Apparatus for cleaning a piping

Patent 5444886 Issued on August 29, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 3, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3028996

3120118

3524466

Device for cleaning inner surfaces of heat exchanger tubes
Patent #: 4917176
Issued on: 04/17/1990
Inventor: Shimada, et al.

Three way valve and distribution pipe comprising same, both adapted to be cleaned by scraping Patent #: 5113895
Issued on: 05/19/1992
Inventor: Le Devehat

Inventors

Assignee

Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.

Application

No. 115712 filed on 09/03/1993

US Classes:

15/3.51, With conservation or recovery of the cleaning agent15/104.062Cleaner plug insertion or removal device

Examiners

Primary: Roberts, Edward L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack

Foreign Patent References

0266097 EP. 05/22/1988
0375533 EP. 06/22/1990
2142910 DE. 03/22/1973
3517751 DE. 11/22/1986
4010855 DE. 10/22/1991
59-142085 JP. 09/22/1984
62-087836 JP. 04/22/1987
62-38040 JP. 08/22/1987
62-144593 JP. 09/22/1987
2-095487 JP. 04/22/1990
1066640 GB. 04/22/1967
88/03246 WO. 05/22/1988

International Class

B08B 009/04

Abstract

An apparatus designed to efficiently and positively clean a main piping not only totally, but also partially by the reciprocation of a pig. The cleaning apparatus is provided with a launcher (4) for projecting a pig (1) and a catcher (36) for receiving the pig (1) at both ends of a main piping (37). A compressed gas is supplied from a feed nozzle of the launcher to thereby send the pig to the catcher (36). In consequence to the arrival of the pig, the compressed gas is discharged through a discharge nozzle (29) of the catcher (36), when the pressure is decreased and the pig is accordingly stopped. The decrease of the pressure is detected by a pressure sensor (33) of the launcher (4). When the pig arrives at the catcher (36), it is detected by a pressure sensor (33) of the catcher (36). The compressed gas is supplied from a feed nozzle (22) of the catcher (36) based on the detecting signal of the pressure sensor (33 ) of the launcher (4), to thereby send the pig towards the launcher (4). The reciprocating motion of the pig is executed by opening/closing electromagnetic valves of the launcher (4), catcher (36), main piping (37) and branch pipes (41a, 41b) by means of a controller.