Apparatus and method for internal cleaning of a pipeline

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005483-B2
Application number	US-201917256758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus and related process for the internal cleaning of a pipeline includes an interchangeable rotary cleaning head, a motor device coupled to the rotary head, a movement device configured to move the apparatus inside the pipeline, and a remote control system. The combined movement of the rotary head rotation and of the advancing motion of the apparatus inside the pipeline allows the disintegration of the deposits present internally of the pipeline by mechanical action.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for internal cleaning of a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
an interchangeable rotary cleaning head;
a motor device coupled to the rotary cleaning head to selectively control the rotation thereof, the motor device comprising a casing, a gearmotor accommodated within the casing and a transmission shaft, that defines an axis of rotation A, projecting from the casing;
a movement device connected to the motor device and configured to move the apparatus within the pipeline; and
a remote system for controlling the apparatus, wherein the remote system is connected to the motor device and to the movement device by a means apt to transfer electrical signals and power,
wherein the motor device is interposed between the rotary cleaning head and the movement device,
wherein the motor device comprises:
one or more metal heat-dissipator elements placed in contact with the housing of the gearmotor, wherein the casing of the motor device is filled with a diathermic and dielectric fluid; and
a pressure compensator exposed both to the pressure of the diathermic and dielectric fluid and to the pressure of fluid external to the casing;
wherein the pressure compensator is configured to balance the pressure of the diathermic and dielectric fluid, the volume of which is influenced by variations in temperature induced by the one or more metal heat dissipator elements relative to the external pressure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary head is provided with at least one aperture that allows a fluid to pass between the front part and the rear part of the rotary head.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movement device is connected to the motor device by a swivel joint.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the casing, motor device, and movement device each have an area of maximum dimensions evaluated in a transverse section lying on a plane orthogonal to the axis of the transmission shaft that is smaller than an area of maximum dimension, evaluated in a transverse section lying on a plane orthogonal to the axis of the transmission shaft, of the movable part of the rotary head.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the motor device comprises a plurality of centering brushes that extend radially relative to the axis of rotation for a predetermined length starting from at least one brush-bearing collar installed on a surface of the casing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
at least one temperature sensor installed in contact with a housing of the gearmotor;
at least one temperature sensor installed in contact with at least one metal heat-dissipator element to verify the effectiveness of dissipation;
at least one internal pressure sensor to monitor the pressure of a diathermic and dielectric fluid;
at least one external pressure sensor to monitor a fluid pressure external to the casing; and
at least one microphone configured to receive sounds coming from an environment external to the casing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary head comprises:
a fixed part comprising:
a fixing flange, integral with the casing of the motor device, provided with a passage hole for passage of the transmission shaft;
a hollow tubular element, protruding orthogonally from the fixing flange and co-axial with the passage hole, set up to be traversed coaxially by the transmission shaft;
a circular crown placed in a rear part of the rotary head, coaxial with the hollow tubular element, the circular crown having an internal diameter larger than that of the fixing flange;
a plurality of radial ribs protruding from an external surface of the hollow tubular element and integral with the fixing flange and with the circular crown, the plurality of radial ribs configured in an upright truncated cone structure of the fixed part and delimiting a plurality of fixed passage apertures;

wherein the movable part comprises:
a front ring and a rear ring having an internal diameter that is larger than both an external diameter of the front ring and external diameter of the circular crown, wherein the front ring and the circular crown are placed coaxially and distanced by connecting arms skewed to form an upright, truncated cone structure of the movable part and delimiting a plurality of movable passage apertures;
wherein the fixed part is integral with the casing and with the hollow tubular element coaxial with the transmission shaft which protrudes beyond the hollow tubular element on the front part of the rotary head, while the movable part is coaxially installed in front of the fixed part so that a protruding portion of the transmission shaft is torsionally engaged with the front ring thereby permitting rotation of the movable part.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising
a front bearing between the front ring and the front end of the hollow tubular element; and
a rear bearing between the rear ring and the circular crown,
wherein the front bearing and the rear bearing are interposed between the movable part and the fixed part of the rotary head.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the skewed connecting arms comprise a plurality of prominences facing the front part of the rotary head and equipped with removable cutting inserts.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the removable cutting inserts are in an offset arrangement in such a way that the truncated cone surface described by the skewed connecting arms during rotation of the movable part of the rotary head is integrally brushed by the cutters.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the rotary head comprises a rotary perforating bit coaxially installed in front of the movable part so that a protruding portion of the transmission shaft is torsionally coupled to the rotary perforating bit to allow its rotation together with the movable part.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the rotary head comprises a plurality of brushes that extend radially from the rear ring of the movable part for a predetermined length.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the brushes are obtained from metal filaments.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotary cleaning head comprises:
a fixed part; and
a moveable part,
wherein the fixed part comprises:
a fixing flange integral with the casing of the motor device, provided with a passage hole for passage of the transmission shaft;
a circular crown coaxial with the passage hole and having an external diameter larger than an external diameter of the fixing flange;
a plurality of radial elements, each of which departs from the fixing flange and unites with the circular crown, wherein the plurality of radial elements are placed in such a way as to configure a radial structure that delimits a plurality of fixed passage apertures;

wherein the movable part comprises:
a rear ring, of internal diameter that is larger than the external diameter of the circular crown, placed coaxially to the passage hole;
a hollow tubular element, protruding orthogonally from the front surface of the rear ring and coaxial to the passage hole, set up to be traversed coaxially by the transmission shaft;
a plurality of movable radial elements that extend from the external surface of the hollow tubular element as far as the rear ring and delimiting a plurality of movable passage apertures;
a plurality of radial arms placed on a plurality of planes parallel and orthogonal to the axis of rotation (A) and protruding from the external surface of the hollow tubular element so that th

Assignees

• Eni Spa

Inventors

• Schiavon Riccardo
• Buongiorno Nicola

Classifications

• F16L2101/12

  Cleaning · CPC title

• F16L55/40

  of the body · CPC title

• F16L55/32

  being self-contained · CPC title

• F16H1/28

  with gears having orbital motion · CPC title

• B08B2209/04

  using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes · CPC title