Pipe bore and cleaning tool

Abstract

A pipeline cleaning tool for removing internal pipe wall debris, boring internal pipe diameters, and smoothing internal pipe walls on fully pressurized pipeline systems. This tool smooths internal pipe walls of opposing cut pipe ends by placing a housing with cleaning attachments between exposed pipe ends, inserting the cleaning attachments into the interiors of the pipe ends, and then scraping, honing, boring, milling, and / or machining the inside diameter of the pipe walls to provide smooth sealing surfaces on the internal pipe walls, so that replacement valves and other pipeline products can be securely attached to the cut pipe ends.

Description

[0001] Pipe Bore and Cleaning Tool

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Previous patent applications, such as WO 2021 / 163710, describe how insertable valve assemblies can be installed into existing pressurized pipelines by removing a whole section of pipe, after which the pipe section is replaced with a new valve assembly. In WO 2021 / 163710, cut-covering assemblies are included on each end of the new valve assemblies that move from opposing sides of the new valve into the cut pipe ends to make a fluid- tight connection within the internal walls of the existing pipe ends.

[0004] Removing a pipe section from existing live pipeline systems, such as municipal water or raw sewage or gas systems, can expose years of corrosion that attach to the inner walls of a pipeline. Such corrosion can include layers of minerals or other internal buildup which form over years of use, known as tuberculation or tubercles. This uneven buildup residing within an existing pipeline can present rough and sometimes very large obstacles that can interfere with sealing and restrict movement of sealing assemblies that pass through cut pipe ends, thus not allowing the seals to form a fluid- tight engagement between the new valve assembly and the internal walls of the existing pipe.

[0005] Furthermore, some pipe types with nominal pipe sizes may have smaller internal diameters (O.D) and require boring or machining. For example Transite / A / C (asbestos cement) is fairly soft to machine and is known to have thick walls with smaller pipe inside diameters.

[0006] There remains a need therefore for solutions capable of cleaning, turning, milling or grinding internal pipe inside diameters to a larger diameter to open or enlarge an existing pipeline’s inside diameter (I.D.), allowing valve insertion seals to enter.

[0007] SUMMARY The present invention provides a pipe bore and cleaning tool (1 ) for removing internal pipe wall material (35) from a pipe (36) having a cut section that comprises a right side cut pipe end (36d), a left side cut pipe end (36c), and a gap (77) therebetween. The tool includes an advancement mechanism (15) and a tool housing (3) with at least one cleaning attachment (61 ) and a driving mechanism (60). The advancement mechanism (15) includes an advancement shaft (16) for moving the tool housing into the gap (77) between the cut pipe ends prior to using the tool and then to remove the housing from the gap following use. The tool housing (3) has a right side opening (3b) and a left side opening (3a) and includes:

[0008] (i) at least one cleaning attachment (61 ) retained within the tool housing which is adapted to be extended through the right side opening or left side opening of the tool housing and to be inserted into and remove internal pipe wall material from the right side cut pipe end or the left side cut pipe end; and

[0009] (ii) a driving mechanism (60) in mechanical or electrical communication with the cleaning attachment (61 ), the driving mechanism (60) being adapted to extend the cleaning attachment (61 ) through the right side opening (3b) or left side opening (3a) of the tool housing and into the right side cut pipe end (36d) or the left side cut pipe end (36c), and to move the cleaning attachment (61 ) so as to remove internal pipe wall material (35) from the right side cut pipe end or the left side cut pipe end.

[0010] The tool housing (3) preferably has one or more flow ports (6) allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the tool housing. It also preferably includes alignment collars (29), i.e. , a right side collar (29b) on an upper part (3c) of the right side opening (3b) of the tool housing (3) and a left side collar (29a) on an upper part (3c) of the left side opening (3a) of the tool housing. The collars (29) each have a laterally extending flange (29c) with a lower surface (29d) for engaging an outer surface (36e) of a cut pipe end, in order to align the tool housing (3) to the pipe ends (36c, 36d). The tool also preferably includes two cleaning attachments, a right side cleaning attachment adapted to be extended through the right side opening of the tool housing and a left side cleaning attachment is adapted to be extended through the left side opening of the tool housing. The cleaning attachments (61 ) can preferably be rotated while simultaneously being moved laterally into and out of the right side and left side pipe ends, respectively. In some embodiments the cleaning attachment (61) can be a honing tool, a scraping tool, a sawing tool, a finned tool, a file, a cylinder or a wire wheel matching the nominal diameter of the pipe.

[0011] The driving mechanism (60) of the tool can be a hydraulic mechanism comprising a hydraulic cylinder, for example. Alternatively, the driving mechanism (60) can be a rotating shaft which provides rotational energy to a gearbox, with the gearbox transmitting the rotational energy to the cleaning attachment (61 ) in order to drive movement of the cleaning attachment.

[0012] The advancement mechanism (15) can comprise a jackscrew in one embodiment. In order to provide lateral movement of the cleaning attachments in one embodiment, the advancement mechanism can further include a right side extender arm (66b) and a left side extender arm (66a) for converting vertical movement of the advancement shaft to horizontal movement of the cleaning attachments (61 ). A proximal end (66c) of the right side extender arm is mechanically connected to a distal end (16b) of the advancement shaft and a distal end (66d) of the right side extender arm is mechanically connected to the right side cleaning attachment (61 ), and a proximal end (66c) of the left side extender arm is mechanically connected to a distal end (16b) of the advancement shaft and a distal end (66d) of the left side extender arm is mechanically connected to the left side cleaning attachment (61). Downward movement of the advancement shaft urges the left extender arm laterally to the left and urges the right extender arm laterally to the right, thereby simultaneously moving the left side cleaning attachment to the left and the right side cleaning attachment to the right. The advancement shaft can extend through a service housing, which contains the cut pipe ends and maintains an interior pressure created by fluid flow through the cut pipe ends. In one embodiment, the advancement shaft can be moved laterally to the left to move the right side cleaning attachment into the right side cut pipe end and can be moved laterally to the right to move the left side cleaning attachment into the left side cut pipe end.

[0013] The present invention provides a bore and cleaning tool that is installed into a fully removed pipe section from a live and fully pressurized pipeline system. Fluid of the pipeline system continues through and around the bore and cleaning tool while performing internal boring and cleaning of the pipe through exposed pipe ends, and once the boring or / and cleaning is complete, the bore and cleaning tool is removed without isolating the pipelines service.

[0014] The bore and cleaning tool includes internal mechanisms that move out of its structure into existing pipe ends preferably simultaneous or from one side at a time to selectively scrape, push or hone internal pipe walls prior to installing a new valve with sealing ends. This procedure cleans or bores opposing internal pipe walls through existing pipe-end openings that are created when a fully cut section of pipe is removed from the pipeline. To clarify things we may call a removed pipe section a “gap”. This missing pipe section provides a gap large enough to accept a bore and cleaning tool. The bore and cleaning tool inserted within the gap can perform various procedures to create clean smooth sealing surfaces for various installable valves that require smooth surfaces of the internal pipe wall to form fluid tight seals.

[0015] Cleaning, milling or boring to increase a pipeline’s internal diameter can also be performed while fluid is conveyed through the bore and cleaning tool in order to keep the pipeline system in full service. Flushing the specific location of the pipe system can also be incorporated while boring or cleaning is being performed to aid in moving debris away from the sealing area. The bore and cleaning tool can inserted into a gap created by a section of existing pipe which is cut and removed. Cleaning attachments within the bore and cleaning tool align with opposing open cut pipe ends allowing passage of cleaning attachments into opposing open cut pipe ends of the existing pipeline to clean, smooth, enlarge and remove debris. The bore and cleaning tool further includes the following features:

[0016] 1 ) Cleaning attachments that move laterally in and out of existing pipe bores.

[0017] 2) Cleaning attachments that can rotate along with lateral movement into and out of an existing pipe bore.

