GB2251048A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus 1 includes an external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 situated towards one end 4 of the apparatus and an internal pipe cleaning device 3 situated towards an opposite end 5 of the apparatus. The external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 has a body 10 which encloses and/or supports a cylindrical chamber 6 having abrasive pads therein which are supported by pins 18 and 19. The chamber 6 is arranged by means of an electric motor 30 to rotate about a pipe guide member 40 having a pipe receiving member 45 mounted thereon. The internal pipe cleaning device 3, provided adjacent the end 5 of the apparatus 1, includes a mouth 100 in which is disposed an abrasive cleaning pad 101. The pad is arranged to rotate by means of the electric motor 30. The device 3 may be used to clean the inside of a fitting 110. Other pipe, bar, nut and bolt cleaning apparatus are also described. <IMAGE>

Description

CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and particularly, although not exclusively, to apparatus for cleaning pipes, bars, nuts, bolts or the like.

In, for example, plumbing, it is often necessary to join lengths of copper pipe together. In order to ensure that joints between the lengths of pipe are watertight and/or air-tight, it is important to clean thoroughly surfaces of the lengths which are to abut, so that solder, used to hold the lengths in position, adheres strongly to each abutting surface and provides a seal between the abutting surfaces. The cleaning of the abutting surfaces is carried out by hand. A person holds an abrasive cleaning material and urges this against and around the surface to be cleaned. Such a technique may be timeconsuming and a generally unpleasant task.

It is an object of the invention to alleviate the abovementioned problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned'), the apparatus comprising cleaning means for cleaning the member to be cleaned, the arrangement being such that, in use, the member to be cleaned and cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another and one of either the cleaning means or member to be cleaned is caused to rotate relative to the other thereby to clean the member to be cleaned.

The word "clean" should be construed so as to include any process which aims to remove unwanted material from a surface of a member.

The member to be cleaned may suitably be made of metal. Alternatively, though less preferred, the member to be cleaned may be made of wood, for example, the member may be a wooden dowel or may be made of plastics.

The member to be cleaned may be of any cross-section.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises guide means for guiding the position of the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means.

Said apparatus is preferably arranged to clean a pipe, bar, nut or bolt having a circular cross-section suitably with a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm.

Preferably, the cleaning means is arranged to rotate relative to the member to be cleaned. When provided, preferably, the guide means is arranged to guide the member to be cleaned between a first position spaced from said cleaning means and a second position in which said member and cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another. The first position is suitably on the periphery of the apparatus and the second position is suitably disposed inside the apparatus.

Suitably, the cleaning means includes a chamber arranged to releasably secure one or a plurality of cleaning pads, the chamber being arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation.

Preferably, when provided said guide means is arranged to guide the member to be cleaned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the chamber.

Preferably, the guide means includes a shaft which is concentric with said axis of rotation of the chamber.

Preferably, said shaft includes one or a plurality of collars arranged to rotate about said shaft for protecting the shaft from wear, in use. Preferably, said guide means is arranged to receive at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut or a bolt which is, at least in part, of a circular cross-section having a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm, more preferably in the range lOmm to 20mm.

The guide means may include a locator member upon or into which the member to be cleaned may be located, in use.

The guide means may alternatively be fixed in position and arranged to slideably receive the member to be cleaned.

For example, the member to be cleaned, suitably a bar, may be received on pivotally mounted rollers. Preferably, said guide means and/or said locator member are arranged to be releasably secured to the apparatus. A set of guide means and/or locator members are suitably provided so as to receive and/or locate members to be cleaned of different shapes and/or sizes. Alternatively, said guide means may be adjustable and thereby arranged to guide members to be cleaned of different shapes and/or sizes.

Suitably, the apparatus includes one or more cleaning pads. Preferably, said pads are arranged around the member to be cleaned, in use, and suitably each said pad is spaced substantially the same distance from said member to be cleaned. The pads may be adapted to clean any material. Said one or more cleaning pads are suitably mounted on a driven axle and thereby arranged to rotate.

