Pipe cleaning attachment

Abstract

To provide a pipe cleaning attachment 10 that allows the cleaning hose H to move smoothly back and forth within the pipe P during pipe cleaning, thereby enabling more efficient cleaning of the inside of the pipe P. [Solution] The invention comprises a mounting pipe section 1 having a mounting opening that can be detachably attached to the opening O of the pipe P, an insertion pipe section 2 through which a cleaning hose H can be inserted into the pipe P so as to be able to move back and forth, and a drain pipe section 3 connected to the mounting pipe section 1 to guide the cleaning wastewater that flows out from the opening O of the pipe P when the pipe is being cleaned. The straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe section 2 is connected to the middle of the pipe wall on the outer circumference side of the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe section 3, the central axis of the straight pipe 21 is located near the center of the mounting opening of the mounting pipe section 1, and a cleaning hose guide section 24 is provided on the tip opening side of the straight pipe 21, protruding into the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe section 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment for pipe cleaning, and more specifically, to an attachment for holding a cleaning hose when the inside of a pipe is cleaned by high-pressure water jetted from a nozzle of the cleaning hose.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as maintenance work in various industrial plants, water and sewage facilities, etc., a flexible cleaning hose is inserted into a pipe connected to each facility, and the cleaning hose is appropriately moved forward and backward while jetting high-pressure water from the nozzle at its tip, thereby performing high-pressure cleaning of the interior of the pipe.

[0003] Up to now, attachments described in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 have been proposed as attachments used during such pipe cleaning.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an attachment member having at least three openings: an opening that allows connection to a pipe to be cleaned, an opening that allows a liquid feeding hose to be inserted into the pipe, and an opening that allows connection to a suction means.

[0005] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an attachment for a cleaning hose, which includes a packing member that seals the peripheral edge of the opening of the pipe to be cleaned, a guide path for the cleaning hose, and a discharge path for backflow sewage.

[0006] However, with the attachments described in these Patent Documents 1 and 2, the cleaning hose cannot be inserted straight toward the center of the opening of the pipe to be cleaned, and there is a drawback that it is difficult to smoothly move the cleaning hose forward and backward during pipe cleaning.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

[0008] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional pipe cleaning attachments, and aims to provide a pipe cleaning attachment that allows the cleaning hose to move smoothly back and forth inside the pipe during pipe cleaning, thereby enabling more efficient cleaning of the inside of the pipe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a pipe cleaning attachment used when cleaning the inside of a pipe with high-pressure water sprayed from the nozzle of a cleaning hose, The system comprises a mounting pipe section having a mounting opening that can be detachably attached to the opening of the piping, an insertion pipe section through which the cleaning hose can be inserted into the piping so as to be able to move back and forth, and a drain pipe section connected to the mounting pipe section to guide the cleaning wastewater that flows out from the opening of the piping when the piping is being cleaned, wherein the drain pipe section is made of a bent pipe, the insertion pipe section is made of a straight pipe, the straight pipe of the insertion pipe section is connected to the pipe wall on the outer circumference side of the bent pipe of the drain pipe section, the central axis of the straight pipe is located near the center of the mounting opening of the mounting pipe section, and a cleaning hose guide section protruding into the bent pipe of the drain pipe section is provided on the tip opening side of the straight pipe of the insertion pipe section.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the mounting pipe section and the drain pipe section are detachably connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the pipe cleaning attachment of the present invention, the straight pipe of the insertion pipe section is connected to the pipe wall on the outer circumference side of the bend of the bent pipe of the drain pipe section, the central axis of this straight pipe is located near the center of the mounting opening of the mounting pipe section, and a cleaning hose guide section is provided on the tip end of the straight pipe, so that the cleaning hose can be accurately and easily inserted straight into the center of the pipe opening. Therefore, contact between the cleaning hose and nozzle head and the inner surface of the pipe can be greatly reduced, and the cleaning hose can be moved smoothly back and forth within the pipe during pipe cleaning, enabling more efficient pipe cleaning. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is an overall side view of the pipe cleaning attachment of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the disassembled pipe cleaning attachment of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the pipe cleaning attachment of this embodiment attached to a pipe to be cleaned and the pipe cleaning process in progress. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the drainage pipe portion of the pipe cleaning attachment of this embodiment is guiding the cleaning wastewater. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the drainage pipe section of a comparative example pipe cleaning attachment that does not have a cleaning hose guide section, indicating that the cleaning wastewater is being guided through it. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment mainly consists of a mounting pipe section 1 that can be detachably attached to the opening O of the pipe P to be cleaned, an insertion pipe section 2 through which a cleaning hose H can be inserted into the pipe P so as to be able to move back and forth, and a drain pipe section 3 connected to the mounting pipe section 1 that guides the cleaning wastewater that flows out from the opening O of the pipe P during pipe cleaning.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the mounting pipe section 1 consists of a pipe material 11 with circular openings at both ends. One end of this pipe material 11 has a mounting opening 12 that can be detachably attached to the opening O of the piping P, and the other end has a connection opening 13 that can be connected to the drain pipe section 3. In this embodiment, the outer circumference of the mounting opening 12 is provided with a flange 14 that can be detachably connected to the flange F of the piping P by bolts and nuts (not shown), and the outer circumference of the connection opening 13 is provided with a ferrule flange 15 of a ferrule joint that can be detachably connected to the drain pipe section 3 by a known clamp 4.

