Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using solid work treating agents
Patent
1993-02-25
1994-11-15
Dean, Richard O.
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Using solid work treating agents
134 2211, 134 2212, 134 23, 134 32, 15104061, B08B 904
Patent
active
053644735
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method for treating the inside of a pipe, and to a treatment element for carrying out such a method. Although the description which follows relates mainly to the cleaning of air conditioning ducts of the type known in air conditioning systems for buildings, it must be realised that the present invention is suitable for all kinds of pipes, for example gas pipes, oil pipes, pipes for conveying so-called bulk materials, and so on.
Various methods are known for treating the inside of a pipe. For example, so-called ragging, where a bristly element is moved through the pipe and brushes with the brush hairs along the inside wall of the pipe. In vertically disposed pipes gravity is used for moving the ragger. In horizontal running pipes the ragger is often designed in such a way that it can move on wheels through the pipe.
The known treatment methods are disadvantageous. For example, in a pipe not running vertically the propulsion of the treatment element requires special measures. This is one of the reasons why such a treatment element is generally heavy, is complex in design, is relatively large, is above all expensive, and is generally susceptible to breakdown. It also often occurs that the pipe is not cleaned properly at all points. This is caused, inter alia, because in many cases the cross-section of the pipe varies over the length thereof. These variations can take place stepwise. Obstacles such as guide vanes and the like are also often situated in the pipes. The most well-known treatment elements cannot adapt well or at all to the changing conditions inside the pipe, with the result that the quality of the treatment of the inside of the pipe varies. Due to the fact that most treatment methods have to be carried out with a relatively heavy treatment element, the treatment of relatively fragile or very small pipes is impossible, or at least very difficult. In particular, in the case of more or less uncompressed conveyance of gaseous media such as air, relatively fragile pipes with corresponding light supporting structures are in fact used. Such pipes are found in many large modern buildings, such as offices, hospitals, retirement homes etc. The overall length of these pipe systems is often considerable. Besides, the scale of shapes and dimensions of the cross-sections of such pipes is very extensive. The accessibility of these types of pipe systems is, however, often very poor, and they are often not provided at all with access gates or inspection doors.
In addition to the disadvantages of the known treatment methods already mentioned above, the discharge of loosened dirt is, for example, a problem when cleaning the inside of a pipe.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems satisfactorily. To this end, the invention provides a method for treating the inside of a pipe, in particular of a pipe for the transportation of compressible media such as air, which method is characterised in that a flow of a compressible medium is generated in the pipe and in that, while a compressible medium is flowing through the pipe a treatment element is moved in the lengthwise direction through the pipe under the influence of the thrust of the medium against said element. The movement of the treatment element is in this case controlled by a flexible pulling element, and through the thrust of the medium against the treatment element a flexible wall part of the treatment element running in the peripheral direction is pressed against the wall of the pipe.
Due to the fact that a compressible medium is flowing through the duct, the dirt or other material loosened during the treatment is automatically discharged to the downstream end of the pipe. Due to the fact that use is made of a wall part of the treatment element running in the peripheral direction which is pressed against the wall of the pipe, contact between the treatment element and the wall of the pipe is ensured at all points of the pipe. The treatment element can be controlled or slowed down by means of
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Chaudhry Saeed
Dean Richard O.
Milieu Diensten Combinatie B.V.
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