Portable device for cleaning the interior of special metal pipes

Abstract

The application relates to a portable device for cleaning the inner hole of a special metal pipe, which comprises a grinding assembly, at least one connecting rod and a power device; the grinding assembly comprises a grinding execution part for grinding the inner hole of the pipe and a connecting head, the grinding execution part is detachably fixedly connected with one end of the connecting head, the other end of the connecting head is detachably fixedly connected with one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is used for being detachably fixedly connected with the other end of another connecting rod or the output end of the power device; a bearing positioning section is arranged on the rod body of each connecting rod, and a bearing is arranged outside the bearing positioning section and is used for forming radial support for the connecting rod in the inner hole of the pipe and limiting the radial runout of the connecting rod during rotation. The device can effectively realize efficient, high-quality, universal and on-site maintenance and cleaning of the inner hole of a small-diameter special metal pipe, thereby guaranteeing the safe and reliable operation of special equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of maintenance and repair technology for special metal pipe fittings, and specifically to a portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings. Background Technology

[0002] Small-diameter special metal pipe fittings (hereinafter referred to as fittings) are core components of many types of special operation equipment (20mm≤diameter≤60mm). Their inner hole machining accuracy is typically IT5-IT6, conforming to the requirements of special equipment manufacturing specifications such as GJB6619-2008. The performance of these fittings directly determines the operational reliability and safety of the entire special equipment system. During the operation of the special equipment, the metal working body, with its outer nylon coating, is strongly propelled by instantaneous high-pressure driving gas, moving at high speed in a linear fashion along the inner hole of the fitting to complete the operation cycle. During this process, the inner hole of the fitting must simultaneously withstand the intense high temperatures generated by the high-speed friction of the metal working body, the enormous impact load from the high-pressure driving gas, and the chemical corrosion of the reaction products, making the working environment extremely harsh and demanding.

[0003] After multiple operating cycles, the inner surface of the pipe fittings will inevitably experience various cumulative damages and foreign matter residues, including: 1) Oxides and carbon deposits adhering to the inner pore wall due to the driving reaction; 2) The nylon coating of the metal workpiece will solidify into a gel-like deposit after being melted by friction at high temperature and cooled, or the metal material of the workpiece will form a metal deposition layer on the surface of the inner hole. 3) The debris formed when the special coating on the inner surface of the hole falls off under repeated impact and friction will also remain inside the pipe fitting; 4) Stress concentration areas such as internal groove structures will also produce outward-protruding fatigue burrs due to long-term alternating loads.

[0004] The cumulative damage and foreign object residue mentioned above will not only gradually destroy the original morphology of the inner hole of the pipe fitting, severely deteriorate its dimensional accuracy and surface finish, but also interfere with the normal movement trajectory of the metal working body, reduce the working accuracy, and ultimately lead to a decrease in the operational reliability of special equipment and a significant reduction in its service life.

[0005] Therefore, after completing a certain number of operation cycles, it is essential to perform standardized internal cleaning of the pipe fittings to ensure the equipment's operational accuracy, continuous operation capability, and safety. Specifically, the theoretical operation cycle rate for this type of specialized equipment is no less than 300 cycles / minute. In actual continuous operation, short- and medium-range intermittent operation modes are often adopted. Due to limitations such as material supply switching, pipe fitting temperature rise control, and posture correction, the actual continuous operation rate is usually maintained at 100-200 cycles / minute. Based on this operational intensity, internal cleaning is required after accumulating 100-500 operation cycles to thoroughly remove reaction residues, carbon deposits, and metal deposits adhering to the inner wall, and to repair minor surface damage. Correspondingly, the threshold for internal cleaning is reached in just 0.5-5 minutes. The rapid accumulation of residual deposits in the inner hole means that failure to perform timely and standardized cleaning will directly affect the equipment's operational accuracy and internal pressure stability, and may even exacerbate inner hole wear and shorten the service life of the pipe fittings.

[0006] Currently, the industry has been using manual labor for cleaning the inner bore of these small-diameter special metal pipe fittings. The specific work process is as follows: First, use a cleaning brush to perform a preliminary cleaning of the inner hole of the pipe fitting, and then use a gauge of the corresponding specification to conduct a full-stroke unobstructedness check, and accurately mark the locations where jamming occurs; Subsequently, a lead rod is inserted into the inner hole from the pipe end and pushed to the marked position by the operator. Once the designated position is reached, the lead rod is slowly pulled back and forth, and the inner wall of the pipe is cleaned with special abrasive and copper removal agent.

