FI127911B - Pipe cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The pipe cleaning device has a first flow tube (10a) having a first end (12) for connection to the pipe to be cleaned and having a second end (14), a first charging tube (16a) branching from the first flow tube, which first charging tube has an opening lid, and a container (24) having an outer wall. The first charging tube and at least a portion of the first flow tube are located inside the container. The device further comprises a compressor (20) for generating compressed air and a compressed air tube (22) for directing the compressed air from the compressor to the first charging tube (16a), which compressed air pipe has a feed valve (56). The compressor is located inside the container.

Description

20185231 prh 08 -02- 2019

Pipe cleaning equipment

The invention relates to a pipe cleaning apparatus comprising a first flow pipe having a first end for connection to a pipe to be cleaned and a second end, a first loading branch branched from a first flow pipe, the first loading pipe having an opening, a container having an outer wall and at least a a flow conduit is provided for supplying compressed air to the compressor and for supplying compressed air from the compressor to the first charge pipe having the inlet valve.

The mines produce large quantities of fine aggregate and water-containing sludge and sediment, which are led along sludge pipes to sludge ponds. In the slurry slurry, the fine solids in the slurry settle at the bottom of the pools and the purified water from the slurry is recycled back to the mining process. Large mining areas typically have several separate sludge pipes, which can be several kilo meters long. During the use of slurry pipes, some of the solids in the slurry flowing through the pipes settle and adhere to the pipe wall, thereby reducing the open cross-sectional area of the pipe. To maintain the slurry pipes in good working order, they should be cleaned at regular intervals. The slurry tubes are cleaned by inserting a sponge-like, compressible cleaning ball into the tube to be cleaned, which is passed along the tube by means of 20 compressed air. The purge ball moves inside the tube to be cleaned, pushed by compressed air from the purge ball feed point to the slurry flow direction and exits the sludge tube through the outlet end of the tube. When moving inside the sludge tube, the cleaning ball collects the fines adhering to the sludge tube walls.

In the known method of cleaning slurry pipes, a loading pipe is connected to the slurry pipe line to be cleaned, through which the cleaning ball is fed to the pipe to be cleaned. After feeding the cleaning ball, the end of the charging tube is closed and compressed air is supplied to the charging tube. Pipe cleaning equipment with a charging tube is described in US 4119834 and US 4793016. The charging tube can be provided in a separate container which is delivered to the cleaning site. The compressed air required for purification is produced by a separate, off-container compressor, which is connected to the charge pipe inside the container by compressed air pipes.

A problem with the known cleaning method is the difficult use of the cleaning equipment. Deploying a set of stand-alone devices is tedious and slow. For compressed air, a very high-heel-type compressor is needed to provide the sludge pipe to be cleaned enough

20185231 prh 08 -02- 2019 air pressure moving the cleaning ball. The extremely high air pressure required for the operation of the equipment poses a risk to occupational safety, which is challenging to control in a system consisting of separate parts.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pipe cleaning apparatus which can reduce the known disadvantages of the prior art. The objects of the invention are achieved by a pipe cleaning apparatus which is characterized by what is stated in the independent claim. Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claim.

The present invention relates to a pipe cleaning apparatus comprising a first flow pipe having a first end for connection to a pipe to be cleaned and a second end, a first loading branch branched from a first flow pipe, the first loading pipe having an opening and a container. The first loading tube and at least a portion of the first flow tube are disposed within the container. The apparatus further comprises a compressor for producing compressed air and for supplying compressed air from the compressor to a first charge pipe having a supply valve in the compressed air pipe. In the apparatus of the invention, the compressor is contained within a container.

In a preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus of the invention, the compressor has a control panel. The control panel is outside the container, preferably on the outside wall of the container. Starting the equipment from outside the container reduces the risk of accidents at work, since all the equipment that predisposes to accidents is inside the container.

In another preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus of the invention, said container has a door openable and the cleaning device further comprises a first sensor connected to the operator panel for detecting a door closure. The inlet valve is arranged to open only when the door is closed, i.e., compressed air can only flow into the loading pipe when the container door is closed.