[0015] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mounting pipe section 1 has an inner diameter of the connection opening 13 that is smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting opening 12, and the central axis 13A of the connection opening 13 is eccentrically downward with respect to the central axis 12A of the mounting opening 12. When the mounting pipe section 1 is attached to the opening O of a horizontal pipe P, the lowest part 16 of the pipe wall of the pipe material 11 of the mounting pipe section 1 is horizontal.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the drain pipe section 3 consists of a bent pipe 31 with circular openings at both ends. A drain inlet opening 32 is formed at one end of the bent pipe 31, which is connected to the connection opening 13 of the mounting pipe section 1 and into which the cleaning wastewater flows. A drain outlet opening 33 is formed at the other end, into which the cleaning wastewater flows out. In this embodiment, a ferrule flange 34 of a ferrule joint, which can be detachably connected to the mounting pipe section 1 by the clamp 4, is provided on the outer circumference of the drain inlet opening 32.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the insertion tube section 2 consists of a straight tube 21 with circular openings at both ends. A tip opening 22 is formed at one end of this straight tube 21, and a base end opening 23 into which the cleaning hose H can be inserted is formed at the other end.

[0018] Then, the straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe part 2 is welded and connected in a penetrating state to the middle of the pipe wall on the bent outer peripheral side of the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe part 3, and the central axis 21A of this straight pipe 21 is configured to be positioned closer to the center of the mounting opening 12 of the mounting pipe part 1. In the present embodiment, the central axis 21A of the straight pipe 21 coincides with the central axis of the drain inflow opening 32 of the drain pipe part 3 and the central axis 13A of the connection opening 13 of the mounting pipe part 1, and is eccentric downward relative to the central axis 12A of the mounting opening 12 of the mounting pipe part 1.

[0019] Further, on the side of the distal end opening 22 of the straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe part 2, a cleaning hose guide part 24 protruding into the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe part 3 is integrally provided, and the cleaning hose guide part 24 holds the cleaning hose H inserted into the insertion pipe part 2 so as to be movable forward and backward.

[0020] When performing pipe cleaning using the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of the present embodiment, first, the mounting pipe part 1 having the mounting opening 12 with an inner diameter adapted to the opening O of the pipe P to be cleaned is prepared, and only this mounting pipe part 1 is mounted to the opening O of the pipe P.