[0018] 3) Cleaning attachments that can rotate while being moved laterally into and out of only one side of an existing pipe bore.

[0019] 4) Cleaning attachments that can rotate while being moved laterally into and out of both sides of existing pipe ends simultaneously.

[0020] 5) Cleaning attachments that can be moved into existing pipe ends and retracted from existing pipe ends by a jackscrew operated from outside of a pressurized housing.

[0021] 6) A gear that is driven by a shaft that is outside of a pressurized housing to provide rotation of cleaning attachments.

[0022] 7) A hydraulic cylinder including a hydraulic rod that moves laterally by hydraulic pressure and moves cleaning attachments laterally into existing pipe ends and out of existing pipe ends. The hydraulic rod can be double acting and provide opposing rods from each side of the cylinder to create lateral movement of cleaning attachments into existing pipe ends and retraction from existing pipe ends.

[0023] 8) A hydraulic rotational member to provide rotation of the double or single acting rods.

[0024] 9) An actuation rod that extends outside of a pressurized housing of the bore and cleaning tool that can be manually moved back and forth. Movement of the actuation rod left moves a right side cleaning attachment into an existing pipe end, while movement of the actuation rod right moves a left side cleaning attachment into an existing pipe end.

[0025] 10) The bore and cleaning tool can be removed from a pipe gap, rotated, and reinstalled into the pipe gap to allow cleaning attachments to perform services on the opposite existing pipe end, thereby servicing one pipe end at a time.

[0026] 11 ) Cleaning attachments that can be replaced by a milling head to perform machining to increase pipe wall diameter or remove debris.

[0027] 12) Cleaning attachments that can be replaced by a honing head to increase pipe wall diameter or remove debris.

[0028] 14) Cleaning attachments that can be replaced by a cylinder to remove debris.

[0029] BREIF DESCRITION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of a known procedure to cut and remove a whole section of pipe under pressure. This figure shows the existing pipeline encompassed by a fluid tight enclosure that is assembled around the pipeline.

[0031] Attached to the fluid tight enclosure is a service isolation valve and attached above the isolation valve is a housing large enough to receive a cut section of pipe after the pipe is cut. The cutting mechanism is shown to have two blades similar to a chainsaw blade and is lowered toward the pipeline.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a side elevation view showing the cutting device that uses flexible cutting blades. Two are used but only one side is shown in this figure. As the cutting device is lowered, the cutting blade passes through the pipe in two locations to sever the pipeline.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation view of the fluid tight enclosure for which the cutting process was described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. Here two cutting blades are shown passing through the pipe to cut a complete section of pipe from a live pipeline.

[0034] Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation view of the fluid tight enclosure showing in more detail a whole section of pipe being removed from the pipeline while service is still continuing. The figure shows in detail a remaining gap left between right and left sides of the pipeline, leaving exposed and open pipe ends on both the right and left sides. Fluid pressure from the pipeline is being retained by the fluid-tight enclosure surrounding the pipeline.

[0035] Fig. 5A is a side view of a fluid tight enclosure where another known pipe cutting procedure is used for cutting and removing a pipe section from a pipeline while pressurized. This known procedure is called wet tapping or hot tapping and Figure 5A shows how a fluid tight enclosure is assembled around the pipeline while fluid is still passing through the pipeline to prepare for wet tapping.

[0036] Fig. 5B is a side view showing the fluid tight enclosure fully assembled around the pipeline with a service valve attached to the upper side of the enclosure. The service valve is used for various valve inserting steps but in this application the service valve is used to isolate fluid from escaping while inserting and removing the bore and cleaning tool once the pipe is cut. The service valve is shown to be in the open position and the pipeline has not been cut yet.

[0037] Fig. 5C is a side view that shows a known tapping machine with a hole-saw attached that is large enough to cut through the pipe to remove a whole section of pipe from an existing pipeline. The tapping machine is shown to include an attached housing large enough encompass the hole-saw and receive the cut section of pipe after the pipeline is severed. Fig. 6A is a side view of the tapping machine of Fig. 5C lowering the hole-saw to the pipeline. By rotating the hole-saw and continued advancement, this procedure provides severing of a single section of pipe from the existing pipeline.

[0038] Fig. 6B is a side view showing the hole-saw of Fig. 6A retaining the cut section of pipe and being retracted together into the housing above the service valve so the service isolation valve can be closed as shown.

[0039] Fig. 6C is a side view showing a gap created in the pipe within the pipeline enclosure, with a whole section of pipe having been removed from the pipeline. The hole-saw is shown to holding the pipe section removed by the tapping machine, and the service isolation valve is closed to isolate fluid from escaping from the enclosure. The tapping machine with the attached hole-saw retaining the cut section of pipe within the housing is removed from the service valve.

[0040] Fig. 7A is a side view showing a known advancing / retracting jack screw attached to a bell-shaped housing that holds a bore and cleaning tool within. The housing with the bore and cleaning tool is shown installed and secured to the service valve.

[0041] Fig. 7B is a side view of the pipeline components shown in Fig. 7A, showing the service valve open and the jack screw advancing the bore and cleaning tool into an aligned position with the existing cut pipe ends. The movement of the bore and cleaning tool is shown in other figures.

[0042] Fig. 7C is a side view of the pipeline components shown in Figs. 7A and 7B showing the jack screw retracted, the bore and cleaning tool withdrawn from the fluid tight enclosure back within the belled housing, and the service valve closed. The jack screw, belled housing with the bore and cleaning tool can be removed from the service valve.

[0043] Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation view of a fluid tight enclosure where a cut pipe section including an existing gate valve in its length and is shown removed with the pipe section. The figure shows in detail a remaining gap left in the pipeline with exposed pipe ends on both sides of the gap. The fluid pressure from the pipeline is being retained by the fluid-tight enclosure surrounding the pipeline. The service valve is attached to the fluid-tight enclosure and the belled housing is shown attached to the Tapping machine or optional retraction device. Neither the cutting device nor hole-saw is shown here for clarity of the drawing.

[0044] Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation view of a fluid tight enclosure where a cut pipe section includes an existing butterfly valve in its length and is removed with the pipe section. The figure shows in detail a remaining gap left within the pipeline with exposed pipe ends on both sides of the gap. The fluid pressure from the pipeline is being retained by the fluid tight enclosure surrounding the pipeline. Neither the cutting device nor hole-saw is shown here for clarity of the drawing.

[0045] Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation view of a fluid tight enclosure with the service valve closed, where a housing holding and encompassing a bore and cleaning tool is attached into the service valve in fluid tight arrangement. The bore and cleaning tool can take the shape of a cylinder and can incorporate various openings to facilitate passage of fluid around and through the bore cleaner internal mechanical members. Centering collars are shown attached to the bore and cleaning tool for alignment with the existing pipe ends. Fig. 11 is a sectional side elevation view of a fluid tight enclosure showing the service valve opened to allow the bore and cleaning tool to be lowered and fit within the removed pipe section. The bore and cleaning tool preferably uses centering collars 29 to align the tool housing 3 so that tool housing openings 3a, 3c are aligned with the cut pipe ends 36c, 36d. Such collars 29 can comprise a laterally extending flange 29c on each lateral end of the tool housing. The stop collars 29 extend outwardly from an upper portion of the tool housing 3, so that when the tool housing is inserted between the gap 77, a lower surface 29d of each of the flanges 29c contacts or comes into close proximity to the outer surface of an upper side of the respective cut pipe ends 36c, 36d. Contact between the lower surfaces 29d of the flanges 29c with the outer surfaces of the upper sides of the respective cut pipe ends 36c, 36d prevents further downward movement of the tool housing 3 and helps to ensure alignment of the tool housing 3 within the gap.

