GB1466677A - Cable cleaning unit - Google Patents

Abstract

1466677 Cable cleaning apparatus PHIDO (WIRE SERVICES) CO Ltd 19 Feb 1974 [19 Feb 1973] 7579/74 Headings DIL and D1T A cable cleaning unit includes a chamber 13. Fig. 1, that surrounds a cable 12, there being a plurality of outlets 23 in the chamber 13 through which jets of high pressure fluid are directed onto the surface of the cable and means 17, 19 for withdrawing fluid from the chamber; the jets being arranged to strike the surface of the cable and to be deflected in the direction in which the unit travels relatively to the cable, the portion of the chamber receiving the deflected jets being arranged to direct the fluid with dirt and other matter entrained therein away from the surface of the cable. In Fig. 1 this portion of the chamber is an arcuate surface and has a plurality of holes 18 that lead to a manifold 16 having outlets 17 connected to a suction line. A large portion of the fluid passes through the openings 18 to ensure that it cannot return to the vicinity of the cable 12 and so interfere with the cleaning action of the jets. A lip 24 projects into the chamber 13 to prevent used fluid entrained with solid matter from falling back onto and interfering with the action of the jets. Each end of the cleaning unit is provided with seals 14, the seal at the forward end of the unit being compressed by a plate 14a acted on by a threaded member 14b. The rear faces of the seals are connected to passages 15 connected to the manifold 16. Fig. 2 (not shown) shows the fluid circuit including a settling tank (33) fitted with baffles and into which the drawn off fluid passes. The fluid is then drawn from the settling tank (33) through a filter (35) to a clean oil reservoir (36). A pump (37) draws oil from the reservoir (36) and passes it through filters (39, 40) and an oil cooler (41) to a high pressure pump (42) feeding the fluid to the jets 23. In Fig. 3 the cable cleaning unit A is coupled to a traction unit 46 mounted on a cable C supporting a tower. The components for cleaning and supplying oil to the traction unit and cable cleaning unit are housed in a platform P suspended from a cable running assembly X mounted on the cable C. The platform has an operators cabin OC.