[0007] Before being put back into use, the pipe fittings must be checked for patency throughout their entire stroke using a go gauge. If the check fails, the cleaning process described above must be repeated until the go gauge passes through smoothly before the pipe fittings can be put back into use.

[0008] Otherwise, it could very likely lead to extremely serious safety accidents. For example, if pipe fittings that have not been properly cleaned are put into use, the high-speed moving metal workpiece will violently collide and become stuck with residual oxides, colloids, plating fragments, or burrs inside the pipe, causing the metal workpiece to be obstructed or even completely jammed. At this time, the instantaneous high-pressure driving gas cannot be released normally, which will create a rapidly increasing pressure buildup inside the pipe fitting, eventually causing the pipe fitting to burst, resulting in a serious safety accident that seriously damages the lives of operators and surrounding equipment.

[0009] However, with the current manual cleaning method, the entire cleaning process for a single pipe requires at least 2 to 3 operators to perform high-intensity physical labor for about 2 hours (the heavier the lead rod, the higher the difficulty and physical exertion), resulting in extremely low overall work efficiency. Therefore, limited by the long operation time, traditional cleaning processes can only carry out centralized maintenance at the beginning and end of the task, and are completely unable to meet the needs of rapid cleaning in the middle of the task. In other words, when the accumulation of residue in the inner hole accelerates during high-intensity work, or when abnormal wear occurs on the surface, it is impossible to quickly intervene for repair. If the work is forced to continue, it will continue to aggravate the damage to the inner hole and create the safety hazard of pipe jamming and bursting. If the task is interrupted and the work is returned to the rear for maintenance, it will seriously delay the operation.

[0010] Especially in high-efficiency field operations, the window of opportunity for maintenance between tasks is very limited. The maintenance time of nearly 2 hours for traditional processes not only significantly extends the task turnaround time of equipment, but also seriously restricts the rapid response capability and continuous operation efficiency of special equipment. Moreover, if the cleaning process is simplified in order to shorten the construction period, the quality of internal hole cleaning and repair cannot be guaranteed, which can easily leave hidden dangers for operation safety.

[0011] As is well known, in high-efficiency operational scenarios, the timeliness of equipment support directly determines the operational window and task effectiveness. Even a few minutes' difference in support time is sufficient to support special equipment in completing multiple rounds of operational output, having a critical impact on the task progress and final result. Therefore, innovating the internal cleaning technology for small-diameter special metal pipe fittings, reducing the labor intensity of operators, and improving cleaning efficiency are necessary ways to enhance the continuous operation capability of special equipment and ensure the effectiveness of task execution. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings. In high-efficiency operation scenarios, this device can effectively reduce the labor intensity of operators and improve the efficiency of cleaning operations while ensuring the cleaning quality of the inner bore of small-diameter special metal pipe fittings. This enables efficient, high-quality, universal, and on-site maintenance and cleaning of the inner bore of small-diameter special metal pipe fittings, thereby ensuring the safe and reliable operation of special equipment.

[0013] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following approach: A portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings includes a grinding assembly, at least one connecting rod, and a power unit. The grinding assembly includes a grinding actuator and a connector for grinding the inner hole of the pipe. The grinding actuator is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of the connector, and the other end of the connector is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of a connecting rod. The other end of the connecting rod is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of another connecting rod or to the output end of a power device. Each connecting rod has a bearing positioning section on its body, and a bearing is fitted over the bearing positioning section. The bearing is used to provide radial support for the connecting rod in the inner hole of the pipe, thereby limiting the radial runout of the connecting rod during rotation.

[0014] Preferably, the connecting rod includes a first connecting section and a second connecting section disposed on both sides of the bearing positioning section. The outer diameter of the first connecting section is larger than the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section, and the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section is larger than the outer diameter of the second connecting section, so as to form a positioning shoulder for axially limiting one end of the bearing at the junction of the bearing positioning section and the first connecting section.

[0015] Preferably, a limiting hole is provided on the second connecting section, and a pin is provided in the limiting hole to axially limit the other end of the bearing and prevent the bearing from falling off the bearing positioning section during operation.

[0016] Preferably, one end of the connecting rod is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, and the other end of the connecting rod is provided with a first snap-fit ​​part adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the end of the connector is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the cross-sections of the first snap-fit ​​part, the second snap-fit ​​part, and the snap-fit ​​groove are all non-circular cross-sections to achieve circumferential limiting and torque transmission.