Another preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention further comprises a second flow pipe having a first end for connection to the pipe to be cleaned, a second end connected to the first flow pipe and a second loading pipe branching from the second flow pipe. The other charging tube has a flap that can be opened. Thus, the second flow pipe allows two separate cleaning pipes to be connected to the purification system simultaneously and both

20185231 prh 08 -02-20199 cleaning balls can be installed inside the same container. It is advantageous to alternate the cleaning of the pipes so that during the cleaning of the first pipe to be cleaned, the slurry is led to run along the second pipe to be cleaned.

A third preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention further comprises a second sensor connected to the control panel and detecting the closure of the lid. Each charging tube has a separate sensor on the lid. The inlet valve is arranged to open only when the lid is closed. Another sensor for detecting the lid closing position is a safety device 10 that allows compressed air to be introduced into the charging tube only when the charging tube cover is properly secured to the end of the charging tube.

A further preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention further comprises at least one compressed air reservoir inside the container connected to the compressor. The compressed air tank is connected to the compressed air pipes from the compressor to the charging pipes.

In a further preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus of the invention, the first flow pipe has a first line valve on a portion between the first end of the flow pipe and a first loading pipe and a second line valve on the portion between the first loading pipe and the second end. Preferably, the second flow pipe also has a first line valve on a portion between the first end of the flow pipe and a second loading pipe and a second line valve on the portion between the second loading pipe and the second end. With the help of line valves, the flow of sludge in the flow pipe and the pipe to be cleaned connected thereto can be interrupted during installation of the purge ball and cleaning of the pipe.

In another preferred embodiment of the pipe cleaning apparatus of the invention, the first end of the first flow pipe and the first end of the second flow pipe extend to the first end wall of the container and the second end of the first flow pipe extends to the second end wall of the container. Preferably, the first end wall and the second end wall have connection flanges to which the ends of the flow tubes are connected. The pipes to be cleaned are connected by flange connection to the connection flanges on the container end walls outside the container. An adapter piece can be attached to the connection flanges, which allows cleaning pipes of different diameters to be fastened to the connection flange.

20185231 prh 08 -02- 2019

An advantage of the invention is that it facilitates and accelerates the use of the pipe cleaning apparatus, and in particular the commissioning thereof, since all the separate devices included in the apparatus are housed in a single movable container and connected to each other in a ready-to-use assembly.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention have the advantage of improving occupational safety and reducing the risk of occupational accidents.

The invention will now be described in detail. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1a is an exemplary side view of a pipe cleaning10 apparatus according to the invention and Figure 1b is a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1a.

Fig. 1a is an exemplary side view of a pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention and Fig. 1b is a top view of the same pipe cleaning apparatus. In the following, both pictures are explained simultaneously.

The tube cleaning apparatus comprises a container 24 having a first end wall 25a and a second end wall 25b, and a first side wall 27b and a second side wall 27b. The container also includes a ceiling 29 and a floor 31. In Figure 1a, the first side wall has been removed and in Figure 1b, the ceiling has been removed to better show the devices inside the container. The container shown is a sea container.

Within the container, adjacent to the second side wall, is a first flow tube 10a whose first end 12 extends to the first end wall 25a and the second end 14 extends to the second end wall 25b of the container. The portion between the first and second ends of the flow tube has a first loading tube 16a, which at its first end is obliquely connected to the first flow tube. At the other end of the loading pipe is a mounting flange 44, to which a bolt-openable lid 18 is attached. The lid has a connection port 46 for connection to the compressed air supply pipe 48. The portion between the first loading tube 16a and the first end 12 of the first flow tube has a first line valve 38a and the portion between the loading tube and the second end has a second line valve 38b. Closing the line valves interrupts the fluid flow path along the flow line. Line valves have an electric actuator or hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the valve.