A securing device may be provided to which the member to be cleaned may be releasably secured, the securing device being arranged to cooperate with said guide means so as to guide the position of the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means. Preferably, said securing device comprises a body having a hole therein for receiving the member to be cleaned, one or more radial securement members being provided radially disposed relative to said hole, each securement member being arranged to move between a first position in which it extends a first distance into the hole and a second position in which it extends into the hole a lesser distance, so that when each securement member is in said first position, said securing device is arranged such that said member to be cleaned is secure in the hole thereof.

The apparatus may be arranged to clean at least part of an outside surface of a member to be cleaned. The apparatus may be arranged to clean at least part of an inside surface of a hollow member to be cleaned.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned') the method including the steps of causing said member to be cleaned to be disposed adjacent to cleaning means of apparatus defined in said first aspect and causing movement of said cleaning means relative to said member to be cleaned.

Said member to be cleaned is, preferably, at least in part, of circular cross-section and may have a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm, more preferably in the range lOmm to 20mm.

In another aspect, there is provided cleaning apparatus which includes means, at one end, for cleaning, at least in part, an outside surface of a member to be cleaned and, at an opposite end, includes means for cleaning, at least in part, an inside surface of a member to be cleaned.

Said cleaning apparatus may include any feature disclosed in the first aspect.

In another aspect there is provided apparatus for cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt or the like (hereinafter "the member to be cleaned") the apparatus comprising cleaning means for cleaning the member to be cleaned and positioning means for correctly positioning the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means, the arrangement being such that, in use, the member to be cleaned and cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another and one of either the cleaning means or member to be cleaned is caused to rotate relative to the other thereby to clean the member to be cleaned.

The invention extends to apparatus for cleaning an inside surface of one of either a pipe, a bolt or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned'), the apparatus comprising cleaning means arranged to rotate and arranged to fit, at least in part, within the member to be cleaned such that in use said cleaning means abuts the inside surface of the member to be cleaned.

Said apparatus may include any feature disclosed in the first aspect.

Said aforementioned member to be cleaned may include a member having, at least in part, a cross-section which has at least one plane of symmetry, and preferably two planes of symmetry. Examples of applicable cross-sections include ovals, circles, squares, and any polygon.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure la is a side elevation in cross-section of a cleaning apparatus; Figures 2 and 3 are end views of the apparatus of Figure 1, partly in cross-section; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a pin; Figures 5a and 5b are side elevations of alternative bar receiving members, partly in cross-section; Figure 6 is a side elevation of a fitting holder with a fitting shown in cross-section; Figure 7 is an end view partly in cross-section of the fitting shown in Figure 6 in the direction of arrow "A" ; Figure 8 is a side elevation of an alternative fitting holder; Figure 9 is a side-elevation in cross-section of an alternative cleaning apparatus;; Figure 10 and 11 are end views of the apparatus of Figure 9, partly in cross-section; Figure 12 is a side-elevation in cross-section of a further alternative cleaning apparatus; Figures 13 to 14 are end views of the apparatus of Figure 12, partly in cross-section; Figures 15 to 18 are respectively a side elevation, an end view in the direction of arrow B, an end view in the direction of arrow C and a top plan view of a further cleaning apparatus; Figures 19 and 20 are a perspective view and a side elevation respectively of bench mounting apparatus; Figure 21 is a side elevation of a pipe guide and protector; Figure 22 is a perspective view of a nut and bolt cleaning apparatus; and Figure 23 is a perspective view of a bolt cleaning apparatus.

Cleaning apparatus 1, shown in Figure 1, includes an external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 situated towards one end 4 of the apparatus and an internal pipe cleaning device 3 situated towards an opposite end 5 of the apparatus.

The external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 has a body 10 which encloses and/or supports a cylindrical chamber 6 which is fixed to a toothed gear wheel 7 at fixing positions 8. The gear wheel 7 is supported on a fixed short hollow spindle 9 which, in turn, is supported on a transverse frame member 11 of the body 10. Suitably, the chamber 6 and gear wheel 7 comprise one moulded piece.

Abrasive cleaning pads 15, 16, 17 are releasably fixed into slots provided in respective pins 18, 19, 20 (see Figure 2) which, in turn, are fixed to a wall member 21 of the cylindrical chamber 6 at respective positions 22, 23, 24. The cleaning pads 15, 16, 17, though initially substantially straight, tend to assume a curved configuration, as shown in Figure 2, in use. Edges 60 of each pad 15, 16, 17 are tapered.

