Pneumatic pipe de-clogger

Abstract

This invention discloses a pneumatic pipe unblocking device, belonging to the field of pipe unblocking technology. It includes a pipe, a vent pipe, an air distribution assembly, a spring assembly, and an air unblocking assembly. The vent pipe is vertically connected to the side of the pipe, forming an air inlet on its side. The spring assembly is fixed inside the vent pipe and connected to the air distribution assembly. The air distribution assembly is disposed on the inner wall of the pipe and seals the air inlet under the action of the spring assembly. The air unblocking assembly is disposed inside the vent pipe and is used to provide compressed air to the air inlet, driving the air distribution assembly to open the air inlet. The air distribution assembly guides the compressed air to flow to both ends of the inner wall of the pipe, unblocking the blockage under the action of the compressed air. This pneumatic pipe unblocking device effectively solves the problems of material deposition and adhesion on the inner wall of pipes causing blockages, and the time-consuming and labor-intensive, costly, and potentially dangerous unblocking methods used in some hard-to-reach pipe sections.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of pipeline unblocking technology. Specifically, it relates to a pneumatic pipeline unblocking device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of material conveying, especially in the pipeline conveying of powdery, granular, or viscous materials, the flow state of the material within the pipeline directly affects the conveying efficiency and system stability. However, when materials flow through inclined pipelines, due to the combined effects of gravity, internal friction, and wall friction, material tends to adhere to the inner wall of the pipeline. When the material has high moisture content, small particle size, or a certain degree of viscosity, the material particles will gradually deposit and adhere to the inner wall of the pipeline, forming an initial adhesion layer. As the conveying time increases, the adhesion layer thickens, eventually developing into a local "arching" or "bridging" phenomenon, where the material forms an unstable arch or bridge structure within the pipeline cross-section, significantly reducing the effective flow area of ​​the pipeline. In severe cases, this will further deteriorate, eventually leading to complete pipeline blockage and causing conveying interruption. In some pipeline sections that are difficult for personnel to access, operators often need to use complex auxiliary equipment or even stop the machine to disassemble the pipeline to complete the cleaning, which not only consumes a lot of manpower and resources but also seriously affects production progress, increases maintenance costs, and may even cause safety accidents. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pneumatic pipe unblocking device to address the aforementioned shortcomings, solving the problems of material deposition and adhesion causing pipe blockage in existing technologies, and the time-consuming, labor-intensive, and potentially dangerous unblocking methods used in hard-to-reach pipe sections. To achieve the above objective, this invention provides the following technical solution: A pneumatic pipe unblocking device includes a pipe, a vent pipe, an air distribution assembly, a spring assembly, and an air unblocking assembly. The vent pipe is vertically connected to the side of the pipe, forming an air inlet on the side of the vent pipe. The spring assembly is fixed inside the vent pipe and connected to the air distribution assembly. The air distribution assembly is disposed on the inner wall of the pipe and seals the air inlet under the action of the spring assembly. The air unblocking assembly is disposed inside the vent pipe and is used to provide compressed air to the air inlet, driving the air distribution assembly to open the air inlet. The air distribution assembly is used to guide the compressed air to flow to both ends of the inner wall of the pipe, unblocking the blockage under the action of the compressed air.

[0004] Furthermore, the air distribution assembly includes an air distribution plate; the air distribution plate is arranged parallel to the duct.

[0005] Furthermore, the spring assembly includes a compression spring; one end of the compression spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vent pipe, and the other end is fixedly connected to the air distribution plate.

[0006] Furthermore, even when the compression spring is not under force, it always provides tension to the air distribution plate, so that the air distribution plate fits tightly against the inner wall of the pipe, thereby closing the air inlet.

[0007] Furthermore, the air unblocking assembly includes a movable air cap and a compressed air source; the movable air cap is disposed inside the vent pipe with its outlet facing the air inlet; the compressed air source is connected to the inlet of the movable air cap, providing compressed air to overcome the elastic force of the compression spring, causing the air distribution plate to move away from the air inlet and form a gap with the inner wall of the pipe, and the compressed air is discharged along the gap to both ends to form an air knife for unblocking.

[0008] Furthermore, the movable vent cap is equipped with an adjusting valve, which can adjust the compressed air flow rate through the movable vent cap.

[0009] Furthermore, the vent pipe is fixed to the pipeline by welding to prevent compressed air from leaking out during circulation.