[0017] Preferably, the first and second snap-fit ​​parts are made of magnetic material, and a permanent magnet is provided at the bottom of the snap-fit ​​groove for adsorbing and fixing the first or second snap-fit ​​part.

[0018] Preferably, it also includes an adapter, the larger end of which is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove that is adapted to snap-fit ​​the first snap-fit ​​part, and the smaller end of the adapter is connected to the output end of the power device.

[0019] Preferably, the connecting rods are connected in series by detachable fixed connection at both ends to accommodate special metal pipes of different lengths.

[0020] Preferably, by replacing the grinding actuator and bearing with different outer diameter specifications, special metal pipe fittings of different diameters can be adapted.

[0021] Preferably, the grinding actuator is a composite fiber flap wheel with a handle, a nylon fiber grinding head with a handle, or a sanding ring grinding head with a handle.

[0022] Preferably, the power device is a handheld electric drill or a handheld pneumatic drill.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: A portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings includes a grinding assembly, at least one connecting rod, and a power unit. The grinding assembly includes a grinding actuator and a connector for grinding the inner hole of the pipe. The grinding actuator is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of the connector, and the other end of the connector is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of a connecting rod. The other end of the connecting rod is detachably and fixedly connected to one end of another connecting rod or to the output end of a power device. Each connecting rod has a bearing positioning section on its body, and a bearing is fitted over the bearing positioning section. The bearing is used to provide radial support for the connecting rod in the inner hole of the pipe, thereby limiting the radial runout of the connecting rod during rotation.

[0024] This invention employs a modular, split design, constructing an overall cleaning architecture consisting of "power unit drive + series transmission via connecting rods + radial support from bearings." In this architecture, each component can be quickly assembled and disassembled through a detachable structure, facilitating transport and providing a structural basis for adapting to different pipe fitting specifications.

[0025] The rotary grinding method driven by the power device described in this invention completely replaces the high-intensity manual labor mode of reciprocating grinding with lead rods. Specifically, due to gravity, when traditional lead rods reciprocate within a flat pipe, only the lower semicircular surface forms effective friction with the inner wall. The upper semicircle cannot make contact due to a 0.4-0.5mm gap between the lead rod and the pipe. The pipe must be rotated repeatedly to cover the entire inner wall. Furthermore, manual operation is prone to misalignment or overlap of grinding areas, resulting in uneven grinding effects. The entire maintenance process of the traditional process requires 2 to 3 workers to perform high-intensity manual labor. The larger the pipe diameter and the heavier the lead rod, the higher the difficulty and physical exertion. The repair time for a single pipe is about 2 hours, which is extremely labor-intensive and inefficient. In scenarios with mass use, maintenance work will consume a lot of manpower and time resources, seriously affecting the turnover efficiency of special equipment. The rotary grinding method of this solution can complete the continuous cleaning of the pipe fitting in one go, without the need to repeatedly rotate the pipe fitting. This avoids the problem of uneven grinding in principle, while greatly shortening the operation time and reducing the number of operators required. In high-efficiency operation scenarios, it can significantly improve maintenance efficiency and reduce labor costs.

[0026] Most importantly, the bearing positioning section on the connecting rod and the radial support system formed by the bearing inside the pipe can strictly limit the radial runout during the rotation of the connecting rod, ensuring that the grinding actuator and the inner hole of the pipe maintain high-precision coaxiality. This fundamentally solves the core problem of irreversible damage to pipes caused by traditional lead rod grinding. Specifically, during traditional manual lead rod grinding, the lead rod's movement path easily deviates from the pipe's centerline, leading to uneven force distribution between the lead rod end and the inner wall surface, resulting in eccentric jamming. Once jamming occurs, it is necessary to tap the outer surface of the pipe and moderately pull the lead rod connecting rod to gradually remove the jammed lead rod from the pipe. If the operation is improper, the lead rod tool can directly scratch or even abrade the intact surface of the pipe's inner hole, causing irreversible damage. Since these special metal pipes are usually made of expensive special alloy materials, the cost per piece is extremely high. Once the inner hole plating or substrate is accidentally damaged by traditional tooling, the entire pipe will be scrapped and cannot be repaired, resulting in significant material waste and economic losses.