[0046] Fig. 12 is a top plan view showing one embodiment of how the bore and cleaning tool internal mechanical members can be presented. This figure presents an internal gearbox that can provide rotation of selected cleaning or boring attachments. On each side of the gear box is a cleaning attachment. This figure depicts a rotating finned cutter on one side and a cylinder or tube on the opposite side. The image shows corrosion, tuberculation and tubercles that build up in pipelines over time, or indicate a smaller diameter than expected for achieving a sealing surface. It may be desired to clean one side of each pipe end at a time entering only one side, retracting the bore and cleaning tool and rotating its direction and reinstalling it in the opposite direction, then entering the opposite pipe end to clean the opposing side.

[0047] Fig. 13A presents a bore and cleaning tool attachment that selectively attaches to the internal moving mechanism and cleans or removes internal pipe wall material of the pipeline to increase the internal diameter by rotation and lateral movement in and out of the existing pipeline ends similar to a honing tool that may include multiple grinding mediums made of many various known compounds such as carbide, aluminum oxide or industrial diamond.

[0048] Fig. 13B presents a bore and cleaning tool attachment that selectively attaches to the internal moving mechanism and cleans by lateral movement in and out and may or may not include rotation into the existing pipeline ends to clean, similar to a scraping tool made of various known materials.

[0049] Fig. 13C presents a bore and cleaning tool attachment that selectively attaches to the internal moving mechanism and cleans or removes internal pipe wall material to increase the internal diameter of the pipeline by use of segmented teeth that are rotated and include lateral movement in and out of the existing pipeline ends, similar to a sawing tool made of various known materials.

[0050] Fig. 13D presents a bore and cleaning tool attachment that selectively attaches to the internal moving mechanism and cleans or removes internal pipe wall material to increase the internal diameter of the pipeline by lateral rotation in and out the existing pipeline ends and may include rotation, similar to a finned tool or file made of various known materials.

[0051] Fig. 13E presents a bore and cleaning tool attachment that selectively attaches to the internal moving mechanism and cleans or removes internal pipe wall material to clean the internal diameter of the pipeline by lateral movement in and out and may include rotation. The cleaning attachments are similar to a wire wheel that matches the nominal diameter of the existing pipeline inside diameter and can be made of various known materials.

[0052] Fig. 14 is a sectional side elevation view of the bore and cleaning tool that shows it installed into a position in place of the removed pipe section by means of advancement by a mechanical jack screw, in which the alignment collars stop the advancement of the bore and cleaning tool to align it in a position with the open pipe ends. Cleaning attachments in this embodiment are shown attached within the bore and cleaning tool that are designed to pass into opposing sides of the pipelines open ends created by removal of the pipe section.

[0053] The shown activation tool provides the means of laterally moving cleaning attachment into existing pipe ends simultaneously by left and right linkage arms shown, the gearbox provides rotation of the cleaning attachments and driven by an internal drive connected to a gear box and sealed to pass externally on the feed nut of the jackscrew to be operated outside of the fluid tight service enclosure. The existing pipeline is showing to have a buildup of debris attached to the inner wall.

[0054] Fig. 15 is a sectional side elevation view of a mechanical installation tool that has advanced the bore and cleaning tool into a pipe gap, has moved boring and cleaning attachments laterally into opposing pipe ends, and is rotating the cleaning attachments.

[0055] The continual advancement of the jackscrew after advancement of the bore and cleaning tool has been restricted by the centering collars abutting the existing pipe causes the arms of the internal mechanism to push against each cleaning attachment, moving them into the pipe beyond the pipe ends. Inward movement past the pipe ends allows cleaning or boring of the internal pipe walls through the cut pipe ends. Flushing of the debris can be performed by selectively opening pressure bleedoff valves on the fluid tight service enclosure, allowing debris to pass through the hollow bore and cleaning tool through provided flow ports, continuing out of the service enclosure by flushing. Reversal of the jackscrew seen in Fig. 16 retracts cleaning attachments from pipe interior through the pipe ends back within the bore and cleaning tool for removal from its position within the removed pipe section. The existing pipeline is shown with a buildup of debris or a pipe diameter requiring the inner walls to be enlarged by a milling procedure. Fig. 15A is a top plan view depicting a bore and cleaning tool that uses a hydraulic drive instead of the gear box. It is shown here to have a cleaning attachment installed on both ends. This known hydraulic cylinder uses a double acting rod that allows inward and outward movement within both the exposed pipe ends. If desired, as shown, the lateral moving rods can be rotated while performing the inward and outward motion by a hydraulic rotational drive attached to the rod for rotating cleaning or boring attachments that require rotation as well as lateral movement.

[0056] Fig 16 is a sectional side elevation view of the installation tool attached to the bore and cleaning tool, installed in a position within the removed pipe section. By reversing the rotation of the jackscrew, the cleaning attachments are pulled laterally back within the bore and cleaning tool structure until they are clear of the existing pipe ends allowing removal from the gap created.

[0057] Reversal of the jackscrew retracts the cleaning attachment from the pipe ends back to a clear position within the bore and cleaning tool structure for removal. The existing pipeline is shown to have a buildup of debris removed from opposing inner walls in the desired location or a machined larger diameter of the pipelines inside diameter.

[0058] Fig.17 is a sectional side elevation view of the bore and cleaning tool fully retracted back withing the belled housing. The footprint of the bore and cleaning tool is shown in order to clarify that cleaning attachments must be within the bore and cleaning tool external structure to perform installation and removal from the pipe gap. The service valve is closed so the bore and cleaning tool can be removed.

[0059] Fig. 18 is a sectional side elevation view of the bore and cleaning tool in more detail, showing how various opening on the structure can allow fluid movement around the bore and cleaning tool internal mechanical members within the fluid tight enclosure to aid the continuation of fluid service while the bore and cleaning tool is placed within the removed pipe section or gap. The fluid tight enclosure is larger than the pipeline so bypassed fluid can easily pass around the bore and cleaning tool installed structure. Removed debris or boring particles can be flushed through a port shown on the fluid tight service enclosure.

[0060] Fig. 19 is a sectional side elevation view of a simplified bore and cleaning tool that is installed within a service housing and uses a similar process as the prior bore and cleaning tool. The bore and cleaning tool is attached to a feed bar working as the advancement means that provides installation as the jackscrew depicted in previous figures. This figure shows how the service valve is used to isolate fluid from escaping during the installation process, with the service valve shown here being closed.

[0061] Fig. 20 is a sectional side elevation view of a bore and cleaning tool that operates using a similar process. The bore and cleaning tool is attached to a feed bar working as the advancement means to provide installation in a similar manner as the jackscrew depicted in previous figures. The bore and cleaning tool is shown advancing into a gap in the pipe within the fluid tight enclosure. The bore and cleaning tool is pushed by hand or by known mechanical means (not shown for clarity of drawing) such as a cable puller or come-along known by the industry to draw it into position.

[0062] The cleaning attachments are attached to each side to clean both pipe ends, or if desired, to clean one end at a time. Sealing of the advancing rod to allows advancement and retraction of the rod plus movement side to side while retaining fluid. Alignment stop collars are shown on both ends of the bore and cleaning tool to align up and down and side to side and stop the travel of the bore and cleaning tool at a specific point. Debris in the existing pipeline is shown within both sides of the pipe ends. Fig. 21 is a sectional side elevation view of how movement of the advancement rod to the right moves the bore and cleaning tool beyond the left internal bore of an existing pipe end to clean, scrape, and descale the internal corrosion.

[0063] Fig 22 is a sectional side elevation view of how the movement of the advancement rod to the left moves the bore and cleaning tool beyond the right existing pipe end to clean, scrape, and descale the internal corrosion.

[0064] Fig. 23 is a sectional side elevation view of the bore and cleaning tool retracted back into the service housing for removal. As shown, opposing internal pipe walls have been cleaned through access provided by each pipe end to prepare a sealing surface on the inside of both pipeline walls. The bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown to be retracted above a closed service valve shown connected to the advancement / retraction rod is raised into the service housing. The service valve attached to the service housing is used to isolate fluid from escaping while installation and removal of the bore and cleaning tool and other related processes.