[0010] Furthermore, the pipe is a square pipe; the air distribution plate can be tightly fitted to the inner wall of the square pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, a rubber pad is provided on the side of the air distribution plate near the air inlet; the area of ​​the rubber pad covers the air inlet, which is used to improve the sealing performance of the air distribution plate when the air inlet is closed.

[0012] Furthermore, the air distribution plate is provided with a hook on the side near the air inlet; the compression spring is provided with a pull hook at the end near the air inlet; the pull hook cooperates with the hook to connect the compression spring to the air distribution plate.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention features a vent pipe connected to the side wall of a pipeline. An air distribution plate is installed on the inner wall of the pipeline and fixed inside the vent pipe by a compression spring. Under the action of the compression spring, the air distribution plate is tightly pressed against the inner wall of the pipeline, preventing material leakage from the air inlet. A movable air cap is installed inside the vent pipe. Compressed air passes through the outlet of the movable air cap, pushing open the air distribution plate and exiting through the gap between the air distribution plate and the inner wall of the pipeline. This forms an air knife that cuts and disperses the surrounding accumulated material, breaking down material adhesion or arching. The flow rate of compressed air entering the movable air cap is controlled by a compressed air source and a regulating valve to achieve unblocking. This method can be applied to areas difficult for personnel to access and eliminates the need for dangerous operations or shutdown for pipe disassembly, effectively protecting personal safety and reducing maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the compression spring of the present invention when it is not under force; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the compression spring of the present invention under the action of compressed air; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the air unblocking component of the present invention in conjunction with the pipeline; In the attached diagram: 1. Pipe; 2. Vent pipe; 3. Air distribution plate; 4. Compression spring; 5. Spring retaining strip; 6. Movable vent cap; 7. Regulating valve; 8. Pull hook. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0016] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0017] In the description of this invention, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0018] In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0019] In the description of this invention, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or it may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through another feature between them.

[0020] In the description of this invention, the terms "above," "over," and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0021] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," and "some examples" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0022] Example See attached Figures 1-3 This embodiment discloses a pneumatic pipeline unblocking device, including a pipeline 1, an air inlet pipe 2, an air distribution assembly, a spring assembly, and an air unblocking assembly. The pipeline 1 is the main channel for material conveying and can be either circular or square. An air inlet is opened on the side of the pipeline 1 at the location where the unblocking device is to be installed, and the air inlet pipe 2 is vertically connected to this air inlet. The air inlet pipe 2 is fixedly connected to the pipeline 1 by welding, which ensures the sealing of the connection and prevents compressed air leakage during flow. The air inlet pipe 2 is a hollow tube, and its internal space communicates with the interior of the pipeline 1 through an air inlet.

[0023] In this embodiment, an air distribution assembly is installed on the inner wall of the pipe 1 to guide compressed air to both ends of the inner wall of the pipe 1 during unblocking. The air distribution assembly includes an air distribution plate 3, the shape of which matches the shape of the inner wall of the pipe 1. When the pipe 1 is a square pipe 1, the air distribution plate 3 adopts a flat plate structure, which can fit tightly against the inner wall of the square pipe 1. The air distribution plate 3 is arranged parallel to the pipe 1, that is, the plate surface direction of the air distribution plate 3 is consistent with the axial direction of the pipe 1. In this way, the air distribution plate 3 can form a good seal with the inner wall of the pipe 1 when the air inlet is closed, and can allow compressed air to be discharged axially to both ends of the pipe 1 when it is opened.

[0024] In this embodiment, the spring assembly is fixed inside the vent pipe 2 and connected to the air distribution assembly. The spring assembly includes a compression spring 4, one end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vent pipe 2 via a spring fixing strip 5, and the other end is fixedly connected to the air distribution plate 3. In some embodiments, for ease of connection, a hook is provided on the side of the air distribution plate 3 near the air inlet, and a pull hook 8 is provided on the end of the compression spring 4 near the air inlet. The pull hook 8 cooperates with the hook to connect the compression spring 4 and the air distribution plate 3 together. When no external force is applied, the compression spring 4 always provides tension to the air distribution plate 3, causing the air distribution plate 3 to be pulled towards the air inlet and tightly fitted against the inner wall of the pipe 1, thereby completely sealing the air inlet. In this state, the air distribution plate 3 is tightly fitted against the inner wall of the pipe 1, allowing the normal flow of material within the pipe 1 while preventing material from leaking from the air inlet into the vent pipe 2.