[0027] The radial support structure described in this invention ensures that the grinding actuator rotates stably along the central axis of the inner hole. The grinding actuator will not cause excessive cutting damage to the inner wall of the special metal pipe fitting; it will only perform surface cleaning, removing adhering substances and microburrs, ensuring the inner wall achieves the required smoothness. Structurally, this prevents the cleaning tool from eccentrically scratching the intact surface of the inner hole under the drive of the power unit, eliminating economic losses caused by improper operation that could result in the scrapping of expensive special alloy pipe fittings. Furthermore, because the hardness of the special metal pipe fitting is greater than that of the grinding actuator, combined with the radial support system formed by the bearing inside the pipe fitting, it can further mitigate the risk of damage to the pipe fitting substrate and coating from a material properties perspective, while ensuring the cleaning and repair effect.

[0028] Preferably, the connecting rod includes a first connecting section and a second connecting section disposed on both sides of the bearing positioning section. The outer diameter of the first connecting section is larger than the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section, and the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section is larger than the outer diameter of the second connecting section, so as to form a positioning shoulder for axially limiting one end of the bearing at the junction of the bearing positioning section and the first connecting section.

[0029] This invention designs the connecting rod as a stepped shaft structure, using the dimensional difference between the first connecting section and the bearing positioning section to form a positioning shoulder, which can achieve natural axial restraint on one end of the bearing. This simplifies the bearing installation and positioning process, and ensures that the bearing will not move towards the grinding execution part during operation, maintaining the positional stability of the radial support. It further ensures the coaxiality of the connecting rod rotation, avoids increased radial runout caused by bearing displacement, and prevents the inner hole of the pipe from being scratched.

[0030] Preferably, a limiting hole is provided on the second connecting section, and a pin is provided in the limiting hole to axially limit the other end of the bearing and prevent the bearing from falling off the bearing positioning section during operation.

[0031] This invention achieves bidirectional axial positioning of the bearing by setting a limiting hole and a pin in the second connecting section, together with the positioning shoulder. This effectively prevents the bearing from falling off the bearing positioning section during operation vibration and forward and backward pushing, ensuring the stability and effectiveness of the radial support structure throughout the process, guaranteeing the rotation accuracy of the connecting rod and the reliability of the grinding operation, and avoiding device failure and damage to the inner hole of the pipe caused by bearing installation failure.

[0032] Preferably, one end of the connecting rod is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, and the other end of the connecting rod is provided with a first snap-fit ​​part adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the end of the connector is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the cross-sections of the first snap-fit ​​part, the second snap-fit ​​part, and the snap-fit ​​groove are all non-circular cross-sections to achieve circumferential limiting and torque transmission.

[0033] This invention employs a non-circular cross-section snap-fit ​​structure, which can stably and efficiently transmit rotational torque and avoid failures such as slippage and free rotation during operation. At the same time, the non-circular cross-section has unique assembly guidance, enabling rapid and accurate docking of various modular components without repeated alignment adjustments, further shortening on-site assembly time and providing transmission reliability support for rapid on-site repair of special equipment and improved batch maintenance efficiency.

[0034] Preferably, the first and second snap-fit ​​parts are made of magnetic material, and a permanent magnet is provided at the bottom of the snap-fit ​​groove for adsorbing and fixing the first or second snap-fit ​​part.

[0035] This invention employs a magnetic adsorption-assisted fixing method. Once the snap-fit ​​part is inserted into the snap-fit ​​slot, it can be locked by adsorption with a permanent magnet. Quick assembly and disassembly can be completed without the need for special tools such as wrenches and screws, further improving the convenience of on-site assembly and disassembly of the device, shortening the preparation and finishing time of the operation, and making it more suitable for the rapid repair needs in field and mobile scenarios, without affecting the stable transmission of circumferential torque.

[0036] Preferably, it also includes an adapter, the larger end of which is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove that is adapted to snap-fit ​​the first snap-fit ​​part, and the smaller end of the adapter is connected to the output end of the power device.

[0037] This invention uses an adapter as a bridge between the connecting rod and the power device, which can convert the special snap-fit ​​interface of the connecting rod into a standard interface that is compatible with general power equipment. This allows the device to be directly compatible with common handheld power devices on the market without the need for a customized power source, thus improving the interchangeability and versatility of the power equipment and reducing the device's supporting costs and the difficulty of on-site power adaptation.