20185231 prh 08 -02- 2019

Alongside the first flow tube 10a is a second flow tube 10b. The second flow tube is otherwise similar in structure to the first flow tube, but its other end does not extend to the second end wall of the container but is obliquely connected to the first flow tube inside the container. The second flow tube has a second loading tube 16b provided with a lid 18 in an open manner. The first end 12 of the second flow tube extends to the first end wall of the container at the ends of the first flow tube. The first and second end walls of the container have a connection flange 43 at the ends of the flow pipes, through which a hole equal to the inside diameter of the flow pipe passes from the inside of the container to the outside of the container. Each of the coupling flanges also has holes for fastening bolts on each surface, i.e., on the inside and outside of the container. The ends of the flow pipes have metal end flanges 42, by means of which the ends of the flow pipes are attached to the connection flanges from the inside of the container. The pipes to be cleaned are attached to the connection flanges on the outside of the container.

An adapter piece can be attached to the connection flanges, which allows the connection of different diameter pipes to be cleaned to the connection flanges. Thus, the same pipe cleaning equipment can be used to clean pipes of different sizes without structural modifications to the internal parts of the container.

Inside the container, adjacent to the first end wall 25a, two identical compressed air tanks 36 are superposed on one another. The compressor is connected by compressed air pipes 22 to compressed air tanks 36, and the compressed air tanks are connected by compressed air pipes to each other. Supply pipes 48 are connected to the ends of the compressed air pipes leaving the compressed air tanks, through which the compressed air in the container is led to the charging pipes 16a, 16b (Fig. 1a). The feed pipes are made of a flexible pipe and have at their free end a quick coupling 49 which allows the ends of the feed pipes to be connected to the quick coupler-compatible sockets 46. The quick coupling may be a cam lever such as a so-called. CAMLOCK connector. The closing and opening of the valves 30 is controlled by the control panel 28. The pneumatic pipes and the supply pipes at their ends thus form a flow path through which the compressed air flows from the compressed air reservoirs to the loading pipes 16a, 16b when the supply pipe ends are connected to the connections. The pneumatic tubes are provided with supply valves 56 which prevent the flow of compressed air when the supply valves are closed.

The first side wall 27a of the container has a door 30 which provides access from the outside of the container to the inside of the container. Next to the door, inside the container there is electricity6

20185231 prh 08 -02-20199 kitchen center 50 (Figure 1b). The electrical center is attached to the first side wall 27a of the container. The electrical equipment belonging to the cleaning equipment inside the container is connected by electrical wires to the switchboard. The first side wall 27a of the container, outside the container, has a socket for connecting to the mains or assembly. The switchboard is connected via a supply line 52 to a socket 54.

On the first side wall 27a of the container, outside the container is a hardware control panel 28 (Figure 1b). The control panel controls the operation of the compressor 20 and controls the supply valves 56 in the compressed air pipes through which the compressed air flows from the compressed air tanks 36 to the loading pipes 16a, 16b. In connection with the door, there is a first sensor 32 which senses that the door is closing, i.e. the sensor detects when the door is closed. The first sensor is connected to the hardware control panel. The swivel panel is programmed to operate such that the supply air valves 56 for releasing the compressed air flow cannot open unless the container door 30 is properly closed.

In addition to the covers 18 of the charging tubes 16a, 16b, there is a second sensor 34b that senses when the charging tube covers are in place and properly secured to the ends of the charging tubes. The second sensors, like the first sensor, are connected to the control panel and the control panel is a programmed function which prevents the supply valves 56 from opening if the cover is not properly secured to the end of the charging tube.

In the apparatus described above, the compressed air supply pipes are connected to the connection fittings in the removable covers. The invention may also be implemented by installing a connection fitting on the wall of the charging tube close to the opening of the charging tube instead of a cover. The feed pipes can then be permanently connected to the connection fittings.

The pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention is used in the following manner: The apparatus is introduced adjacent to the pipeline to be cleaned. The pipeline to be cleaned is truncated and the truncated ends are connected to connection strips 43 at the ends of the first flow pipe 10a. A second pipe to be cleaned can be connected to the flange 30 connected to the first end of the second flow pipe. The equipment is connected to the mains or the unit by an electric cable, after which it is ready for operation.