[0021] Next, the distal end of the cleaning hose H is inserted from the proximal end opening 23 of the insertion pipe part 2 and made to protrude from the distal end opening 22, and a known nozzle head provided with a nozzle N is attached to the distal end of this cleaning hose H. The insertion work of the cleaning hose H may be performed before the mounting work of the mounting pipe part 1 to the pipe P.

[0022] Next, the connection opening 13 of the mounting pipe part 1 mounted to the pipe P and the drain inflow opening 32 of the drain pipe part 3 through which the cleaning hose H is passed are connected by a ferrule joint using a clamp 4.

[0023] Then, as shown in Figure 3, high-pressure water is sent to the cleaning hose H, and while spraying high-pressure water W from the nozzle N at the tip, the cleaning hose H is moved back and forth along the pipe P as appropriate, thereby high-pressure cleaning of the inside of the pipe P with high-pressure water (approximately 20-100 MPa). Here, an example is shown in which a nozzle head equipped with a nozzle N that sprays high-pressure water only backward is attached to the cleaning hose H, but pipe cleaning may also be performed by attaching a nozzle head that sprays high-pressure water in both forward and backward directions to the cleaning hose H.

[0024] This high-pressure cleaning of the pipe P with high-pressure water W generates a large amount of cleaning wastewater inside the pipe P. As shown in Figure 4, the large amount of cleaning wastewater D passes through the attachment pipe section 1, flows into the drain pipe section 3 from the drain inlet opening 32, changes direction within the bent pipe 31, and flows out to the outside from the drain outlet opening 33. In this way, pipe cleaning is performed using the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment. If necessary, a wastewater recovery device or a wastewater suction device may be connected to the drain outlet opening 33 of the drain pipe section 3 to recover the generated cleaning wastewater D.

[0025] As described above, with the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment, the straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe section 2 is connected to the pipe wall on the outer circumference side of the bend of the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe section 3, the central axis 21A of the straight pipe 21 is located near the center of the mounting opening 12 of the mounting pipe section 1, and furthermore, a cleaning hose guide section 24 is provided on the tip opening side of the straight pipe 21, so that the cleaning hose H can be accurately and easily inserted straight into the center of the opening O of the pipe P. Therefore, contact between the cleaning hose H and the nozzle head and the inner surface of the pipe P can be greatly reduced, and the cleaning hose H can be easily inserted into the pipe P before cleaning begins, as well as the cleaning hose H can be smoothly moved back and forth inside the pipe P during pipe cleaning, enabling more efficient pipe cleaning.

[0026] Furthermore, since a cleaning hose guide portion 24 is provided at the tip opening side of the straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe portion 2, which protrudes into the bent pipe 31 of the drain pipe portion 3, there is no risk of the cleaning hose H being pressed and shifted by the cleaning wastewater D whose flow direction is changed within the bent pipe 31 during pipe cleaning, and smooth forward and backward movement of the cleaning hose H at a position closer to the center of the opening O of the pipe P can be ensured.

[0027] In contrast, if the insertion pipe section 2 is not provided with a cleaning hose guide, as shown in the comparative example in Figure 5, the cleaning hose H is pressed from above by the cleaning wastewater D whose flow direction has been changed within the bent pipe 31, causing it to shift downwards. This makes it easier for the cleaning hose H to come into contact with the inner surface of the pipe P or the insertion pipe section 2, making it difficult to smoothly move the cleaning hose H back and forth within the pipe P during pipe cleaning. With the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment, even when a large amount of cleaning wastewater D is generated, the smooth movement of the cleaning hose H can be ensured, and pipe cleaning can be performed efficiently. Furthermore, even when a drainage suction device is connected to the drainage outlet opening 33 of the drain pipe section 3 to actively suction the cleaning wastewater D inside the drain pipe section 3, the shifting of the cleaning hose H can be prevented, and the smooth movement of the cleaning hose H can be ensured.