[0065] Component Reference Number

[0066] 1 bore and cleaning tool

[0067] 1a bore and cleaning tool footprint

[0068] 2a bore and cleaning tool left service opening

[0069] 2b bore and cleaning tool right service opening

[0070] 3 tool housing

[0071] 3a tool housing left side opening

[0072] 3b tool housing right side opening

[0073] 3c tool housing

[0074] 4 pipe section retaining member

[0075] 5 flexible seal / o-ring seal

[0076] 6 flow ports pressure bleed-off valve a pressure bleed-off valve port fluid tight service enclosure 0 service enclosure sealing cavity 0a service enclosure sealing cavity right side0b service enclosure sealing cavity left side 1 mechanical draw glands 1 a mechanical draw gland upper right half segment1 b mechanical gland lower right half segment1 c mechanical gland upper left half segment 1 d mechanical gland lower left half segment2 mechanical gland draw bolts 3 pipe-end to valve flange / m / j gland 5 advancing mechanism 5a jackscrew 5b advancing mechanism threaded member6 advancing mechanism retracting shaft 7 pivoting rod seal 8 service valve actuator 9 service support for pipe section 0 removed pipe section 1 removed pipe ends with valve 2 advancement rod 2a advancement rod moved right 2b advancement rod moved left 4 cross top of advancement rod 5a movement lever right 5b movement lever left 8 enclosure service mounting flange 9 bore cleaner mechanism centering collars9a alignment stop collar left side b alignment stop collar right side c alignment stop collar laterally extending flanged alignment stop collar laterally extending flange lower surface cutting tool service housing existing pipe wall material I corrosion I inside diameter (id) a existing pipe corrosion removed right sideb existing pipe corrosion removed left side existing pipeline a left side cut pipe opening b right side cut pipe opening c left cut pipe end d right cut pipe end e cut pipe outer surface service valve service valve isolation gate service tapping machine a service tapping machine jackscrew removed pipe section a removed pipe section with gate valveb removed pipe section with butterfly valve service tapping machine hole-saw a removed pipe section with a valve or accessory pipe cutting tool pipe cutting mechanism drive shaft a drive motor for pipe mechanism drive shafta external drive for cutting mechanism alignment wheel for abrasive belts cutting blade abrasive belt cutting tool gear box pipe cutting advancement jackscrew bore cleaning double rod hydraulic cylinder hydraulic cylinder fluid drive inlet / outleta hydraulic cylinder fluid drive inlet / outleta hydraulic control rod left side b hydraulic control rod right side hydraulic rotational drive a hydraulic rotational drive fluid inletb hydraulic rotational drive fluid outlet driving mechanism a bore cleaning push hydraulic ramb bore cleaning rotating gearbox c driving mechanism support cleaning attachment a cleaning and boring attachment right sideb cleaning and boring attachment left sidea lateral tube left b lateral tube right a keyed shaft left b keyed shaft right internal drive rod a internal drive rod left b internal drive rod right bore cleaning internal drive a bore cleaning external drive b bore cleaning internal drive jointc extender arm proximal end d extender arm distal end cleaning attachment extender arma cleaning attachment extender arm left 66b cleaning attachment extender arm right

[0077] 67 cleaning attachment rotation direction

[0078] 77 cut gap

[0079] 88 split flexible gland seal

[0080] 88a right split flexible gland seal

[0081] 88b left split flexible gland seal

[0082] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] When a pipe or pipeline valve is in need of replacement, a section a generally cut out so that a replacement valve can be inserted in the gap 77 between the right side cut pipe end 36d and left side cut pipe end 36c. However, as described herein, corrosion of internal pipe walls and deposition of material onto pipe walls can reduce the internal diameter of such pipes, and such materials both create uneven surfaces and reduce internal pipe diameters. This condition can make it difficult to securely fit a replacement valve into the cut section of pipe in a fluid-tight manner. The present tool 1 provides cleaning attachments driven by a driving mechanism which can be placed into the cut pipe openings 36a, 36b and clean or bore the internal pipe surfaces so as to provide a smooth seat for a replacement valve to be fitted into. The tool 1 includes a tool housing 3 with at least one cleaning attachment 61 and a driving mechanism 60, and also an advancement mechanism 15 for inserting the tool between cut pipe ends 36c and 36d and then retracting the tool. The tool housing 3 includes at least one cleaning attachment 61 retained within the tool housing which is adapted to be extended through the right side opening or left side opening of the tool housing, and preferably includes two cleaning attachments, one extending through each side opening. The housing is attached to an advancement mechanism comprising an advancement shaft for moving the tool housing into the gap between the cut pipe ends prior to using the tool and then to remove the housing from the gap following use. A driving mechanism 60 is in mechanical and / or electrical communication with the cleaning attachment 61 and is used to move the cleaning attachments 61 through the right side opening 3b or left side opening 3a of the tool housing 3, as the case may be, and into the right side cut pipe end 36d or the left side cut pipe end 36c. The driving mechanism can also be used to drive rotation or other movement of the cleaning attachment 61 so that it is able to bore and / or remove debris from the interior of the pipe 36. The driving mechanism 60 can be a hydraulic mechanism, for example, or can be a rotating shaft which provides rotational energy the cleaning attachment 61 . The driving mechanism 60 may be connected to and supported by a mechanical support 60c, as shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16, which mechanically connects a portion of the driving mechanism to the tool housing 3, preferably to an interior wall of the tool housing 3.

[0084] Fig. 1 is a side view of known tool and procedure to cut and remove a section of pipe 40 from existing pipeline 36 under pressure. Figure 1 shows the existing pipeline 36 encompassed by a fluid tight service enclosure 9 that is assembled around pipeline 36.

[0085] Attached to the fluid tight service enclosure 9 is a service isolation valve 37 and attached above the isolation valve 37 is a service housing 32 large enough to receive a cut section of pipe 40 (40 a in Fig.8, 40b in Fig. 9) after pipe 36 is cut. This cutting tool 50 is shown to have two blades 53 similar to a chainsaw blade and is lowered toward pipeline 36.

[0086] Fig. 2 Shows the cutting tool 50 that uses flexible cutting blades 53, two are used but not shown in Figure 2. As the cutting tool 50 is lowered, the cutting blades 53 pass through the pipe 36 in two locations, severing the pipeline 36 in two locations to remove a pipe section 40.

[0087] Fig. 3 is a side view of the fluid tight service enclosure 9 where the cutting process was described in the descriptions for Figures 1 and 2. Here two cutting blades 53 are shown passing through pipe 36 cutting a complete section of pipe 40 from the live pipeline 36.

[0088] Fig. 4 is a side view of the fluid tight service enclosure 9 showing in more detail a whole section of pipe 40 removed from pipeline 36 while fluid service continued. Figure 4 shows in detail a cut gap 77 between right side cut pipe opening 36b and left side cut pipe opening 36a leaving these apposing pipe ends open and exposed for inserting the bore and cleaning tool 1 seen in Fig.15. Fluid pressure from within pipeline 36 is being retained by the fluid tight service enclosure 9 surrounding pipeline 36.

[0089] Fig. 5A is a side view of fluid tight service enclosure 9 used for a known pipe cutting procedure that removes a pipe section 40 from existing pipeline 36 while the pipeline 36 is fully pressurized. Figure 4 shows how the fluid tight service enclosure 9 is assembled around existing pipeline 36 to maintain fluid service during boring and cleaning services.

[0090] The upper fluid tight service enclosure 9a is bolted to lower fluid tight service enclosure 9b in fluid tight arrangement. Left split flexible gland seal 88b and right split flexible gland seal 88 a are wrapped around existing pipeline 36 and overlapping ends are cut at an angle to seal together when compressed. Both gland seals 88a and 88b provide a tapered side that fits into a matching tapered cavity shown as service enclosure sealing cavity right side 10a and service enclosure sealing cavity left side 10b.