[0025] In this embodiment, the air unblocking component is disposed within the vent pipe 2 and is used to supply compressed air to the air inlet, driving the air distribution component to open the air inlet. The air unblocking component includes a movable air cap 6 and a compressed air source. The movable air cap 6 is installed inside the vent pipe 2, with its outlet facing the air inlet, and its inlet connected to the compressed air source via a pipeline. A regulating valve 7 may also be provided on the movable air cap 6 to regulate the compressed air flow rate through the movable air cap 6, thereby controlling the airflow intensity and unblocking range during unblocking.

[0026] Under normal material conveying conditions, the compressed air source is not working, and no compressed air enters the movable air cap 6. At this time, the compression spring 4 is under natural tension, applying tension to the air distribution plate 3, causing the air distribution plate 3 to fit tightly against the inner wall of the pipe 1, completely sealing the air inlet. A rubber pad can be placed on the side of the air distribution plate 3 near the air inlet, covering the entire air inlet. When the air distribution plate 3 is in contact with the inner wall of the pipe 1, the rubber pad is compressed, further improving the sealing performance and ensuring that the material does not leak from the air inlet. At this time, the material in the pipe 1 passes through normally, and the presence of the air distribution plate 3 does not significantly obstruct the material flow.

[0027] When unblocking is required, upon noticing a decrease in material flow within pipe 1, or according to a predetermined schedule for unblocking, the operator activates the compressed air supply. Compressed air enters the movable air cap 6 through the pipeline and is ejected at high speed from its outlet, directly acting on the side of the air distribution plate 3 facing the air inlet. The pressure generated by the compressed air overcomes the tension of the compression spring 4, pushing the air distribution plate 3 further into pipe 1, moving it away from the air inlet and creating a gap of a certain width between the air distribution plate 3 and the inner wall of pipe 1. After entering pipe 1 from the air inlet, the compressed air, guided by the air distribution plate 3, is discharged along the gap between the air distribution plate 3 and the inner wall of pipe 1 towards both ends of the pipe 1 axis. Due to the high pressure and velocity of the compressed air, when ejected from the narrow gap, it forms a high-speed airflow similar to an air knife. This high-speed airflow diffuses along the inner wall of pipe 1 towards both ends, generating strong shearing and impact forces on the material adhering to the inner wall of pipe 1, effectively cutting and breaking up the already bonded material layer and destroying the arched or bridging structures formed by the material. As the airflow continues, the dispersed material is resuspended in the airflow and transported forward with the mainstream material, thereby restoring the normal flow capacity of pipeline 1.

[0028] Operators can control the compressed air flow rate using regulating valve 7 to adapt to different operating conditions and varying degrees of blockage. After clearing the blockage, the compressed air supply is shut off, and the movable air cap 6 stops supplying air. The air distributor 3, losing the thrust of compressed air, moves back towards the air inlet under the tension of the compression spring 4, eventually sealing the air inlet tightly against the inner wall of pipe 1, restoring normal delivery. The entire clearing process requires no operator entry into hazardous areas and no shutdown or disassembly of pipe 1; the operation is simple, quick, safe, and reliable.

[0029] The vent pipe 2 is welded to the pipe 1 to ensure the sealing and structural strength of the connection. The entire unblocking device has a compact structure and occupies little space. It can be installed on the pipe 1 at any location where unblocking is needed, and is especially suitable for installation in areas that are difficult for personnel to access, such as pipe 1 that is erected at high altitude, pipe 1 in narrow spaces, or pipe 1 that is buried deep underground.

[0030] The unblocking device implemented in this paper can quickly and effectively unblock pipelines without affecting normal material conveying, significantly reducing the difficulty and safety risks of unblocking operations, reducing maintenance costs, and improving the operational reliability of the conveying system.

[0031] The unblocking device of this embodiment is particularly suitable for square pipes 1. When pipe 1 is square, the air distribution plate 3 is designed as a rectangular flat plate, which has a larger contact area with the inner wall of the square pipe 1 and a better sealing effect. At the same time, when compressed air is discharged from the gap between the air distribution plate 3 and the inner wall of pipe 1, it can form a uniformly distributed air knife along the inner wall of pipe 1, which can also play a good cleaning role for materials adhering to the square pipe 1.