An electric motor 30, powered from a power source 31, is provided within the body 10. A drive shaft 32, of the electric motor 30, carries a toothed drive wheel 33 which is arranged to drive the gear wheel 7 and thereby cause the cylindrical chamber 6 to rotate about its longitudinal axis and about the longitudinal axis of a pipe guide member 40.

The pipe guide member 40 is arranged coaxial with the cylindrical chamber 6. The guide member 40 includes a central shaft 41 which extends through the centre of the hollow spindle 9. The central shaft 41 carries a plurality of juxtaposed rotatable split rings 42 and a compression spring 43. At one end, the compression spring 43 abuts a split ring 42; at its opposite end, the compression spring 43 abuts a stop member 44. A pipe receiver member 45 is mounted on the central shaft 41 and arranged to slide thereupon.

The locator member 45 has a shoulder 46 upon which the end of a copper pipe 47 to be cleaned is seated, in use, and additionally includes a tapering section 48.

The body 10 of the device 2 includes an end cap 50 which is screw-threadedly releasably secured, at region 51, to the main part of the body 10. The end cap 50 includes a cylindrical collar 52 which overlaps, to some extent, the locator member 45 of the pipe guide member 40.

The external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 of the cleaning apparatus 1 may be used as follows, for example, to clean around a part of the outside surface of the copper pipe 47.

The copper pipe 47 to be cleaned, is urged by an operator through the collar 52 and caused to be seated upon the shoulder 46 of the receiver member 45, as shown in Figure 1. When so disposed, the operator urges the pipe rightwardly so that the pipe and locator member 45 move as one into the cylindrical chamber 6. To this end, the locator member 45 slides on the shaft 41. As the pipe and locator member move rightwardly, the electric motor is actuated automatically, in response to the position of the locator member 45 on the shaft 41 and thereby the drive wheel 33, the gear wheel 7 and chamber 6 (including the pads 15, 16, 17) are caused to rotate.The operator continues to urge the pipe and locator member rightwardly, so that the tapering section 48 of the locator member 45 urges the cleaning pads 15, 16, 17 outwardly slightly, and when the pipe 47 reaches a position adjacent to the pads 15, 16, 17, the pads abut and move around the outside surface of the pipe thereby to clean it.

It should be noted that, as the pipe 47 and locator member 45 are urged rightwardly by the operator, they are urged against a force from the compression spring 43.

The split rings 42 are provided so as to reduce wear on the shaft 41 caused by the abrasive cleaning pads 15, 16, 17. In this regard, if during insertion of the pipe into the chamber 6, the pads rotate and contact the split rings 42, the split rings will rotate on the shaft 41 with the pads, and abrasion on the shaft 41 caused by the pads is reduced compared to a case wherein split rings are not provided.

When the pipe is clean, the pipe and receiver member 45 are urged leftwardly under the force of the spring 43 and/or by the operator, so that they move out of contact with the pads 15, 16, 17. The motor 30 is automatically deactuated as the pipe and receiver member are urged leftwardly. The spring 43 ensures that a pipe cannot be left inadvertently in the chamber 6 unless the operator is holding it in position.

The aforementioned pads 15, 16, 17 may be of many different compositions, depending on the extent and type of cleaning required The pads may be, for example, of sand paper, wire, a synthetic abrasive material, of rubber or in the form of brushes. The pads may thereby be adapted generally to clean, or adapted specifically to strip paint, remove rust or whatever.

Any of the aforementioned pads may include rubber backs so that the composite pad has a degree of resilience. As a consequence, a pad may be centralised automatically after use, and this may allow both sides of a pad to be used.

The pads 15, 16, 17 are replaceable, as shown in Figure 4-, A pad may be pushed through slot 67 of the pin 18 and secured therein by means of a releasable screwthreaded end cap 68 arranged to engage a screw-threaded end 69 of the pin.

The electric motor 30 and power source 31 may be of any suitable type. Alternatively, or additionally the apparatus may be arranged to operate from a mains supply.

