EP0343878A2 — Hydrocleaning of the exterior surface of a pipeli…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 221 words

Apparatus for the hydrocleaning of the exterior surface of a pipeline or the like characterised by: (a) a frame (40, 44; 212) adapted to at least partly surround a portion of a pipeline and, in use, defining a longitudinal passage through which the pipeline extends; (b) a plurality of liquid jet nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) mounted to said frame (40, 44; 212) in spaced apart relation so as to surround, in use, said pipeline in circumferentially spaced apart relationship to one another and with each said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) in spaced relation to the pipeline exterior surface and arranged such that, in use, liquid jets from said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) can impinge on the pipeline surface along prescribed paths located in an annular region extending around substantially the full circumferential extent of the pipeline; (c) means (24, 26, 28, 60) for supplying high pressure liquid to said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314), to cause the liquid jets to be emitted from said nozzle means; (d) said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) and said frame (40, 44; 212) being adapted to move relative to the pipeline surface when in operation such that the annular region of jet impingement travels longitudinally relative to the pipeline to effect cleaning of the pipeline exterior surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 221 words

Apparatus for the hydrocleaning of the exterior surface of a pipeline or the like characterised by: (a) a frame (40, 44; 212) adapted to at least partly surround a portion of a pipeline and, in use, defining a longitudinal passage through which the pipeline extends; (b) a plurality of liquid jet nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) mounted to said frame (40, 44; 212) in spaced apart relation so as to surround, in use, said pipeline in circumferentially spaced apart relationship to one another and with each said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) in spaced relation to the pipeline exterior surface and arranged such that, in use, liquid jets from said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) can impinge on the pipeline surface along prescribed paths located in an annular region extending around substantially the full circumferential extent of the pipeline; (c) means (24, 26, 28, 60) for supplying high pressure liquid to said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314), to cause the liquid jets to be emitted from said nozzle means; (d) said nozzle means (64, 74; 276, 314) and said frame (40, 44; 212) being adapted to move relative to the pipeline surface when in operation such that the annular region of jet impingement travels longitudinally relative to the pipeline to effect cleaning of the pipeline exterior surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame (212) comprises a plurality of sections (236, 238) and means permitting at least one of said frame sections (236, 238) to be moved relative to the other section(s) to an open position to allow the apparatus to be fitted on to an in situ pipeline and thereafter moved to a closed position to position said liquid jet nozzle means (276, 314) in said circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another around the pipeline exterior surface

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one frame section (238) is hinged to the other frame section(s) (236) for pivotal movement relative thereto, and actuator means (230) are provided for effecting said pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said at least one movable frame section (236) has one of said liquid jet nozzle means (276, 314) mounted thereon for movement therewith.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said at least one frame section (236) is arranged such that in the open position said apparatus can be lowered downwardly onto a pipeline or lifted up away therefrom.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 75 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 including drive means (220) on at least one of said frame sections (236, 238) including wheels (222, 228) adapted to engage the pipeline surface when the frame (236, 238) is in the closed condition, and drive motor means (226) connected to certain of said wheels (222) for advancing the frame (236, 238) along the pipeline and the remaining said wheels (228) being idler wheels.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 when appended to claim 3, wherein said actuator means (230) for pivoting said frame section(s) (236,238) exerts a biasing force when the frame section(s) (236,238) are in the closed position whereby to hold said drive wheels (222) and idler wheels (228) in opposed generally tight engagement with the pipeline surface to allow sufficient tractive force to be produced by the drive wheels (222).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein each said liquid jet nozzle means (276,314) comprises a part of a water jetting module (210), there being a plurality of said water jetting modules (210) each mounted to an associated frame section (236,238) such that when the frame (236,238) is closed around a pipeline said modules (210) are circumferentially spaced around the pipeline.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 87 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising linkage means (250) connecting each said module (210) to its associated frame section (236,238), and guide means (268) on each module (210) for contacting the pipeline surface during movement therealong, said linkage means (250) being arranged to permit each said module (210) to move generally radially inwardly or outwardly relative to the pipeline to maintain a desired spacing between each jet nozzle means (314) and the pipeline surface during use as said guide means (268) follows said pipeline surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said linkage means (250) comprises a linkage capable of maintaining a selected orientation of each jetting module (216) relative to the pipeline surface during said radial motion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including actuator means (260) associated with each said linkage means (250) for (a) moving said modules (210) toward or away from the pipeline surface and (b) maintaining a biasing force urging the guide means (268) toward the pipeline surface so as to follow any irregularities therein when in use.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including adjustment means (272) associated with said guide means (268) to adjust the distance between the jet nozzle means (314) and the pipeline surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 93 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein each said jet nozzle means (276,314) comprises a rotary jet head (276), each mounted in and forming a part of its associated water jetting module (216), the latter further comprising drive means (282,284) rotating each such jet head (276) with the jet head being arranged such that the prescribed paths of impingement of the liquid jets on the pipeline surface form a series of closely spaced overlapping convolutions as the frame (212) is moved along the pipeline at a predetermined speed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, including a shroud (326) surrounding each rotary jet head (276), and means (320) on each jet head (276) for reducing debris entanglement of the jet head (276) and creating a pumping action to eject material from said shroud (326).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, further including additional jet nozzle means (360) arranged for rotation about axes which are inclined so that the water jets can cut away any earth surrounding the pipeline and wash the pipeline surface in advance of the hydrocleaning apparatus as it moves along the pipeline.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, further including a containment shroud (350) surrounding the apparatus for catching debris and a catchment sump (352) disposed below the machine for receiving water and debris removed by the hydrocleaning machine.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus for excavating and removing residual earth from around an in situ pipeline comprising a frame (212) for at least partly surrounding said pipeline and means (220) for advancing said frame (212) along said pipeline, and a plurality of jet nozzle means (360) arranged to direct water jets in directions so as to cut away any earth on or surrounding the pipeline surface and to wash the pipeline surface as the apparatus moves therealong.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus for excavating and removing residual earth from around an in situ pipeline comprising a frame (212) for at least partly surrounding said pipeline and means (220) for advancing said frame (212) along said pipeline, and a plurality of jet nozzle means (360) arranged to direct water jets in directions so as to cut away any earth on or surrounding the pipeline surface and to wash the pipeline surface as the apparatus moves therealong.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said nozzle means (360) are arranged to cut away the earth and wash the pipeline surface in advance of the moving frame (212).

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said nozzle means (360) are arranged for rotation about axes inclined to the pipeline surface when in use.

Hydrocleaning of the exterior surface of a pipeline to remove coatings

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