[0032] The unblocking device in this embodiment achieves true online unblocking without downtime. Traditional unblocking methods often require stopping material conveying and emptying the material from the pipeline before cleaning can begin, resulting in prolonged production line interruptions. However, in the unblocking device of this invention, compressed air is directly ejected from the gap between the air distribution plate 3 and the inner wall of the pipeline 1 during the unblocking process, cutting and breaking up the attached material. The dispersed material is then directly mixed into the mainstream conveying airflow and continues to be conveyed forward. The entire process does not require stopping material conveying, achieving uninterrupted unblocking and significantly improving production continuity.

[0033] The unblocking device of this embodiment is suitable for pipe sections 1 that are difficult for personnel to access, significantly reducing safety risks. In areas of pipe 1 located high above ground, deeply buried underground, within narrow interlayers, or where there are risks of toxicity, toxicity, or high temperature and pressure, direct entry for unblocking operations poses a significant safety hazard. The unblocking device of this invention has a compact structure and eliminates the need for personnel to enter dangerous areas. Operators only need to control the opening and closing of the compressed air source and the opening of the regulating valve 7 from a safe position to complete the unblocking operation, fundamentally preventing personal injury accidents.

[0034] The unblocking device in this embodiment has adjustable unblocking capabilities. By setting an adjusting valve 7 on the movable air cap 6, the operator can flexibly adjust the flow rate and pressure of compressed air according to the actual degree of blockage. For slight adhesion, a small flow rate and gentle blowing are sufficient to remove it, avoiding waste of compressed air; for severe arching or bridging blockage, a large flow rate and high pressure airflow are used to form a powerful air knife, which can effectively break up hard material arches. This adjustability allows the unblocking device to adapt to different material characteristics, different humidity conditions, and different degrees of blockage, making it highly versatile.

[0035] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention. Technical aspects, shapes, and structures not described in detail in this invention are all well-known technologies.

Claims

1. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device, characterized in that: It includes a pipe (1), a vent pipe (2), an air distribution assembly, a spring assembly, and an air unblocking assembly; the vent pipe (2) is vertically connected to the side of the pipe (1), and an air inlet is formed on the side of the vent pipe (2); the spring assembly is fixed inside the vent pipe (2) and connected to the air distribution assembly; the air distribution assembly is disposed on the inner wall of the pipe (1) and seals the air inlet under the action of the spring assembly; the air unblocking assembly is disposed inside the vent pipe (2) and is used to provide compressed air to the air inlet and drive the air distribution assembly to open the air inlet; the air distribution assembly is used to guide the compressed air to flow to both ends of the inner wall of the pipe (1) and unblock under the action of the compressed air.

2. The pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air distribution assembly includes an air distribution plate (3); the air distribution plate (3) is arranged in parallel with the pipe (1).

3. The pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The spring assembly includes a compression spring (4); one end of the compression spring (4) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the vent pipe (2), and the other end is fixedly connected to the air distribution plate (3).

4. The pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the compression spring (4) is not under force, it always provides tension to the air distribution plate (3), so that the air distribution plate (3) fits tightly against the inner wall of the pipe (1), thereby closing the air inlet.

5. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The air unblocking assembly includes a movable air cap (6) and a compressed air source; the movable air cap (6) is disposed inside the ventilation pipe (2), with its outlet facing the air inlet; the compressed air source is connected to the inlet of the movable air cap (6) and provides compressed air to overcome the elastic force of the compression spring (4), so that the air distribution plate (3) moves away from the air inlet and forms a gap with the inner wall of the pipe (1), and the compressed air is discharged along the gap to both ends to form an air knife for unblocking.

6. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The movable vent cap (6) is equipped with an adjusting valve (7) which can adjust the flow rate of compressed air passing through the movable vent cap (6).

7. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The vent pipe (2) is fixed to the pipe (1) by welding to prevent compressed air from leaking out during circulation.

8. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pipe (1) is a square pipe (1); the air distribution plate (3) can be tightly fitted to the inner wall of the square pipe (1).

9. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air distribution plate (3) has a rubber pad on the side near the air inlet; the area of ​​the rubber pad covers the air inlet, which is used to improve the sealing performance of the air distribution plate (3) when the air inlet is closed.

10. A pneumatic pipeline unblocking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The air distribution plate (3) is provided with a hook on the side near the air inlet; the compression spring (4) is provided with a pull hook (8) at the end near the air inlet; the pull hook (8) cooperates with the hook to connect the compression spring (4) to the air distribution plate (3).

Images