Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for cleaning the interior surface of a pipe, the combination comprising: means for supporting a pipe; means for rotating the pipe about its longitudinal axis; a carriage; means for moving said carriage longitudinally through the pipe in a first direction; rotary impeller means, coupled to said carriage, for impelling abrasive material against the interior surface of the pipe; and means, coupled to said carriage, for providing an air flow in the pipe in said first direction, whereby said abrasive material is impelled into contact with the interior surface of the pipe to clean such surface and is pushed with the material cleaned from such surface in said first direction by said air flow and out one end of the pipe as said carriage moves through the entire length of the pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for cleaning the interior surface of a pipe, the combination comprising: means for supporting a pipe; means for rotating the pipe about its longitudinal axis; a carriage; means for moving said carriage longitudinally through the pipe in a first direction; rotary impeller means, coupled to said carriage, for impelling abrasive material against the interior surface of the pipe; and means, coupled to said carriage, for providing an air flow in the pipe in said first direction, whereby said abrasive material is impelled into contact with the interior surface of the pipe to clean such surface and is pushed with the material cleaned from such surface in said first direction by said air flow and out one end of the pipe as said carriage moves through the entire length of the pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary impeller means includes: shroud means, coupled to said carriage, for directing the abrasive material in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: means, located at one end of the pipe, for separating said abrasive material and said material cleaned from the interior surface of said pipe after said materials have exited from the end of the pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary impeller means includes: a shaft rotatably coupled to said carriage and oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pipe to be cleaned; a first disc rigidly mounted concentrically to said shaft; a second disc; a plurality of blades interconnecting said first and second discs; and means for rotating said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary impeller means includes: rotating blade means for throwing abrasive material in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, and further including: pneumatic conveyor means for feeding said abrasive material to said rotating blade means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotary impeller means includes: shield means, coupled to said carriage, for effectively closing off the inside of the pipe behind said rotating blade means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of cleaning the interior surface of an open ended pipe, comprising the steps of: rotating the pipe about its longitudinal axis; throwing abrasive material at the interior surface of the pipe along a line from a first open end to a second open end to abrade such surface; and simultaneously introducing an air flow into the pipe at the first open end and then moving the location of the air flow''s introduction into the pipe from the first open end to the second open end to move the abrasive material and the material abraded from the interior surface of the pipe along the pipe and out the second open end.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of cleaning the interior surface of an open ended pipe, comprising the steps of: rotating the pipe about its longitudinal axis; throwing abrasive material at the interior surface of the pipe along a line from a first open end to a second open end to abrade such surface; and simultaneously introducing an air flow into the pipe at the first open end and then moving the location of the air flow''s introduction into the pipe from the first open end to the second open end to move the abrasive material and the material abraded from the interior surface of the pipe along the pipe and out the second open end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of throwing includes the steps of: conveying the abrasive material axially and then radially of the pipe; and impelling the abrasive material radially of the pipe into contact with the interior of the pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 8 and further including the steps of: separating the abrasive material from the material abraded from the interior surface of the pipe after such materials have been expelled from the second open end; collecting the separated material abraded from the interior of the pipe; and collecting the separated abrasive material.