As it may be necessary or desirable for the chamber 6 (and more particularly pads 15, 16, 17) to rotate relatively slowly and, in general, more slowly than the electric motor 30, the drive wheel 33 and gear wheel 7 are arranged to gear down the speed of rotation of the chamber 6 relative to that of the motor 30.

The external pipe or bar cleaning device 2 may be arranged to clean any size of pipe or bar. The apparatus 1, shown in Figure 1, is arranged, by means of locator member 45 to clean an outside suface of a pipe, as aforementioned. In order to allow pipes of varying diameters to be cleaned by the device 2, the end cap 50 is removed and an end cap having a cylindrical collar 52 of any desired diameter is screwed into place. Furthermore, the locator member 45 may be removed and replaced with a locator member adapted to receive a pipe of a desired diameter.

The device 2 may be modified to clean cylindrical bars. For example, in this case a bar locator member 65 (Figure 5a) is screw-threadedly fixed on shaft 41.

Instead of locator member 45 shown, the member 65 suitably cannot move relative to the shaft. Spring 43 is fixed relative to shaft 41 at position 43a and abuts stop member 44 spaced therefrom. The bar locator member and shaft may be moved rightwardly (as seen in Figure 1) as one, against the force of spring 43. The locator member 65 is arranged to receive cylindrical bars in a shallow socket 61 defined by a raised ring 62. The locator member 65 includes a bore 63 so that the member 65 may be screwthreadedly received on the shaft 41. A cushioning ring 64 of, for example, rubber is provided in the socket 61, to cushion a bar within the socket, in use.

An alternative bar receiving member shown in Figure 5b is arranged to be screw-threadedly received on shaft 41. It comprises two tapering sections for ease of access into and from chamber 6. One end 500 is of circular cross-section, and includes a circular rubber ring 501 against which a bar may rest and which may serve to retain a bar in position by means of friction, in use.

Instead of, or in addition to, the motor 30 of the device being automatically actuated, a manually operable switch (not shown) may be provided to activate the motor 30, if desired. If desired, the electric motor may be arranged to run for a predetermined time, which may be adjustable, so that a pipe is cleaned but not substantially worn by the cleaning pads.

Suitably, the pipe or bar cleaning device 2 of the apparatus 1 is arranged to clean pipes or bars having a diameter in the range of about 5 mm to 40 mm. Suitably, the device 2 cleans a length, measured from an end of the pipe or bar, of up to 40 mm.

The internal pipe cleaning device 3, provided adjacent the end 5 of the apparatus 1, includes a mouth 100 in which is disposed an abrasive cleaning pad 101 (the pad is straight initially and assumes an 'S'-shape, in use) which is releasably attached on a shaft 102 which, in turn, is supported on cylindrical bearings 103, 104. The shaft 102 carries a toothed gear wheel 105 which is arranged to be driven by a drive wheel 106 mounted on a drive shaft 107 of the electric motor 30.

The internal pipe cleaning device 3 may be used to clean inside a Yorkshire fitting 110 (a substantially Lshaped short pipe fitting). An operator may simply hold the fitting 110 and push it into the mouth 100 so that the pad 101 enters the pipe 110.

The motor may then actuate automatically or be actuated manually, so that the pad 101 rotates and the inside of the fitting 110 is cleaned by the pad 101.

As an alternative to an operator simply holding the fitting 100, a fitting holder 120, shown in Figures 6 to 8 may be provided. The fitting holder 120 includes a body 121 having a bore 122 into which a Yorkshire fitting 123 may be releasably secured.

The body 121 further includes a cylindrical wall 124 defining a bore 125 into which the fitting 123 extends in use. The cylindrical wall 124 is arranged so as to fit snugly within, and be slideable within, the mouth 100 of the device 3.

A ring 130 of the device 120 is screw threadedly received on the body 121. The ring 130 has an angled flange 131 which is arranged to abut an angular part 126 of a seal actuator member 132. The seal actuator member 132 is cylindrical and is slideable within a bore 133 of the body 121. A compression spring 134 is provided at one end 135 of the bore 133. The member 132 further includes a projection 136 which extends through a narrow bore 137 towards a cylindrical rubber seal 138.