[0038] Preferably, the connecting rods are connected in series by detachable fixed connection at both ends to accommodate special metal pipes of different lengths.

[0039] This invention utilizes a structure where multiple connecting rods are connected end-to-end. The number of connecting rods can be flexibly increased or decreased according to the actual length of the special metal pipe fittings to be cleaned, precisely adapting to the cleaning and maintenance needs of different length specifications. There is no need to customize a complete set of special tools for each type of pipe fitting, effectively reducing the types and total amount of accompanying tools, lowering maintenance costs and carrying burden. At the same time, it can achieve continuous grinding of long pipe fittings throughout the entire stroke, avoiding the cumbersome segmented and multiple operations of traditional processes, and improving maintenance efficiency.

[0040] Preferably, by replacing the grinding actuator and bearing with different outer diameter specifications, special metal pipe fittings of different diameters can be adapted.

[0041] This invention can adapt to special metal pipe fittings of different diameters by replacing the grinding actuator and bearing with different outer diameters, eliminating the need to customize special lead rods for each pipe diameter. This significantly reduces the types and quantities of special lead rods, substantially lowers maintenance costs and the complexity of on-site tooling management, and allows a single device to cover the maintenance needs of multiple pipe fitting specifications, greatly improving the versatility of tooling.

[0042] Preferably, the grinding actuator is a composite fiber flap wheel with a handle, a nylon fiber grinding head with a handle, or a sanding ring grinding head with a handle.

[0043] This invention can use a composite fiber flap wheel with a handle, a nylon fiber grinding head with a handle, or a grinding ring with a handle as the grinding actuator. These general-purpose, standardized consumables are easy to purchase, inexpensive, and can be adapted to different operational needs such as coarse grinding and descaling, and fine grinding and polishing.

[0044] Preferably, the power device is a handheld electric drill or a handheld pneumatic drill.

[0045] This invention can use handheld electric drills, handheld pneumatic drills, etc. as power devices. These general-purpose handheld rotary power devices do not require complex supporting infrastructure and can be flexibly adapted to various working environments such as mains power, air source, and lithium battery. They are highly portable and mobile, and can meet the needs of rapid pipe repair in complex scenarios such as the field and work site. At the same time, such devices are highly versatile and easy to replace, which can effectively reduce the purchase and maintenance costs of the devices and fully meet the high mobility requirements of special equipment.

[0046] Definitions: Equipment support timeliness refers to the overall time efficiency and response speed from the generation of maintenance needs and entry into support status to the completion of maintenance and restoration to normal working condition. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting rod structure; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the grinding assembly. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure used in the embodiment; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the bearing and the connecting rod. Detailed Implementation

[0048] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, a portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings includes a grinding assembly, at least one connecting rod 1, and a power unit 8.

[0049] One end of the connecting rod 1 has an axially formed locking groove, and the other end of the connecting rod 1 has an integrally formed first locking part 101 adapted to the locking groove. The cross-sections of the first locking part 101 and the locking groove are both non-circular (in this embodiment, a regular hexagonal cross-section is used) to achieve gapless circumferential torque transmission. A permanent magnet is embedded at the bottom center of the locking groove, and the first locking part 101 is made of magnetically conductive material. When the first locking part 101 is inserted into the locking groove, the axial fixation between the connecting rods can be achieved by the attraction force of the permanent magnet, without the need for additional fasteners such as bolts and pins, greatly improving the efficiency of connecting rod assembly and disassembly.

[0050] Each connecting rod 1 includes a bearing positioning section 102, and a first connecting section 104 and a second connecting section 103 disposed at both ends of the bearing positioning section 102. The outer circumferential dimension of the first connecting section 104 is larger than that of the bearing positioning section 102, forming a first shoulder; the outer circumferential dimension of the bearing positioning section 102 is larger than that of the second connecting section 103, forming a second shoulder. A bearing 3 is fixedly sleeved on the bearing positioning section 102; in this embodiment, a deep groove ball bearing is used. The outer diameter of the bearing 3's outer ring is adapted to the inner diameter of the small-diameter special metal pipe fitting (i.e., pipe fitting 6) to be maintained, allowing it to roll on the inner wall of the pipe fitting 6. This forms multi-point distributed radial support for the connecting rod 1 inside the pipe fitting, strictly limiting the radial runout of the connecting rod 1 during high-speed rotation, ensuring that the grinding execution unit 5 always maintains high-precision coaxiality with the inner hole of the pipe fitting, achieving a uniform and stable grinding effect.