[0028] Furthermore, with the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment, a cleaning hose guide section 24 is provided on the straight pipe 21 of the insertion pipe section 2. This allows the overall length of the insertion pipe section 2 to be increased, significantly reducing the leakage of cleaning wastewater from the drain pipe section 3 to the outside through the gap between the inner surface of the insertion pipe section 2 and the outer surface of the cleaning hose H. Therefore, it is not always necessary to apply packing material such as rags to the base end opening 23 of the insertion pipe section 2 to resist the movement of the cleaning hose H, thus simplifying the pipe cleaning work.

[0029] Furthermore, with the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment, since the mounting pipe section 1 and the drain pipe section 3 are detachably connected, if multiple types of mounting pipe sections 1 having mounting openings 12 that match the inner diameter and shape of the opening O of the pipe P to be cleaned are prepared in advance, then by appropriately selecting only the mounting pipe section 1 and attaching it to the opening O of the pipe P, pipe cleaning can be performed for various types of pipes, thereby enabling efficient pipe cleaning.

[0030] Furthermore, since the mounting pipe section 1 and the drain pipe section 3 are detachably connected, for example, during pipe cleaning, the cleaning status inside the pipe P can be easily visually inspected through the mounting pipe section 1 simply by detaching the drain pipe section 3 from the mounting pipe section 1, thereby enabling efficient pipe cleaning. In addition, with the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment, since the mounting pipe section 1 and the drain pipe section 3 are connected by a ferrule joint, the operation of attaching and detaching the mounting pipe section 1 and the drain pipe section 3 can be performed very easily.

[0031] Although the pipe cleaning attachment 10 of this embodiment has been described above, the present invention can also be implemented in other embodiments.

[0032] For example, in the above embodiment, a flange 14 is provided on the outer circumference of the mounting opening 12 of the mounting pipe section 1, which can be connected to the flange F of the pipe P by bolts and nuts. However, the present invention is of course not limited to this, and for example, a ferrule flange of a ferrule joint may be provided at the mounting opening 12 of the mounting pipe section 1, and various design changes are possible depending on the shape of the opening O of the pipe P to be cleaned.

[0033] Furthermore, the connection method between the mounting pipe section 1 and the drain pipe section 3 is not necessarily limited to a ferrule joint; for example, flange joints or threaded joints using bolts and nuts may be used, allowing for various design modifications.

[0034] The present invention can also be implemented in various forms with improvements, modifications, and variations based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, the invention may be implemented in a form in which any of the inventive features is replaced with other technologies within the scope of producing the same function or effect, and an inventive feature that is configured as a single unit may be configured as multiple components, or an inventive feature that is configured as multiple components may be configured as a single unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Pipe cleaning attachments 1. Mounting pipe section 12 Mounting opening 2 Insertion tube section 21 straight pipe 21A (Central axis of a straight pipe) 22 (Straight pipe) tip opening 24 Cleaning hose guide section 3 Drain pipe section 31 Bent pipe P piping O (pipe) opening H Cleaning Hose N Nozzle W High-pressure water D Washing drainage

Claims

1. A pipe cleaning attachment used to clean the inside of pipes with high-pressure water sprayed from the nozzle of a cleaning hose, A mounting pipe section having a mounting opening that can be detachably attached to the opening of the aforementioned piping, An insertion pipe section through the aforementioned mounting pipe section into which the cleaning hose can be freely inserted into the piping, It comprises a drain pipe section connected to the aforementioned mounting pipe section, which guides the cleaning wastewater that flows out from the opening of the pipe during pipe cleaning, The aforementioned drain pipe section consists of a bent pipe. The aforementioned insertion tube section consists of a straight tube, The straight pipe of the insertion pipe section is connected to the pipe wall on the outer circumference side of the bent pipe of the drain pipe section, and the central axis of the straight pipe is located near the center of the mounting opening of the mounting pipe section. A pipe cleaning attachment characterized in that a cleaning hose guide portion is provided at the tip opening side of the straight pipe of the insertion pipe portion, protruding into the bent pipe of the drain pipe portion.

2. The pipe cleaning attachment according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting pipe portion and the drain pipe portion are detachably connected.

Images