US 12,303,949 B2
Apparatus and method for internal cleaning of a pipeline
Riccardo Schiavon, Marghera (IT); and Nicola Buongiorno, San Donato (IT)
Assigned to ENI S.P.A., Rome (IT)
Filed by ENI S.P.A., Rome (IT)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/587,767.
Application 18/587,767 is a division of application No. 17/256,758, granted, now 12,005,483, previously published as PCT/IB2019/055489, filed on Jun. 28, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 102018000006806 (IT), filed on Jun. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0198398 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. B08B 9/051 (2006.01); A46B 13/02 (2006.01); A46D 1/00 (2006.01); B08B 13/00 (2006.01); F16L 55/32 (2006.01); F16L 55/40 (2006.01); F16L 101/12 (2006.01); F16H 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC B08B 9/051 (2013.01) [A46B 13/02 (2013.01); A46D 1/0207 (2013.01); B08B 13/00 (2013.01); F16L 55/32 (2013.01); F16L 55/40 (2013.01); B08B 2209/04 (2013.01); F16H 1/28 (2013.01); F16L 2101/12 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for internal cleaning of a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
an interchangeable rotary cleaning head;
a motor device coupled to the rotary cleaning head to selectively control the rotation thereof, the motor device comprising a casing, a gearmotor accommodated within the casing and a transmission shaft, that defines an axis of rotation A, projecting from the casing;
a movement device connected to the motor device and configured to move the apparatus within the pipeline, the movement device being connected to the motor device; and
a remote system for controlling the apparatus, wherein the remote system is connected to the motor device and to the movement device by a means apt to transfer electrical signals and power;
wherein the motor device is interposed between the rotary cleaning head and the movement device;
the rotary cleaning head comprises:
a fixed part including;
a fixing flange integral with the casing of the motor device, provided with a passage hole for passage of the transmission shaft;
a circular crown coaxial with the passage hole and having an external diameter larger than an external diameter of the fixing flange; and
a plurality of radial elements, each of which departs from the fixing flange and unites with the circular crown, wherein the plurality of radial elements are placed in such a way as to configure a radial structure that delimits a plurality of fixed passage apertures;
a moveable part including:
a rear ring, of internal diameter that is larger than the external diameter of the circular crown, placed coaxially to the passage hole;
a hollow tubular element, protruding orthogonally from the front surface of the rear ring and coaxial to the passage hole, set up to be traversed coaxially by the transmission shaft;
a plurality of movable radial elements that extend from the external surface of the hollow tubular element as far as the rear ring and delimiting a plurality of movable passage apertures;
a plurality of radial arms placed on a plurality of planes parallel and orthogonal to the axis of rotation (A) and protruding from the external surface of the hollow tubular element so that the length of the radial arms referred to a rear plane is greater with respect to the length of the radial arms referred to a front plane, the free ends of the radial arms being provided with cutting profiles;
wherein the fixed part is integral with the casing and with the passage hole coaxial with the transmission shaft while the movable part is installed in front of the fixed part with the hollow tubular element coaxial to the passage hole in such a way that a portion of the transmission shaft is torsionally engaged with the front part of the hollow tubular element to permit rotation of the movable part and the transmission shaft is protrudes beyond the hollow tubular element on the front part of the rotary head.