In use, a Yorkshire fitting 123 is inserted into the bore 122 as shown and then ring 130 is screwed clockwise such that it moves in the direction of an arrow 139 relative to the body 121. This movement causes angled flange 131 to be urged against the angular part 126 of the actuator member 132 which is, accordingly, caused to move leftwardly (as seen in Figure 6) within the bore 133. The projection 136 likewise moves leftwardly within the narrow bore 137 and urges a part of cylindrical rubber seal 138 against the fitting 123 thereby to secure the fitting within the holder 120. The fitting 123 is released by screwing ring 130 anticlockwise thereby causing it to move in a direction opposite to that of arrow 139, relative to the body 121.

The ring 130 is arranged to actuate three spaced apart actuator members 132, as shown in Figure 7, so that in use the fitting 123 is gripped at three spaced apart locations.

With the fitting 123 secured within the fitting holder 120, the cylindrical wall 124 of the holder is pushed into the mouth 100 of the device 3 so that the cleaning pad 101 enters the inside of the fitting 123.

The pad 101 is caused to rotate and thereby the inside of the fitting 123 is cleaned.

An alternative form of fitting holder 140, shown in Figure 8, is similar to the holder 120 shown in Figures 6 and 7, except that, in the Figure 7 embodiment, a cylindrical wall 141 is arranged to be slideably received on an outside cylindrical wall 142 of the device 3.

The pad 101 of the device 3 is suitably releasably attached on the shaft 102 in the manner as described in relation to Figure 4.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the apparatus 1 is arranged to allow the outside of pipes or bars or the inside of pipes tb be cleaned. Furthermore, pads 15, 16, 17 and pad 101 are driven by a single electric motor 30.

Apparatus 150, shown in Figures 9 to 11, is largely the same as the apparatus shown in respective Figures 1 to 3, except that the axis of shaft 41 in Figure 9 is not disposed on a straight line common with the axis of shaft 102, in contrast to the Figure 1 embodiment; that is, the axes of respective shafts 41 and 102 are offset in Figure 9. In Figure 9 drive wheels and gear wheels are arranged to drive either shaft 41 or 102 from a common electric motor 30, as before.

Apparatus 200, shown in Figures 12 to 14 is also largely the same as apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 9 to 11. In this embodiment, however, axes of respective shafts 41 and 102 are disposed on a common straight line.

However, the common straight line is not common with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

Apparatus 200 may be of particular utility when working on pipes which are fixed to a wall or underneath a floor.

Apparatus 210 adapted for cleaning the outside of pipes and bars is shown in Figures 15 to 18. The apparatus 210 has spaced apart detachable guide members 211, 250, and a cleaning pod 229.

The guide member 211 (Figures 15 and 16) includes circumferentially spaced guide wheel arrangements 212, 213, 214 disposed at 120 intervals. Each guide wheel arrangement includes a plate 215 (Figure 15) which carries pairs of wheel supports 216 upon which rubber wheels 217 are pivotally mounted. A screw 218 is arranged such that when screwed inwardly, the plate 215 and wheels 217 move toward the centre of an opening 219; when screwed outwardly the plate 215 and wheels 217 move away from the centre of the opening 219. The guide wheel arrangements may be adjusted, in use, so that the guide wheels 217 are suitably disposed in the opening 219 so that a pipe or bar of a certain diameter may abut and be slideable upon, each of the guide wheels.

The cleaning pod 229 of the apparatus 210 comprises a rotable chamber 300 and a chamber support structure 301.

The rotable chamber 300 comprises pads 230 releasably secured to pins 231 fixed to walls of the chamber 300 as in the aforementioned embodiments. Ring shaped bearings 235 are mounted on spaced-apart frame members 236, 237, of the support structure 301, by means of support rings 238, 239. The chamber 300 is mounted on the bearings 235 and thereby arranged to rotate about an axis 240. Gear teeth 241 are provided around the circumference of the chamber 300, which teeth 241 mesh with teeth on a gear wheel 242 mounted on a shaft 243. In turn, gear wheel 242 meshes with a drive wheel 244 mounted on a drive shaft 245 of an electric motor 246.