[0091] Mechanical draw glands 11 are used to compress split flexible gland seal 88 by using multiple mechanical gland draw bolts 12 (only one shown for clarity). Mechanical draw glands 11 are assembled to encircle the existing pipe 36 and made up of 11a mechanical draw gland upper right half segment bolted to 11b mechanical gland lower right half segment to make up on right side ring and 11 C mechanical gland upper left half segment bolted to 11 D mechanical gland lower left half segment to make up on left side ring. When draw glands 11 are assembled around pipeline 36, mechanical gland draw bolts 12 are used to draw glands 11 toward fluid tight service enclosure 9 and compress gland seals 88 into service enclosure 9 sealing cavity 10 creating a fluid tight seal between the existing pipe 36 and fluid tight service enclosure 9.

[0092] Fig. 5B is a side view showing the fluid tight service enclosure 9 fully assembled around pipeline 36 in fluid tight arrangement. Service valve 37 is attached to the enclosure service mounting flange 28 of upper fluid tight service enclosure 9a in fluid tight fashion. Service valve gate 38 is in the open position. The service valve 37 is used for various valve inserting steps but in this application the service valve 37 is used to isolate fluid and prevent it from escaping while inserting and removing the bore and cleaning tool 1 once pipeline 36 is cut. The service valve 37 with isolation gate 38 is shown to be in the open position and pipeline 36 is shown to be not cut.

[0093] Fig. 5C is a side view that shows a known tapping machine 39 with a hole-saw 41 attached. The hole-saw is large enough to cut a whole section of pipe 40 (as seen in Figure 6B) from existing pipeline 36. Tapping machine 39 is shown to include an attached service housing 32 large enough to encompass hole-saw 41 and receive the cut section of pipe 40 after pipeline 36 is severed.

[0094] Fig. 6A is a side view of tapping machine 39 advancing hole-saw 41 toward pipeline 36 and by mechanical rotation of hole-saw 41 and the continued advancement by tapping machine 39 this procedure severs a single section of pipe 40 (as seen in Figure 6B) from pipeline 36.

[0095] Fig. 6B is a side view that presents hole-saw 41 retaining a cut section of pipe 40 within hole-saw 41 and both are retracted by tapping machine 39 into service housing 32 above service valve 37. Service isolation gate 38 of service valve 37 can be closed as shown. Removal of cut section of pipe 40 provides a pipe opening or cut gap 77 that allows insertion of the bore and cleaning tool 1 into the live system.

[0096] Fig. 6C is a side view presenting a cut gap 77 created in pipeline 36 housed within fluid tight service enclosure 9. This section of pipe 40 is removed from pipeline 36 to create cut gap 77 and hole-saw 41 is shown retaining pipe section 40. After severing the pipe, the tapping machine 39 retracts cutter 41 above service valve 37 so service gate 38 is shown closed, allowing the tapping machine 39 holding pipe section 40 to be removed from service enclosure 9. Once service valve 37 is isolated by closing gate 38 it allows service housing 32 to be removed from fluid tight service enclosure 9 without fluid escaping from fluid tight service enclosure 9. Tapping machine 39 with the attached hole-saw 41 retaining cut section pipe 40 is removed from service valve 37.

[0097] Fig. 7A is a side view that shows the bore and cleaning tool 1 replacing hole-saw 41 as shown. The bore and cleaning tool 1 is selectively attached to service tapping machine jackscrew 39a and held within service housing 32. Housing 32 with bore and cleaning tool 1 is installed and secured to service valve 37 in fluid tight manner. If desired, a jackscrew I advancing mechanism 15 (as shown in Figures 7C and 8) can be used instead of a service tapping machine jackscrew 39a.

[0098] Fig. 7B is a side view showing service valve 37 in the open position. The tapping machine 39 is advanced until the bore and cleaning tool 1 is in an aligned position with cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b. Alignment stop collars 29a and 29b as shown in Fig. 14 aid in alignment. The cleaning process of the bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown in Figures 12, 14, 15, 15A, and 16. Fig. 7C this side view indicates how tapping machine 39 retracts the bore and cleaning tool 1 from the fluid tight service enclosure 9 back within the service housing 32 so service valve 37 can be closed by moving gate 38. The tapping machine 39 acts as a jackscrew to retract bore and cleaning tool 1 back into Service housing 32. The bore and cleaning tool 1 can be removed from the service valve 37.

[0099] Fig. 8 is a side view of fluid tight service enclosure 9 where a section of cut pipe 40 happens to include an existing gate valve 40a within the pipe area removed. Valve 40a is removed with pipe section 40 shown in Figure 8 to create remaining cut gap 77 between cut pipeline opening 36a and 36b. Pipe ends 21 a on left side of valve and 21 b on right side of valve are shown to be removed with gate valve 40a.

[0100] The fluid from pipeline 36 is being retained by the fluid tight service enclosure 9 surrounding pipeline 36 with service valve 37 attached. Service housing 32 can be selectively attached to tapping machine 39 or retraction device 15 to allow raising cut section 40a, exposing cut pipe openings 36a and 36b on each side of cut gap 77. This allows room for bore and cleaning tool 1 to provide the cleaning or boring services.

[0101] Fig. 9 is a side view of fluid tight service enclosure 9 where a cut section of pipe 40 happens to include an existing butterfly valve 40b that needs replacing found within the pipe area removed, and valve 40b is removed with pipe section 40. Pipe ends 21 a on left side of valve and 21 b on right side of valve are shown to be removed with butterfly valve 40b.

[0102] Figure 9 also shows in detail a cut gap 77 from pipeline exposing cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b to which bore and cleaning tool 1 can be installed to provide cleaning and boring services. Fluid and pressure from pipeline 36 is being retained within fluid tight service enclosure 9 surrounding pipeline 36. Service valve 37 is attached to fluid tight service enclosure 9 and attached to tapping machine 39 by service housing 32. Various known styles of retraction and advancing devices can be used, such as a jackscrew or hydraulic ram systems as seen in Figure 16, to raise cut section 40 and 40b with a butterfly vale (or, alternately, a pipe section with gate valve 40a) and then lower the bore and cleaning tool 1 into cut gap 77 between cut pipeline openings 36A and 36B to provide cleaning and milling services.

[0103] Fig. 10 is a side view of a fluid tight service enclosure 9, in which service valve 37 is shown closed and mounted to service mounting flange 28 of fluid tight service enclosure 9a. Held within service housing 32 is a bore and cleaning tool 1 being made ready to be inserted into cut gap 77 by jackscrew advancement mechanism 15.

[0104] The bore and cleaning tool 1 can take the shape of a cylinder that includes one or more service openings, shown as left service opening 2a to provide access and egress for cleaning attachments 61 b and right service opening 2b to provide access and egress for cleaning attachments 61a as seen in Fig. 14. Openings or flow ports 6 can be provided as shown by arrows G1 in Fig. 18 to facilitate passage of fluid around internal components within bore and cleaning tool 1 . Centering collars 29a and 29b are shown attached to the bore and cleaning tool 1 to provide alignment with cut pipe opening 36a and 36b.

[0105] Fig. 11 is a side view of fluid tight enclosure 9 with bore and cleaning tool 1 lowered and fitting within cut gap 77 created by removal of pipe section 40. The bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown to include left centering collar 29a to form alignment between left existing cut pipe opening 36a and left service opening 2a, and right centering collar 29b to form alignment between the right existing cut pipe opening 36b and right service opening 2b. This alignment allows various cleaning attachments 61 to be easily placed into and removed from cut pipe opening 36a and 36b for cleaning or precise boring. Fig. 12 is a top view depicting one embodiment of how bore and cleaning tool 1 internal mechanical members can be presented. Figure 12 presents bore cleaning rotating gearbox 60 that provides rotation of selected cleaning attachments shown as cleaning and boring attachment right side 61 a and cleaning and boring attachment left side 61 b.