[0051] A radially penetrating limiting hole 1031 is provided on the second connecting section 103 near the second shoulder, and a pin 7 is inserted into the limiting hole 1031. After assembly, the bearing 3 is limited between the first shoulder and the pin 7, which can effectively prevent the bearing 3 from falling off the bearing positioning section 102 when the connecting rod 1 reciprocates within the inner hole of the pipe. Furthermore, a through hole 701 for inserting a cotter pin is provided at one end of the pin 7, which can prevent the pin 7 from falling out due to centrifugal force during the high-speed rotation of the connecting rod 1, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the device operation.

[0052] The power device 8 includes a handheld electric drill and a handheld pneumatic drill. In this embodiment, a handheld electric drill is used as the power device 8, wherein the output end of the handheld electric drill is connected to an adapter 4. The adapter 4 includes a large end and a small end. The large end is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove adapted to the first snap-fit ​​part 101, and the small end is provided with a connecting part adapted to the output end of the handheld electric drill. In this embodiment, the adapter 4 specifically adopts a hexagonal shank pop-out conversion head, which is compatible with the output ends of most standard handheld electric drills on the market.

[0053] The grinding assembly includes a connector 2 and a grinding execution part 5. One end of the connector 2 is provided with a second locking part 201, which has the same structure as the first locking part 101. Its cross-section is also hexagonal and made of magnetic material. It can be inserted into the locking groove of the connecting rod 1 and fixed by adsorption with a permanent magnet. The other end of the connector 2 is a three-jaw chuck 202. The grinding execution part 5 includes a handle-mounted composite fiber flap wheel, a handle-mounted nylon fiber grinding head, or a handle-mounted abrasive ring grinding head, etc. In this embodiment, it is specifically a handle-mounted abrasive cloth flap wheel. The connecting handle of the grinding execution part 5 is inserted into the three-jaw chuck 202 and clamped and fixed, realizing a detachable connection.

[0054] In some embodiments, the connector 2 can be replaced with a quick-connect hexagonal shank three-jaw chuck, which can quickly clamp shank grinding tools with different shank diameters, further improving the device's adaptability to different cleaning needs.

[0055] The assembly and use of the device described in this embodiment are as follows: First, pre-treat and fix the pipe fittings to be cleaned: Place the small-diameter special metal pipe fittings to be cleaned horizontally on the operating table and fix them securely, or adjust the pipe fittings to a horizontal position directly on the equipment vehicle to start the operation without the need for additional complicated tooling.

[0056] Next, preparation work is carried out for the grinding actuator: a grinding actuator 5 is selected that is compatible with the inner diameter of the pipe to be maintained. In this embodiment, the grinding actuator is adopted. A 30mm diameter abrasive cloth flap wheel with a handle is immersed in warm water at approximately 60°C for 5 minutes to soften the abrasive cloth substrate, significantly increasing the plasticity and ductility of the abrasive cloth flap wheel, allowing it to better conform to the inner hole surface during rotation. The connecting handle of the softened abrasive cloth flap wheel is inserted into the three-jaw chuck 202 of the connector 2 and tightened for clamping and fixing. Then, a bearing 3 with an outer diameter of 30mm is pre-fitted onto the bearing positioning section 102. Finally, the second snap-fit ​​part 201 of the connector 2 is inserted into the snap-fit ​​groove of the foremost connecting rod 1, and axial self-locking is achieved through the adsorption force of the permanent magnet at the bottom of the snap-fit ​​groove. After checking that all components are tightly connected without looseness, a layer of 80-mesh paste abrasive is evenly applied to the abrasive cloth surface of the abrasive cloth flap wheel to greatly improve cleaning efficiency and surface quality. This completes all the preparation work for the grinding actuator.

[0057] Insert the assembled grinding actuator into the pipe end, and determine the number of connecting rods 1 to be used according to the predetermined grinding depth. Precisely control the insertion depth by observing the preset length markings (marked with 1 mark every 50mm) on the connecting rod 1. After confirming that the grinding actuator 5 has reached the preset working position, start connecting the power unit 8.

[0058] Insert the small end of the adapter 4 into the chuck of the handheld electric drill and tighten it to complete the pre-assembly of the power mechanism; after checking that all parts are normal, insert the first snap-fit ​​part 101 of the last connecting rod 1 into the snap-fit ​​groove of the adapter 4 and lock it in place, thus completing the installation of the entire cleaning device.

