directions; and

(b) a reversing mechanism coupled to said motor for controlling said rotational direction of the brush support structure.

7. A powered thread cleaner especially adapted for cleaning threads of industrial tubulars, comprising:

(a) a housing having an end for receiving the threaded tubular to be cleaned;

(b) a brush structure movably supported in said housing for scrubbing the threads and removing deposits thereon;

(c) a rotatable support member for supporting and moving said brush structure against the threads to be cleaned, said brush structure comprising one or more brushes which include;

(i) a shaped mandril having a cross-sectional configuration defined by a number of equilateral sides, said support member defining a receptable for receiving said mandril;

(ii) one or more circular, relatively thin brushes supported on said mandril; and

(iii) structure for removably securing the mandril to the receptacle in a selected orientation, whereby the orientation of said brush with respect to the support member may be changed from time to time to allow different portions of said brushes to engage the threads to be cleaned.

8. A powered thread cleaner especially adapted for cleaning threads of industrial tubulars, comprising:

(a) a housing having an end for receiving the threaded tubular to be cleaned;

(b) a brush structure movably supported in said housing for scrubbing the threads and removing deposits thereon;

(c) a fluid injecting mechanism supported within said housing for injecting fluid onto the threads during cleaning to thereby wash the removed deposit away from the threads;

(d) said housing including a shaped sump defining structure in a bottom portion thereof, and said housing being shaped to allow the injected fluid to drain into and collect in the sump after it has been injected onto the threads;

(e) said housing further defining an exit port in the bottom of said sump to allow the collector fluid to pass from the housing, whereby when the collected fluid is in the sump, it is sufficiently removed from the moving brush structure to minimize sloshing and recontamination of the threads;

(f) a rotatable support member for supporting and moving said brush structure against the threads to be cleaned, said brush structure comprising one or more brushes which include;

(i) a shaped mandril having a cross-sectional configuration defined by a number of equilateral sides, said support member defining a receptacle for receiving said mandril;

(ii) one or more circular, relatively thin brushes supported on said mandril; and

(iii) structure for removably securing the mandril to the receptacle in a selected orientation, whereby the orientation of said brush with respect to the support member may be changed from time to time to allow different portions of said brushes to engage the threads to be cleaned.

9. A powered thread cleaner especially adapted for cleaning threads of industrial tubulars, comprising:

(a) a housing having an end for receiving the threaded tubular to be cleaned;

(b) a configured brush structure movably supported in said housing for engaging and scrubbing the threads and removing deposits thereon;

(c) a fluid injecting mechanism supported within said housing for injecting fluid onto the threads during cleaning to thereby wash the removed deposit away from the threads;

(d) said housing including a shaped sump defining structure in a bottom portion thereof, and said housing being shaped to allow the injected fluid to drain into and collect in the sump after it has been injected onto the threads;

(e) said housing further defining an exit port in the bottom of said sump to allow the collected fluid to pass from the housing, whereby when the collected fluid is in the sump, it is sufficiently removed from the moving brush structure to minimize sloshing and recontamination of the threads;

(f) a reversible motor for alternately moving said brush structure in opposite rotational directions; and

(g) a reversing mechanism coupled to said motor for controlling said rotational direction of the brush structure, whereby rotation in one direction with the brush structure in engagement with the brushes effects screwing of the thread cleaner onto the tubular, and whereby rotation in the opposite direction effects unscrewing of the brush structure off the tubular.