The cleaning ball used for cleaning the tube is fed to the tube to be cleaned via the loading tube 16a, 16b. For supply, the line valves 38a, 38b in the flow tube are closed on either side of the charge tube and the charge tube lid 18 is opened. Thereafter, the cleaning ball is fed into the charging tube, the lid is closed and secured to the end flange with mounting bolts. Finally, the compressed air supply pipe 48 is connected to the connection port 46 in the cover 18 and the line valve between the first end of the flow pipe and the loading pipe is opened. The hardware is now “la5 datat” and ready to begin cleaning. At this point, the equipment operators exit the container and close the container door 30. The user of the purifier starts the equipment from the operator panel 28, whereby the supply valves 56 open and the compressed air begins to flow into the loading conduit. As the air pressure drops in the compressed air tanks, the compress starts and supplies more compressed air to the compressed air tanks.

The purification ball passes from the loading tube to the tube to be cleaned through the flow tube and advances in the tube to be cleaned, propelled by compressed air towards the end of the tube ending in the sludge sump. As the tube moves, the cleaning ball removes the fines adhering to the tube walls and carries it outside the tube. When the purge ball leaves the pipe to be cleaned, the supply valves 15 56 are closed and the compressor is shut down. The purification ball is collected and cleaned, and is then ready for a new purification operation. The cleaning process can be repeated as many times as needed to achieve the desired cleaning result. When the pipe is clean, both line valves are opened and the slurry is directed to run along the purified pipe.

Some preferred embodiments of the pipe cleaning apparatus according to the invention have been described above. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea can be applied in various ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims (11)

20185231 prh 08 -02-2019 claim A pipe cleaning device having a first flow pipe (10a) having a first end (12) for connecting to the pipe to be cleaned and with a second end (14), a first charging pipe (16a) branching from the first flow pipe; which one first The charging tube (16a) has an openable lid (18), a container (24) having an outer wall (26) and inside which the first charging tube (16a) and at least part of the first flow tube (10a) are placed, a compressor (20) for generating compressed air and a compressed air tube (22) for conducting compressed air from the compressor (20) to the first charge tube (16a), said compressed air tube (22) having a supply valve (56), characterized in that said compressor ( 20) is inside the container (24). Pipe cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device includes an operating panel (18), which operating panel (18) is outside the container (24), preferably on the outer wall (26) of the container. Pipe cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said container (24) has an openable door (30), and the cleaning device further includes a first sensor (32) arranged in connection with the operating panel (28) which recognizes closing the door (30), and the supply valve (56) is arranged to open only when the door (30) is closed. Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that it further has a second flow pipe (10b) with a first end (12) for connecting to the pipe to be cleaned, with a second end (14) connected to the first flow tube (10a), and a second charge tube (16b) which branches from the second charge tube (1Ob), the second charge tube (16b) having an openable cover (18). Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the cleaning device further includes a second sensor (34b) arranged in conjunction with the operating panel (28) which recognizes closing of the lid (18), and the supply valve (56) is arranged to only open when the lid (18) is closed. Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the cleaning device further comprises at least one compressed air container (36) arranged inside the container (24) connected to the compressor (20). Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the first flow pipe (10a) has a first line valve (38) in the distance between the first end (12) of the flow pipe and the first charging pipe (16a) and a second line valve (40). in the distance between the first charge tube (16a) and the second end (14). Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the second flow tube (10b) has a first line valve (38) in the distance between the first end (12) of the flow tube and the second charge tube (16b) and a second line valve (40). ) in the distance between the second charge tube (16b) and the other end (14). Pipe cleaning device according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the first end (12) of the first flow tube (10a) and the first end (12) of the second flow tube (10b) extend all the way to the first end wall (25a) of the container (24). ), and the second end (14) of the first flow tube (10a) extends all the way to the second end wall (25b) of the container (24). Pipe cleaning device according to claim 9, characterized in that the first end wall (25a) and the second end wall (25b) are provided with connecting flanges (43), to which the ends of the connecting flange flow tubes (25a, 25b) are connected.