Multi-functional pipe cleaner

Abstract

A multi-functional pipe cleaner includes: a main shaft; an operating part connected to a first end of the main shaft and configured to be rotated by a user; a fixing part connected to a second end of the main shaft; and a cleaning shaft, the first end of which is detachably connected to the fixing part, allowing the user to rotate the operating part to drive the main shaft and the cleaning shaft into a pipe for cleaning operations.

Description

Multi-functional pipe cleaner Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a multifunctional pipe cleaner, and more particularly to a multifunctional pipe cleaner for removing residual contaminants from pipe walls. Prior Technology

[0002] Semiconductor manufacturing processes have extremely high environmental requirements; even the smallest contaminants can affect wafer yield and performance. During semiconductor equipment manufacturing, large quantities of chemicals flow through pipes, potentially reacting with the pipe walls. These reactions leave various contaminants on the pipe walls, such as organic matter, inorganic salts, and metal ions. These contaminants not only reduce the cleanliness of the pipes but can also be carried into subsequent processes, contaminating the wafers and ultimately affecting the quality of semiconductor products. Therefore, regular and efficient cleaning of semiconductor equipment pipes is crucial.

[0003] Traditional pipe cleaning methods typically employ high-pressure water cleaning or chemical solvent rinsing. However, these methods have several drawbacks: high-pressure water cleaning can damage the pipes; chemical solvents may remain on the pipe walls, posing a risk of secondary contamination. Furthermore, traditional cleaners struggle to reach and clean curved or narrow pipes effectively, resulting in low efficiency. Therefore, there is a need for a pipe cleaner that can effectively remove contaminants from pipes, is safe to operate, and is widely applicable to various pipe sizes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, one objective of this invention is to provide a multifunctional pipe cleaner that has advantages such as replaceable cleaning shaft, flexible guiding capability, fine cleaning effect, and multiple cleaning modes, in order to solve the aforementioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this invention provides a multifunctional pipe cleaner, comprising at least: a main shaft; an operating part connected to a first end of the main shaft and configured for rotation by a user; a fixing part connected to a second end of the main shaft; and a cleaning shaft, the first end of which is detachably connected to the fixing part, allowing the user to rotate the operating part to drive the main shaft and the cleaning shaft into a pipe for cleaning operations. The cleaning shaft can be replaced with other cleaning shafts of different specifications, offering a wide range of applications and ease of operation.

[0006] Optionally, the cleaning shaft can be pivotally connected to the mounting section to provide flexibility to accommodate different pipe entry angles.

[0007] Optionally, the cleaning shaft is a helical coil, which can use readily available tension springs to reduce costs.

[0008] Optionally, a second end of the cleaning shaft has a flexible coil segment that bends elastically to adapt to the direction of the pipe.

[0009] Optionally, the multi-functional pipe cleaner also includes a cleaning pad that is wrapped around the outside of the cleaning shaft for fine cleaning of the pipes. Users can also use cleaning pads of different sizes depending on the occasion.

[0010] Optionally, the multi-functional pipe cleaner also includes a steam pipe that passes through the operating section and the main shaft, and through part or all of the cleaning shaft, to provide steam to the operating section for steam cleaning operations, thereby improving cleaning efficiency.

[0011] Optionally, the multi-functional pipe cleaner also includes a wire assembly that electrically connects the cleaning shaft to a power source. The power source supplies power to the cleaning shaft through the wire assembly to increase the temperature of the cleaning shaft and perform a heated cleaning operation on the pipe, thereby improving cleaning efficiency.

[0012] Optionally, the operating unit includes a rotating wheel and a handle, the handle being foldably connected to the outer periphery of the rotating wheel for easy storage and carrying.

[0013] Optionally, the cleaning shaft can be detachably connected to the fixing part by a bolt, making it easy to replace the cleaning shaft.

[0014] Optionally, the cleaning shaft can be clamped at one end by two nuts locked to the bolt, providing an adjustable fixation.

[0015] Optionally, a portion of the cleaning pad is clamped between adjacent elastic coils of the cleaning shaft to prevent the cleaning pad from falling off and clogging the pipe.

[0016] Optionally, the multi-functional pipe cleaner also includes a camera mounted on the cleaning axis to capture images of the pipes to show their actual condition.

[0017] The multi-functional pipe cleaner described in the above embodiments can provide excellent cleaning effect and flexibility, effectively solve the problem of pipe contamination in semiconductor equipment, improve product yield and quality, and is not only easy to operate, but also has broad application prospects.