[0106] Figure 12 depicts a rotating segmented or finned scraper cleaning attachment 61 b attached to bore cleaning internal left side shaft 64a for rotating movement to provide machining or cleaning. A cylinder or tube cleaning attachment 61a selectively attached to bore cleaning internal rightside shaft 64b for movement.

[0107] The image shows pipe corrosion 35, tuberculation and tubercles that build up in pipeline 36 over time. For convenience, 35 will also indicate a pipe (ID) Inside Diameter requiring boring to increase pipe (ID) as well as to clean debris.

[0108] In some applications one pipe end 36 can be bored or cleaned at a time, such as seen in Figure 21 where cleaning attachment 61 b enters only left side cut pipe opening 36a of existing pipeline 36 to clean or bore, then as seen Figure 22 cleaning attachment 61 a enters only right side cut pipe opening 36b of existing pipeline 36 to clean or bore. In such applications it is possible to retract bore and cleaning tool 1 , reverse its orientation by 180 degrees and reinstall the bore and cleaning tool 1 in the opposite direction so cleaning attachment 61 b can then clean or bore the right side cut pipe opening 36b of the existing pipeline.

[0109] Figure 12 also shows a right side keyed shaft 63b which mates with and drives rotation of lateral tube right 62b to rotate cleaning attachment 61 a. The long lateral tube 62b allows movement or sliding in lateral directions. In addition, left keyed shaft 63a mates with and drives rotation of lateral tube left 62a to rotate cleaning attachment 61 b, and the long lateral tube 62a allows movement or sliding in lateral directions.

[0110] A jackscrew 15a or other advancing mechanism 15 is connected to the bore and cleaning tool 1 so the bore and cleaning tool 1 can be installed and removed as desired. Rotating gearbox 60b is driven by shaft 65 that passes internally though jackscrew 15a and is sealed by common seals known as a flexible seal I O-ring material 5. External shaft 65 exits externally within jackscrew 15a advancing retracting shaft 16, shown in Figure 14 as 65a. External drive 65a can be powered by various known drills and rotational power drives to power rotating gearbox 60b. Many variations of rotating and or lateral moving cleaning attachments can be imagined that would not depart from this invention.

[0111] Fig. 13A depicts a cleaning attachment 61 for the bore and cleaning tool 1. Many variations of cleaning attachments 61 can be selectively attached to internal moving mechanism 56. Bore cleaning rotational gearbox 60b can be used to aid in cleaning, boring and milling of an existing pipeline 36 internal wall by rotation of the cleaning attachment 61 in the direction indicated by arrow 67. As shown in Figure 15, lateral movement of cleaning attachments 61a and 61 b is provided to move in and out of existing cut pipe openings 36a and 36b. The cleaning attachment 61 shown in Figure 13A is similar to a honing tool that may include multiple grinding mediums made of many various known compounds such as carbide, aluminum oxide or industrial diamond.

[0112] Fig. 13B presents a cleaning attachment 61 for the bore and cleaning tool 1 that selectively attaches to internal moving mechanism 56, 60, or can be used to clean by lateral movement as shown in Figure 21 by arrow cleaning attachment 61 b (Figure 13B). As shown in Figure 21 , attachment 61 provides in and out movement of cleaning to existing cut pipe openings 36a and 36b. The cleaning attachment 61 shown in Figure 13B cleans in a manner similar to a scraping tool made of various known materials and can include an edge around the diameter, if desired. Fig. 13C presents a cleaning attachment 61 for the bore and cleaning tool 1 that selectively attaches to internal moving mechanism 56, 60 to clean and bore by rotation in the direction indicated by arrow 67.

[0113] In Figure 15, an illustration is provided showing an inward movement into existing pipe end 36a and existing cut pipe opening 36b by selectively chosen cleaning attachments 13C. As moved into existing cut pipe opening 36a and 36b, lateral movement shown by arrows B1 with rotation of the cleaning attachment 61 cleans in a manner similar to a saw, milling, or lathe tool made of various known materials that can include carbide or other known segments to cut or enlarge the inside diameter (ID) 35 of the existing pipe or of the corrosion material as desired.

[0114] Fig. 13D presents a cleaning attachment 61 for the bore and cleaning tool 1 that selectively attaches to internal moving mechanism 56, 60 and cleans or bores by rotation in the direction indicated by arrow 67.

[0115] 13D cleans but also provides a milling tool made of various known materials that can include carbide or many known machining segments and available tool attachments installed to remove material from the inside diameter of a pipeline. This attachment can be provided similar to many known milling tools with known mill cutting edges.

[0116] Fig. 13E shows a cleaning attachment 61 which is similar to a wire wheel tool that may include multiple wire shapes and mediums made of many various known compounds such as steel, stainless steel or composites. The cleaning and boring attachment right side 61 a with this attachment can pass through right service opening 2a, and / or the cleaning and boring attachment left side 61 b can pass through left service opening 2a, to perform various cleaning functions.

[0117] Fig. 14 is a side view of a bore and cleaning tool 1 installed into cut gap 77 created by removal of pipe section 40. The mechanical jack screw 15a is shown performing advancement and retraction. Alignment collars 29a and 29b are selectively attached to stop the advancement of the bore and cleaning tool 1 and to align the bore and cleaning tool left service opening 2a with cut pipeline opening 36a, and to align bore and cleaning tool right service opening 2b with cut pipeline opening 36b. In this aligned position, various cleaning attachments 61 can move from within bore and cleaning tool 1 and are designed to pass into left side cut pipeline opening 36a and right side cut pipeline opening 36b created by removed pipe section 40, now designated as gap 77 of pipeline 36. Bore and cleaning tool 1 can include extender arms 66a and 66b to provide a mechanical means of transferring vertical movement to horizontal movement in order to move cleaning attachments 61 laterally into cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b. Preferably, such lateral movement is simultaneous with downward movement of jackscrew 15a pushing down on left extender arm 66a and right extender arm 66b. A proximal end of each extender arm is mechanically / rotatably connected to the advancement mechanism, and a distal end of each extender arm is mechanically / rotatably connected to a respective keyed shaft 63 and / or lateral tube 62 of the driving mechanism 60. When jackscrew 15a is retracted, it pulls cleaning attachments 61 from cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b in this embodiment.

[0118] Raising jackscrew 15a pulls extender arms 66a and 66b to laterally remove cleaning attachments 61 from cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b and move them back within bore and cleaning tool footprint 1a , allowing a cleared position for unrestricted removal of bore and cleaning tool 1 from cut gap 77. In Figure 14, extender arms 66 are not being pushed or extended by the jackscrew 15a that creates lateral movement of cleaning attachments 61 . Gearbox 60b provides rotation of cleaning attachments 61 driven by an internal drive 65 connected to the gear box 60 and is sealed to pass externally through a feed nut of jackscrew 15a to allow operation outside of pressurized enclosure 9. Existing pipeline 36 is shown to have a buildup of debris or an undersize pipe ID, shown as 35, to the inner walls of pipeline 36. The advancing shaft 16 is shown having and an external nut for attaching conventional rotation tool such as a pipe wrench or wrench. Advancing shaft 16 may be internally threaded as a nut to engage with a thread of jackscrew 15a so when advancing rod 16 is rotated clockwise it can advance jack screw 15. When rotated counterclockwise the bore and cleaning tool 1 can then be retracted by jackscrew 15a.

[0119] Fig.15 is a side view of a jackscrew 15 installation tool that shows the bore and cleaning tool 1 having been advanced into cut gap 77 (shown as downward arrow A1 ). When bore and cleaning tool 1 achieves alignment with cut pipe opening 36a and 36b, outward arrows B1 indicate lateral movement of cleaning attachments 61a and 61 b into opposing cut pipe openings 36a and 36b.