Suitably, the chamber 300 is enclosed such that teeth 241 are shielded from the outside, for safety purposes.

The guide member 250 is suitably the same as the aforementioned guide member 211.

The apparatus 210 includes a power supply 251 and a switch 252 for actuating the electric motor 246.

The apparatus 210 may be used as follows to clean, for example, a bar coated in paint. Firstly, an operator ensures that guide members 211, 250 and cleaning pod 229 are arranged to receive a bar of the diameter of the bar to be cleaned. In this regard, screws 218 of guide members 211 and 250 may be adjusted to urge rubber wheels 217 inwardly or outwardly. The bar is then pushed by the operator through the opening 219 so that it slides upon the rubber wheels 217. It is pushed by the operator towards the cleaning pod 229 so that it enters the chamber 300 thereof, such that pads 230 surround the bar. The motor 246 is actuated which causes drive wheels 244, gear 242, and, in turn, the chamber 300 (and pads 230) to rotate about the bar. During rotation, the pads abut the bar and clean it.The bar is suitably pushed slowly through the apparatus 210 so that it eventually passes into the opening 219 in the guide member 250. The pipe may further be pushed slowly through the apparatus until the length of the bar has been cleaned, as desired.

Each of the guide members 211, 250 and the cleaning pod 229 may be detached from the apparatus 210 and replaced with a similar structure which is adapted to clean pipes or bars of different diameters.

The apparatus 210 may be hand-held. In this case, the operator may hold a handle 280 of the apparatus 210 with one hand and hold a knob 281 with his other hand, so that the apparatus may be securely held in a balanced way.

The apparatus may, furthermore, be adapted to be bench mounted on mounting apparatus 290, shown in Figures 19 and 20. The mounting apparatus 290 comprises a mounting plate 291 having spaced apart holes 292, in which screws may be received to secure the apparatus 290 to a bench (not shown). Mounting brackets 293 are securely fixed to the plate 291.

The apparatus 210 may be fixed, at fixing positions 295 thereof, to the mounting brackets 293 by means of screws 296 which fit through holes 297 in the brackets 293. In this position, the guide members 211, 250 and the cleaning pod 229 are disposed generally below the level of the mounting brackets 293 so that, in use, a bar, for example, passes between the mounting brackets 293 and plate 291.

A pipe guide and protector member 270 (Figure 21) may be used when cleaning a pipe with the apparatus described in Figures 15 to 18. The guide and protector member 270 comprises a screw-threaded shaft 271 having a stop plate 272 at one end and a tapering end member 273 at an opposite end. A hollow cylindrical rubber collar 274 is disposed on the shaft 271, as is a moveable collar 275 and a locking collar 276.

In use, the guide and protector member 270 may be pushed into the end of a pipe, via the stop member end thereof and secured therein by screwing collars 275, 276, to cause cylindrical rubber collar 274 to expand outwardly to abut the inside of the pipe.

A respective guide and protector member 270 may be arranged to fit 5 mm to 10 mm, 10 mm to 15 mm etc. pipes.

When secured in the end of a pipe the guide end protector member 270 may lead the pipe through the guide member 211, cleaning pod 229 and guide member 250 and may thereby reduce the risk of the pipe snagging in the apparatus 210 and may stop the end of the pipe from becoming burred by the pads 230.

The nut and bolt cleaning apparatus 400, shown in Figure 22, comprises a plurality of different sizes of bolt cleaning chambers 401a to 401f. In each of the chambers 401a to 401f, there are provided pads mounted in a rotatable chamber, as mentioned in relation to device 2 in Figure 1. In use, a bolt is urged into a chamber 401a to 401f, the pads rotate about the bolt and the shaft of the bolt is cleaned, by the rotary pads.

The apparatus 400 further comprises a nut cleaning device 410 which includes a nut holder 411 in which nuts to be cleaned may be releasably secured. A key 412 is provided to releasably secure two halves 413, 414 of the nut holder 411 together. The nut holder 411 is arranged to be moved, by means of a handle 415, towards and away from a motor driven shaft 416 upon which is provided cleaning pads 417. In use, a nut secured in the nut holder 411 is moved towards the cleaning pads 417, so that the pads enter into the central hole of the nut. The motor is actuated which causes the shaft 416 and pads 417 to rotate and the inside of the nut is thereby cleaned.