[0059] Turn on the power switch of the handheld electric drill, and the device will enter working mode. The operator slowly moves the handheld electric drill back and forth longitudinally, driving the grinding actuator 5 to reciprocate within the inner hole of the pipe. The abrasive cloth coated with abrasive is fully opened and in close contact with the inner hole surface under centrifugal force, thereby uniformly grinding and cleaning the target area. During the cleaning process, the operation can be paused at any time by switching on the motor switch. After removing the device, use a standard gouge to check the cleaning effect. Adjust the cleaning position or change to a different grit of abrasive based on the inspection results, and then continue cleaning with the device until the gouge can pass through its full stroke smoothly and the surface quality of the inner hole meets the technical requirements. After cleaning, remove the entire device and thoroughly wipe the inner hole of the pipe with a clean cotton cloth to remove any residual abrasive and debris, thus completing the entire maintenance operation.

[0060] To verify the practical application effectiveness of this invention, a 30mm diameter special metal pipe fitting was used as the test object. Multiple sets of comparative tests were conducted between this device and the traditional manual lead rod cleaning process. The performance of dozens of pipe fittings that had been cleaned and repaired was verified throughout the entire process. The tests showed that all pipe fittings cleaned by this device within their service life met 100% of the requirements for normal operation in terms of inner hole dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and unobstructed flow throughout the entire process (except for cases where the pipe fitting itself had hardware defects rendering it unusable). Furthermore, this device completely surpasses the traditional manual lead rod cleaning process in terms of portability, operational coverage, operational efficiency, and labor burden. (1) In terms of portability, the complete set of tools and equipment (including the wooden packaging box) for traditional manual grinding solutions measures 1200×320×100 mm and weighs 17 kg, making field transport and on-site carrying a heavy burden. In contrast, the complete set of equipment (including the plastic packaging box) measures only 680×230×100 mm and weighs only 3 kg. Compared to the traditional set, the volume is reduced by about 60% and the weight by about 82%, significantly reducing the difficulty of on-site carrying and transportation. Especially in scenarios such as the mobile transfer of special equipment and rapid deployment at field operation sites, it significantly reduces the carrying burden on front-line support personnel, preventing them from excessively expending physical energy on carrying heavy equipment. This allows them to devote more energy and effort to other operational support tasks such as on-site deployment and equipment status inspection, effectively improving the mobility and flexibility of accompanying support.

[0061] (2) In terms of operational coverage, traditional solutions have extremely limited effective operating depth, typically only around 1.3 meters, and one set of tools can only be used for pipe fittings of a single diameter. This necessitates carrying multiple sets of tooling for various types of equipment, further increasing the carrying burden of accompanying support. In contrast, this device adopts a modular structure, achieving an effective operating depth of up to 2.5 meters. Moreover, by simply replacing the grinding actuator and bearings of the corresponding specifications, it can quickly adapt to pipe fittings of various diameters, significantly improving operational coverage and universal adaptability. At the same time, it reduces the types and total number of accompanying tooling, further compressing the carrying volume of accompanying support and better meeting the support requirements of lightweight and mobile operations.

[0062] (3) In terms of work efficiency and manpower burden, the traditional manual lead rod cleaning process takes an average of 80 to 120 minutes to complete the full cleaning and repair of a single pipe fitting, and requires 2 to 3 operators to work together to complete the high-intensity physical work. The heavier the lead rod, the more difficult the operation, and long-term operation can easily cause physical exhaustion of personnel. Due to the long operation cycle, the traditional process can only carry out concentrated maintenance before and after the task, and cannot cover the rapid cleaning needs in the middle of the task. When the condition of the inner hole deteriorates during the equipment operation, we can only passively wait for the task to be completed before handling or directly replace the new pipe fitting.

[0063] With this device, the average cleaning and repair time for a single pipe fitting can be reduced to 20-30 minutes, and only one operator is needed to complete the entire process independently. In comparison, the overall work efficiency is increased by about 4-6 times, and labor costs are reduced by more than 60%, while completely avoiding the high physical burden caused by heavy lead rods. More importantly, in addition to routine preparation before and after a task, this device can make full use of the fragmented window of opportunity during task breaks and rest periods to quickly complete the cleaning and repair of the inner hole. When there are excessive residues in the inner hole or increased surface wear during the operation, it can intervene in time for repair without waiting for the task to end for centralized treatment. This avoids the safety risks of working with damaged inner holes and greatly extends the sustainable operation time of a single task, significantly improving the task flexibility and continuous output capability of the equipment.