[0018] To make the above-described contents of this invention clearer and easier to understand, preferred embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings for detailed explanation. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0019] [Figure 1] shows a perspective view of a multifunctional pipe cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] shows a side view of the multi-functional pipe cleaner in [Figure 1]. [Figure 3] shows a perspective view of an application example of the multi-functional pipe cleaner shown in [Figure 1]. [Figure 4] shows a partial cross-sectional view along the section CP of [Figure 3]. [Figure 5] shows a side view of a multifunctional pipe cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] shows a side view of a multifunctional pipe cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] shows a side view of a multifunctional pipe cleaner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0020] This new multi-functional pipe cleaner includes a replaceable cleaning shaft. Users can select the appropriate cleaning shaft based on the size, material, and type of contaminants in the pipe. For example, a thinner cleaning shaft can be used for smaller diameter pipes; a cleaning shaft with a flexible coil section can be used for curved pipes; and a cleaning shaft with a cleaning disc wound around it can be used for pipes requiring fine cleaning.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a multi-functional pipe cleaner 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of the multi-functional pipe cleaner 100 of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an application example of the multi-functional pipe cleaner of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view along section CP of Figure 3. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the multi-functional pipe cleaner 100 includes at least a main shaft 10, an operating part 20, a fixing part 30, and a cleaning shaft 40. The operating part 20 is connected to a first end 11 of the main shaft 10 and is configured to be rotated by the user. The fixing part 30 is connected to a second end 12 of the main shaft 10. A first end 41 of the cleaning shaft 40 is detachably connected to the fixing part 30, allowing the user to rotate the operating part 20 to drive the main shaft 10 and the cleaning shaft 40 into a pipe 200 for cleaning operations. It is understood that the fixing part 30 can also be replaced according to different types of cleaning shafts 40. The main shaft 10 has an anti-slip design to effectively prevent the hand from slipping during cleaning. During operation, the user can hold the non-slip handle with one hand and rotate the operating part with the other, or rotate clockwise and counterclockwise as needed to effectively achieve the cleaning purpose. Alternatively, multiple users can hold it together to complete the cleaning operation. In addition, the user can also push forward or pull backward by holding the non-slip handle to perform targeted cleaning. It is worth noting that the almost entirely black sections of the cleaning shaft 40 in Figures 1 and 2 are because the spiral coil density of the cleaning shaft 40 is designed to be very high in order to achieve effective movement of the cleaning shaft 40 in the pipe, and are not represented by colored sections. Of course, if the blockage in the pipe does not require a very high spiral coil density, the spiral coil density can be designed to be medium or low.

[0022] The multi-functional pipe cleaner described in the above embodiment can effectively remove residual contaminants from the pipe walls of semiconductor devices because the cleaning shaft can be replaced with other cleaning shafts of different specifications, including but not limited to outer diameter, length, elasticity, material, conductivity, insulation, etc. It is suitable for different pipe specifications, easy to use and has low maintenance costs.

[0023] In this embodiment, the cleaning shaft 40 is pivotally connected to the fixing part 30, providing a degree of freedom to bend to accommodate different pipe entry angles and automatically guide itself at pipe bends to ensure cleaning coverage. Therefore, in cleaning pipes, when encountering bends, the cleaning shaft, due to its design, can also automatically guide itself in the direction of the bend for non-unidirectional cleaning.

[0024] On the other hand, the cleaning shaft 40 is a spiral coil. Users can generate friction by rotating the operating unit 20 to remove contaminants from the pipe wall. This allows the use of readily available tension springs, reducing costs. The operating unit 20 includes a rotating wheel 21 and a handle 22, which is foldably connected to the outer periphery of the rotating wheel 21. Users operate the handle 22 and rotate the rotating wheel 21 to move the main shaft 10 and the cleaning shaft 40 within the pipe 200. Furthermore, the foldable connection of the handle 22 to the rotating wheel 21 facilitates storage and portability, reducing space requirements.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a second end 42 of the cleaning shaft 40 has an elastic coil segment that bends elastically to adapt to the direction of the pipe 200, achieving an automatic guiding function. Furthermore, the multi-functional pipe cleaner 100 may further include a cleaning pad 50, wrapped around the outside of the cleaning shaft 40 for fine cleaning of the pipe 200. The cleaning pad 50 may be, for example, a wiping cloth or other cleaning supplies suitable for the pipe, and users can use different sizes of cleaning pads depending on the situation. Understandably, a portion of the cleaning pad 50 (e.g., a corner) can be clamped between adjacent elastic coils of the cleaning shaft 40 for effective fixation, preventing it from falling off and becoming stuck in the pipe. The cleaning shaft 40 is detachably connected to the fixing part 30 via a bolt 31 and two nuts 32 and 33 locked onto the bolt 31 (e.g., clamping the circular head of the first end 41 of the cleaning shaft 40), facilitating replacement of the cleaning shaft and providing an adjustable fixing effect for one end of the cleaning shaft 40. The structure of the above-mentioned circular head and the elastic coil segment of the second end 42 is similar, so that when installing the cleaning shaft 40, the positions of both ends do not need to be selected, thus avoiding incorrect installation.