Preferably, only one motor is provided in the apparatus 400. Chambers 401a to 401f and shaft 416 may be linked by belts to the motor, so that they may be driven when required.

The apparatus 400 further includes a tray 420 for bolts and a tool rack 421.

A bolt cleaning unit 450, shown in Figure 23, comprises four bolt cleaning chambers 451a to 451d which are arranged to function like the bolt cleaning chambers 401a to 401f described above, in relation to the Figure 22 embodiment.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (27)

1. Apparatus for cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned'), the apparatus comprising cleaning means for cleaning the member to be cleaned, the arrangement being such that, in use, the member to be cleaned and the cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another and one of either the cleaning means or member to be cleaned is caused to rotate relative to the other thereby to clean the member to be cleaned.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising guide means for guiding the position of the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, said apparatus being arranged to clean a pipe bar, nut or bolt having a circular cross-section with a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the cleaning means being arranged to rotate relative to the member to be cleaned.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claims 3 or 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the guide means is arranged to guide the member to be cleaned between a first position spaced from said cleaning means and a second position in which said member and cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning means includes a chamber arranged to releasably secure one or a plurality of cleaning pads, the chamber being arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, when dependent upon any of claims 2 to 5 wherein said guide means is arranged to guide the member to be cleaned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the chamber.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 when dependent upon any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the guide means includes a shaft which is concentric with said axis of rotation of the chamber.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said shaft includes one or a plurality of collars arranged to rotate about said shaft for protecting the shaft from wear, in use.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 9, said guide means being arranged to receive at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut or a bolt which is, at least in part, of a circular cross-section having a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the guide means includes a locator member upon or into which the member to be cleaned may be located, in use.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes one or more cleaning pads.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said one or more cleaning pads are mounted on a driven axle and thereby arranged to rotate.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 13, wherein a securing device is provided to which the member to be cleaned may be releasably secured, the securing device being arranged to cooperate with said guide means so as to guide the position of the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said securing device comprises a body having a hole therein for receiving the member to be cleaned, one or more radial securement members being provided radially disposed relative to said hole, each securement member being arranged to move between a first position in which it extends a first distance into the hole and a second position in which it extends into the hole a lesser distance, so that when each securement member is in said first position, said securing device is arranged such that said member to be cleaned is secure in the hole thereof.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the apparatus being arranged to clean at least part of an outside surface of a member to be cleaned.

17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the apparatus being arranged to clean at least part of an inside surface of a hollow member to be cleaned.

18. A method of cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned') the method including the steps of causing said member to be cleaned to be disposed adjacent to cleaning means of apparatus defined in any of claims 1 to 17 and causing movement of said cleaning means relative to said member to be cleaned.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said member to be cleaned is, at least in part, of circular crosssection.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19 said member to be cleaned having a diameter in the range 5 mm to 50 mm.

21. Cleaning apparatus includes means, at one end, for cleaning, at least in part, an outside surface of a member to be cleaned and, at an opposite end, includes means for cleaning, at least in part, an inside surface of a member to be cleaned.

22. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 21, said cleaning apparatus including any feature disclosed in any of claims 1 to 17.

23. Apparatus for cleaning at least one of either a pipe, a bar, a nut, a bolt, or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned'), the apparatus comprising cleaning means for cleaning the member to be cleaned and positioning means for correctly positioning the member to be cleaned relative to the cleaning means, the arrangement being such that, in use, the member to be cleaned and cleaning means are positioned adjacent to one another and one of either the cleaning means or member to be cleaned is caused to rotate relative to the other, thereby to clean the member to be cleaned.

24. Apparatus for cleaning an inside surface of one of either a pipe, a nut or the like (hereinafter 'the member to be cleaned'), the apparatus comprising cleaning means arranged to rotate and arranged to fit, at least in part, within the member to be cleaned such that in use said cleaning means abuts the inside surface of the member to be cleaned.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, said apparatus including any feature disclosed in any of claims 1 to 17.

26. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 23 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

27. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 23 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.