[0120] This illustration shows jackscrew 15 continuing to travel after the bore and cleaning tool 1 structure advancement has been stopped by centering collars 29a and 29b by abutting the top of existing cut pipe opening 36a and 36b. Continual advancement of jackscrew 15a only, but not the bore and cleaning tool 1 , causes jackscrew 15a to move extender arms 66a and 66b to create outward lateral movement (shown as arrows B1 ) of opposing cleaning attachments 61a and 61 b. This movement advances cleaning attachments 61 into and past left cut pipeline opening 36a and into and past right cut pipeline opening 36b to clean or remove wall thickness of pipeline 36. The cleaning attachments 61 rotate while being advanced, with rotation of cleaning attachments 61 shown by arrow 67. This cleans and removes debris 35 from cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b, and the process is continued until a sealing surface is achieved on the inside walls of pipelines 36a and 36b. Figure 16 shows debris 35 removed from internal pipeline ends 36a and 36b. In some circumstances, when mortar linings are missing from cut pipeline openings 36a and 36b, boring or removal of the pipeline material to increase the inside diameter of pipeline 36a and 36b may be performed by this process as desired. This tool can be used on one side of a cut pipe at a time if simultaneous cleaning is not desired. Gearbox 60 is energized by rotating external drive 65a that has direct connection or by intermediate member connection with internal drive 65 that operates gear box 60 to provide cleaning attachment rotation 67 of cleaning attachments 61 a and 61 b to internally scrape, hone or wear debris 35 or bore (ID) to enlarge undersize pipe (ID) of the internal bore of pipeline 36.

[0121] Cleaning attachments 61 can be of any known materials or shapes, such as metals, composites, plastics and many grinding compounds used in honing and cleaning of surfaces. Many configurations and shapes to cut and mill pipeline 36a and 36b internal bores can be used as well.

[0122] Fig. 15A depicts a bore and cleaning tool 1 that uses a hydraulic mechanism to move the cleaning attachments. The hydraulic mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder 56, which is typically an actuator that creates linear movement by converting hydraulic energy to mechanical movement, for example to drive the a hydraulic double rod drive 56 instead of the gear box 60 as presented in Figures 12, 14 and 15 to perform similar operations as described in these figures. Figure 15A is shown to have cleaning boring attachment 61 a installed on the right side of control rod and cleaning boring attachment 61 b installed on the left side of control rod. Instead of a gearbox 60 used for cleaning, a known hydraulic device available as a hydraulic cylinder 56 is used, with double acting control rod 58a on the left side connected to cleaning attachment 61 b and control rod 58b on the right side connected to cleaning attachment 61a. The use of double acting cylinders performs inward and outward movement (shown as arrow C1 ) of cleaning and boring attachment 61 a by passing through cut pipe opening 36b, and alternating the double acting cylinder performs inward and outward movement (shown as arrow C1) of cleaning and boring attachment 61 b through exposed pipe end 36a. The hydraulic cylinder is activated through port 57 used for in and out flow of pressurized fluid and through port 57a used for in and out flow of pressurized fluid. If desired and as shown, the lateral moving control rods 58a and 58b can be rotated for cleaning attachment rotation 67 by a hydraulic motor shown as 59 while performing inward and outward motions. Known hydraulic rotational drive 59 surrounds the rod 58a or 58b by use of a spline mating configuration or a keyway to allow lateral movement and cleaning attachment rotation 67 of selective cleaning attachments 61 that require rotation. The hydraulic rotational drive is activated through an in-flow port 59a for introduction of pressurized fluid and an out-flow port 59b used for out flow of pressurized fluid to rotate control rod 58a and control rod 58b. This bore and cleaning tool 1 can be designed to perform cleaning on one side at a time, or the foregoing process can be performed on one side at a time, if simultaneous cleaning is not desired.

[0123] Fig 16 is a side view of a jackscrew installation tool (advancement mechanism 15) attached to bore and cleaning tool 1 shown to be installed into the cut gap 77 created by removing pipe section 40. This figure shows reversing rotation of jackscrew 15a (shown by arrow E1 ) retracts advancing retracting shaft 16 (shown by upward arrow D1 ). Cleaning attachments 61 a and 61 b are laterally removed from cut pipe opening 36a and 36b and are pulled back within the footprint 1a of bore and cleaning tool 1 (shown by inward arrows F1 , also shown in Figs. 14 and 17). As jackscrew 15a retracts, cleaning attachment extender arm left 66a is raised as shown and cleaning attachment extender arm right 66b is raised as shown until cleaning attachments 61a and 61 b are removed laterally until clear of the existing cut pipe opening 36a and 36b within the footprint 1 a, allowing the bore and cleaning tool 1 to be freely removed from cut gap 77 and travel into service housing 32. Existing pipeline 36 shows removal of debris 35b on right side removed by cleaning and boring attachment 61a, opposite existing pipeline 36 shows removal of debris 35a on left side removed by cleaning and boring attachment 61 b opposing inner walls in a desired location for sealing as desired. Fig.17 is a side view of the bore and cleaning tool 1 fully retracted back withing service housing 32, so service valve 37 can be closed to allow bore and cleaning tool 1 to be removed. Fluid continues between pipe end 36a and 36b by containment of the fluid by installation of fluid tight service enclosure 9. Detail of footprint 1A is provided for understanding that attachments 61 must be within footprint 1 A to install bore and cleaning tool 1 into gap 77 and also for the retraction of bore and cleaning tool 1 from gap 77. Fluid continues between left cut pipeline opening 36a and right cut pipeline opening 36b by containment of pipeline fluid by fluid tight service enclosure 9.

[0124] Fig. 18 is a top view of bore and cleaning tool 1 showing in detail how various openings or flow ports 6 on the bore and cleaning tool 1 structure help to provide fluid movement as (shown by arrows G1 ) around the bore and cleaning tool 1 internal mechanical members, such as gearbox 60 or hydraulic cylinder 56 shown in Fig. 15A, within fluid tight enclosure 9, aiding in the continuation of fluid service while bore and cleaning tool 1 is placed within cut gap 77 created by removed pipe section 40. Flow ports 6 aid in the continuation of fluid service of the pipeline 36. Fluid tight enclosure 9 is larger than pipeline 36 so openings in bore and cleaning tool 1 aid in passing fluid around the bore and cleaning tool 1 structure once it is installed within gap 77. Removed debris 35 of mill cuttings can be flushed through port 8 (shown as arrow H1 ) installed on the fluid tight enclosure 9. Only left side cleaning and boring attachment 61 b is shown but right side cleaning and boring attachment 61 a can be provided as desired.

[0125] Fig. 19 is a side view of a simplified bore and cleaning tool that has functions similar to the embodiments described in connection with prior figures. Bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown installed within service housing 32, which is attached to service valve 37. Bore and cleaning tool 1 is attached to advancement rod 22 to perform lowering of the bore and cleaning tool 1 into gap 77. Advancement rod 22 drives the cleaning attachments 61 , inserts cleaning attachments 61 into pipe ends 36a and 36b to clean internal walls of existing pipeline 36. Once pipe cleaning process is complete, the bore and cleaning tool 1 is removed by advancement / retraction rod 22.

[0126] Cross top 24 is shown with movement lever right 25b and movement lever right 25a that provide drive means to move cleaning cut pipe openings 36a and 36b. Advancement rod 22 uses cross top 24 as an attachment location to connect known pulling tools such as a come-along and lifting tools such as cable to a backhoe to pull and retract bore and cleaning tool 1 . These known means can provide installation of the bore and cleaning tool 1 into cut gap 77 and the removal of bore and cleaning tool 1 from cut gap 77 once a cleaning process is completed. The procedure is similar to the procedures illustrated with a jackscrew 15s as depicted in previous figures. Service valve 37 is used to prevent fluid from escaping from fluid tight enclosure 9 during a boring and cleaning tool 1 installation and removal process. Service valve 37 is shown here to be closed by gate 38 covering the opening of enclosure mounting flange 28.