[0026] Figure 5 shows a side view of the multifunctional pipe cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 5, the multifunctional pipe cleaner 100 may further include a steam pipe 60 that passes through the operating part 20 and the main shaft 10, and passes through part (outlet inside the cleaning shaft 40) or all (outlet outside the cleaning shaft 40) of the cleaning shaft 40, to provide steam for steam cleaning of the operating part 20, thereby improving cleaning efficiency. On the other hand, when high-temperature and high-pressure steam is provided, parts that cannot be reached by the cleaning shaft 40 can also be effectively cleaned.

[0027] Figure 6 shows a side view of the multifunctional pipe cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the multifunctional pipe cleaner 100 further includes a wire assembly 70 that electrically connects the cleaning shaft 40 to a power supply 210. The cleaning shaft 40 is used as a heating resistor, and the power supply 210 supplies power to the cleaning shaft 40 through the wire assembly 70 to increase the temperature of the cleaning shaft 40 and perform a heating and cleaning operation on the pipe 200. It is understood that the configuration of the steam pipe 60 in Figure 5 can be integrated with that in Figure 6. The power supply 210 can be located on the multifunctional pipe cleaner 100 or external to the multifunctional pipe cleaner 100.

[0028] Figure 7 shows a side view of the multifunctional pipe cleaner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, the multifunctional pipe cleaner 100 of this embodiment further includes a camera 80. The camera 80 is mounted on the cleaning shaft 40 and can be mounted on the second end 42 for capturing images of the pipe 200, allowing the user to obtain images of the pipe 200 before and after cleaning for comparison, so as to improve cleaning conditions and obtain the best cleaning state.

[0029] The multi-functional pipe cleaner described in the above embodiments provides excellent cleaning results and flexibility, effectively solving the problem of pipe contamination in semiconductor equipment, improving product yield and quality. It is not only easy to operate but also has broad application prospects. The replaceable cleaning shaft design is suitable for pipes of different specifications and materials. The cleaning shaft with an elastic coil section can adapt to the bending direction of the pipe. Multiple cleaning modes meet different cleaning needs, effectively solving pipe contamination problems in semiconductor equipment or other fields.

[0030] It is worth noting that all the above embodiments can be appropriately combined, substituted, or modified to provide diverse effects. Furthermore, this invention is applicable to the cleaning of various chemical pipelines in semiconductor equipment manufacturing processes, such as pipelines for etching solutions, cleaning solutions, and developing solutions. In addition, this invention can also be applied to other fields requiring pipeline cleaning, such as medical devices and food processing equipment, without particular limitation.

[0031] The specific embodiments described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments are only used to facilitate the explanation of the technical content of the present invention, and are not intended to narrowly limit the present invention to the above embodiments. All variations and implementations made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the patent application are within the scope of the present invention.

[0032] CP: cross-section 10: Spindle 11: First end 12: Second end 20: Operations Department 21: Rotary Wheel 22: Handle 30: Fixing part 31: Bolt 32: Nut 33: Nut 40: Cleaning axis 41: First end 42: Second end 50: Cleaning tablets 60: Steam pipe 70: Conductor group 80: Camera 100: Multi-functional pipe cleaner 200: Pipeline 210: Power supply

Claims

1. A multi-functional pipe cleaner, comprising at least: a main shaft; an operating part connected to a first end of the main shaft and configured to be rotated by a user; a fixing part connected to a second end of the main shaft; and a cleaning shaft, a first end of the cleaning shaft being detachably connected to the fixing part, allowing the user to rotate the operating part to drive the main shaft and the cleaning shaft into a pipe for cleaning operations.

2. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning shaft is pivotally connected to the fixed part.

3. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning shaft is a helical coil.

4. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second end of the cleaning shaft has a resilient coil segment that can bend elastically to adapt to the direction of the pipe.

5. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further includes a cleaning disc wrapped around the outside of the cleaning shaft to perform a fine cleaning operation on the pipe.

6. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further includes a steam pipe passing through the operating section and the main shaft, and through part or all of the cleaning shaft, to provide steam for steam cleaning the operating section.

7. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further includes a wire assembly for electrically connecting the cleaning shaft to a power source, which supplies power to the cleaning shaft through the wire assembly to increase the temperature of the cleaning shaft and perform a heated cleaning operation on the pipe.

8. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further includes a steam pipe passing through the operating section and the main shaft, and through part or all of the cleaning shaft, to provide steam for steam cleaning operation of the operating section.

9. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating part includes a wheel and a handle foldably connected to the periphery of the wheel.

10. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning shaft is detachably connected to the fixing part by a bolt.

11. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cleaning shaft further clamps a circular head of the cleaning shaft by means of two nuts locked to the bolt.

12. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein a portion of the cleaning disc is clamped between adjacent resilient coils of the cleaning shaft.

13. The multi-functional pipe cleaner as claimed in claim 1 further includes a camera mounted on the cleaning shaft for capturing images of the pipe.

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