[0064] At the same time, the reduction in the number of workers and the decrease in physical exertion can free up more personnel to engage in other core operational tasks such as material replenishment, on-site duty, and equipment debugging, making the manpower allocation of the equipment operation team more flexible and effectively strengthening the overall task carrying capacity of the operation unit.

[0065] In summary, this portable small-diameter special metal pipe internal cleaning device comprehensively overcomes the core pain points of traditional manual cleaning processes, such as low maintenance efficiency, poor portability, weak versatility, and high labor costs. While ensuring a 100% cleaning pass rate, it significantly reduces the operation time for cleaning the pipe internal holes, effectively alleviating the physical burden on frontline operation support personnel. From the perspective of application value in high-efficiency operation scenarios, this device reduces the maintenance and support cycle of special equipment from nearly 2 hours to less than half an hour, enabling the equipment to quickly return to normal operating status and effectively extending the continuous operation window. Simultaneously, through its lightweight and single-person design, it frees operation support personnel from heavy physical labor, allowing them to cope with the ever-changing task requirements on-site with more energy and stamina. It simultaneously improves the continuous operation capability of the equipment operation team from both the dimensions of support efficiency and personnel effectiveness, and has significant practical application value for improving the overall task efficiency of the operation team.

[0066] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications made to the present invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable device for cleaning the inner bore of special metal pipe fittings, characterized in that, It includes a grinding assembly, at least one connecting rod (1), and a power unit (8); The grinding assembly includes a grinding actuator (5) and a connector (2) for grinding the inner hole of the pipe. The grinding actuator (5) is detachably fixed to one end of the connector (2), and the other end of the connector (2) is detachably fixed to one end of the connecting rod (1). The other end of the connecting rod (1) is detachably fixed to one end of another connecting rod (1) or detachably fixed to the output end of the power device (8). Each connecting rod (1) has a bearing positioning section (102) on its body. The bearing positioning section (102) is fitted with a bearing (3). The bearing (3) is used to form radial support for the connecting rod (1) in the inner hole of the pipe and to limit the radial runout of the connecting rod (1) during rotation.

2. The portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting rod (1) includes a first connecting section (104) and a second connecting section (103) respectively disposed on both sides of the bearing positioning section (102). The outer diameter of the first connecting section (104) is larger than the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section (102), and the outer diameter of the bearing positioning section (102) is larger than the outer diameter of the second connecting section (103), so as to form a positioning shoulder for axially limiting one end of the bearing (3) at the junction of the bearing positioning section (102) and the first connecting section (104).

3. The portable device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second connecting section (103) has a limiting hole (1031) and a pin (7) is provided in the limiting hole (1031) to axially limit the other end of the bearing (3) and prevent the bearing (3) from falling off the bearing positioning section (102) during operation.

4. The portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the connecting rod (1) is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, and the other end of the connecting rod (1) is provided with a first snap-fit ​​part (101) that is adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the end of the connector (2) is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part (201) that is adapted to the snap-fit ​​groove; the cross-sections of the first snap-fit ​​part (101), the second snap-fit ​​part (201) and the snap-fit ​​groove are all non-circular cross-sections, so as to realize circumferential positioning and torque transmission.

5. The portable device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first snap-fit ​​part (101) and the second snap-fit ​​part (201) are made of magnetic material, and a permanent magnet is provided at the bottom of the snap-fit ​​groove for adsorbing and fixing the first snap-fit ​​part (101) or the second snap-fit ​​part (201).

6. The portable device according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes an adapter (4), the large end of which is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove that is adapted to snap-fit ​​the first snap-fit ​​part (101), and the small end of the adapter (4) is connected to the output end of the power device (8).

7. The portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each connecting rod (1) is connected in series by a detachable fixed connection at both ends to accommodate special metal pipes of different lengths.

8. The portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that, By replacing the grinding actuator (5) and bearing (3) with different outer diameter specifications, special metal pipe fittings with different pipe diameters can be adapted.

9. The portable device according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that, The grinding actuator (5) is a composite fiber flap wheel with a handle, a nylon fiber grinding head with a handle, and a sanding ring grinding head with a handle.

10. The portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power unit (8) is a handheld electric drill or a handheld pneumatic drill.

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