[0127] The bore and cleaning tool 1 can be pushed into gap 77 by hand or by known mechanical means (not shown for clarity of drawings). Removal of bore and cleaning Tool 1 from cut gap 77 is performed by use of commonly known pulling tools such as chain falls or cable come-alongs.

[0128] Fig. 20 is a side view of a bore and cleaning tool 1 that is attached to advancement rod 22. Bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown to have been advanced to set into cut gap 77 being moved or lowered by mechanical cabling to maneuver the advancement / retraction rod 22 indicated as by the down arrow J1 .

[0129] Bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown housing internal cleaning attachment 61 a on the right side and 61 b on the left side within bore and cleaning tool 1 footprint 1a to allow its installation into gap 77. Common flexible seals or O-ring seals 5 are shown for sealing advancement / retraction rod 22 during advancement, retraction, and side-to-side movement (as seen in Fig. 21 with arrows K1 and K2) while fluid tight service enclosure 9 retains fluid. Alignment stop collars 29a and 29b are shown installed on both ends of the bore and cleaning tool 1 to align the bore and cleaning tool 1 up and down and side to side by stopping the bore and cleaning tool 1 at a given point and align right cleaning attachment 61 a to with cut pipe opening 36b and align left cleaning attachment 61 b to with cut pipe opening 36a by providing round halfmoon collars 29a and 29b that have an inside diameter that matches pipeline 36 outside diameter for accurate alignment. Debris inside existing pipeline 36a and 36b is shown with reference number 35. Bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown attached by a bore cleaning internal drive joint 65B providing horizontal lateral movement by vertical movement of advancement / retraction rod 22 as shown in Figures 21 and 22. If desired, only one existing side of pipeline 36 can be selectively cleaned through cut pipeline opening 36A or 36B at a time.

[0130] Fig. 21 is a side view showing the right movement of advancement rod 22 by pulling movement lever to the right (movement 25a, shown by arrow K1 ). This movement forces cleaning attachment 61 b left (shown by arrow K2) into the left cut pipe opening 36a into the left side of existing pipe 36 to clean, scrape, and descale internal corrosion from existing pipeline 36.

[0131] Fig 22 is a side view of showing the left movement of advancement / retraction rod 22 by pulling movement lever to the left (movement 25b, shown by arrow L1 ). This movement forces cleaning attachment 61 a right (shown by arrow L2) into the right cut pipe opening 36b into the right side of pipe 36 to clean, scrape, and descale internal corrosion from existing pipeline 36. Fig. 23 is a side view of the bore and cleaning tool 1 attached to advancement rod 22 with bore and cleaning tool 1 shown raised and retracted into service housing 32 (seen by arrow M1 ). Retraction can be provided by a crane or known pulling device attached to cross top 24. Generally, retraction is performed after pipe cleaning is completed, though the bore and cleaning tool 1 is in this same position before lowering into gap 77. In this figure, the bore and cleaning tool 1 is shown raised above service valve 37 (as shown by arrow M2) into service housing 32 so service valve isolation gate 38 can be closed to isolate product in pipeline 36 and in fluid tight service enclosure 9 and not escape during removal of the bore and cleaning tool 1 . Upon completion, other tools can be installed onto service valve 37 such as known insertion valve tools.

[0132] DEFINITIONS

[0133] The term “ID” term can include variations of the term “Inside Diameter” and are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

[0134] The term “flow ports” refer to a structure that can aid in conveying fluid from one side of the cleaning structure to the opposing side of the cleaning structure, allowing the continuation of a pipeline’s service, and can be referred to by other terms such as “openings” “added openings” or “holes”.

[0135] The term “cleaning attachment” can include variations of the term, such as “honing attachment”, “cylinder attachment”, “saw tooth attachment”, “wire wheel attachment”, “machining attachment”, and such terms are not intended to exclude other components or variations.

[0136] The term “debris” can be referred to using terms such as “corrosion”, “tuberculation”, “tubercules”, and other unknown obstacles within a pipeline, and such terms are not intended to exclude other variations. The term “footprint” refers to an area occupied by or formerly occupied by a structure.

[0137] A “gap” as used herein can also be referred to as an “opening” or other similar terms.

[0138] The term “lateral movement” refers to movement of cleaning attachments that move away from the bore and cleaning tool and into a pipe opening when the tool is installed within a removed pipe section.

[0139] The term “pipe-end” can include variations of the term, such as “pipeend wall” and “pipe bore” and are not intended to exclude other components or steps.

[0140] The terms "a," "an," and "the" and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise. Ranges which are described as being “between” two values include the indicated values. All patents, patent publications, and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Claims

What is claimed is:1 . A pipe bore and cleaning tool for removing internal pipe wall material from a pipe, the pipe having a cut section that comprises a right side cut pipe end, a left side cut pipe end, and a gap therebetween, wherein the tool comprises:(a) a tool housing having a right side opening and a left side opening, comprising:(i) at least one cleaning attachment retained within the tool housing which is adapted to be extended through the right side opening or left side opening of the tool housing and to be inserted into and remove internal pipe wall material from the right side cut pipe end or the left side cut pipe end;(ii) a driving mechanism in mechanical or electrical communication with the cleaning attachment, the driving mechanism being adapted to extend the cleaning attachment through the right side opening or left side opening of the tool housing and into the right side cut pipe end or the left side cut pipe end, and to move the cleaning attachment so as to remove internal pipe wall material from the right side cut pipe end or the left side cut pipe end; and(b) an advancement mechanism comprising an advancement shaft for moving the tool housing into the gap between the cut pipe ends prior to using the tool and then to remove the housing from the gap following use.

2. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool housing has one or more flow ports allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the tool housing.3 The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a right side cleaning attachment adapted to be extended through the right side opening of the tool housing and a left side cleaning attachment is adapted to be extended through the left side opening of the tool housing.

4. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the advancement shaft can be moved laterally to the left to move the right side cleaning attachment into the right side cut pipe end and can be moved laterally to the right to move the left side cleaning attachment into the left side cut pipe end.

5. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , further comprising a right side extender arm and a left side extender arm for converting vertical movement of the advancement shaft to horizontal movement of the cleaning attachments, wherein: a proximal end of the right side extender arm is mechanically connected to a distal end of the advancement shaft and a distal end of the right side extender arm is mechanically connected to the right side cleaning attachment; and a proximal end of the left side extender arm is mechanically connected to a distal end of the advancement shaft and a distal end of the left side extender arm is mechanically connected to the left side cleaning attachment, wherein downward movement of the advancement shaft urges the left extender arm laterally to the left and urges the right extender arm laterally to the right, thereby simultaneously moving the left side cleaning attachment to the left and the right side cleaning attachment to the right.

6. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning attachments can be rotated while simultaneously being moved laterally into and out of the right side and left side pipe ends, respectively.

7. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is a hydraulic mechanism comprising a hydraulic cylinder.

8. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism comprises a rotating shaft which provides rotational energy to a gearbox, the gearbox transmitting the rotational energy to the cleaning attachment in order to drive movement of the cleaning attachment.

9. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , further comprising a right side collar on an upper part of the right side opening of the tool housing and a left side collar on an upper part of the left side opening of the tool housing, the collars each comprising a laterally extending flange, wherein the flange has a lower surface for engaging an outer surface of a cut pipe end in order to align the tool housing to a respective pipe ends.

10. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the advancement shaft extends through a service housing which contains the cut pipe ends and maintains an interior pressure created by fluid flow through the cut pipe ends.11 . The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the advancement mechanism comprises a jackscrew.

12. The pipe bore and cleaning tool of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning attachment is selected from the group consisting of a honing tool, a scraping tool, a sawing tool, a finned tool, a file, a cylinder and a wire wheel matching the nominal diameter of the pipe.

Images