JPH0466630B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a water pipe cleaning method that can wash away deposits inside water pipes while they are still buried.

[Conventional technology]

When water pipes are used for a long period of time after installation, foreign matter such as water scale and iron rust adheres to the inner surface, increasing flow resistance and impeding water flow. Water mains in water pipe systems are mainly buried along roads, and when cleaning these water mains, the road must be excavated and the water pipes dug out and separated from the flange, or long pipes must be used. Then, they were cut at key points and washed with water using a hose while passing cleaning tools such as brushes through them.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in this conventional water pipe cleaning method, the excavation of roads, dividing the pipes, and cleaning work are quite time-consuming and costly, and it is also difficult to insert cleaning tools into curved pipes or pipes with different diameters. In addition to being difficult, there were other problems such as strongly adhered deposits such as iron rust that could not be completely removed with a brush or the like.

This invention was made in view of these conventional problems, and its purpose is to:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water pipe cleaning method that can easily and completely clean deposits on the inner surface of the water pipe while it remains buried.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the water pipe cleaning method according to the present invention uses a spherical cleaning tool made of an air-inflated bag-like elastic ball covered with a wire mesh, and cleans the pipe through an opening made by removing a valve or fire hydrant. Pushing the folded cleaning tool, filling it with compressed air to restore it to a spherical shape, and using tap water pressure to penetrate and clean the inside of the pipe;
Cleaning tools are to be submitted along with foreign objects through the opening created by removing the drain valve or fire hydrant at the end of the pipe.

[Effect]

According to the water pipe cleaning method configured in this way,
Applicable to water pipes with an inner diameter of 75 to 300 mmφ, using a pipe slightly larger than the pipe diameter, the wire mesh of the spherical cleaning tool as it moves inside the pipe scrapes and removes the deposits on the inner surface, and prevents damage to curved pipes and other diameter pipes. The elastic ball flexes at the tube, allowing it to pass through easily.

Furthermore, since the cleaning tool folds up when the air is removed, it is easy to load it into the pipe, and it can be easily updated by replacing only the wire mesh.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. In this water pipe cleaning method, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, an ellipsoidal elastic ball 1 made of a thick-walled rubber bag inflated with air and shaped like a rugby ball is used to form a mesh made of strong steel wire. A spherical cleaning tool 3 covered with a wire mesh 2 is used, and an air hose 9 is inserted into the folded state with the air removed through an opening created by removing a gate valve or a fire hydrant exposed above the ground. Leave it attached (see Figure 1) Water pipe 4
Push it into the water pipe, fill it with compressed air to restore it to its spherical shape, and remove the air hose to finish loading it into the water pipe.

Next, close the opening, open the main valve, and let tap water flow through the pipe using the pressure of the tap water (see Figure 2). Foreign matter such as limescale and iron rust 5
The foreign matter is removed along with the cleaning tools through an opening created by removing the drain valve or fire hydrant at the end of the pipe.

As shown in Fig. 3, the elastic ball 1 is provided with a compressed air inlet 7 with a built-in check valve 6 at the center of the top, through which compressed air is filled to create an internal pressure of about 3 kg/cm ² . keeping. It is important that the size of this sphere is 15 to 30% larger than the inner diameter of the water pipe to be cleaned. Normally, water pipes have an inner diameter in the range of 75 to 300 mmφ, and balls are also available in various sizes depending on the inner diameter of the water pipe.

This ball has an ellipsoid shape like a rugby ball, and because it is loaded and moved so that its rectangular portion is inscribed in the tube (see Figure 1), it rubs against the inner surface of the tube over a wide area, and has the effect of peeling off deposits. It has a great feature.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wire mesh 2 is made of a curved surface braided from strong steel wire such as piano wire, and after covering the elastic ball 1, the opening is bent over with a wire 8 to make the wire mesh 2 elastic. It adheres tightly to the ball 1, forming a spherical cleaning tool 3.

When cleaning water pipes using the spherical cleaning tool, as shown in Figure 2, an object 15 to 30% larger than the pipe diameter is pushed into the pipe in the longer diameter direction, causing the ball to bend and deform into a longer length, causing it to deform in the shorter diameter direction. It has a fairly large surface area that comes into pressure contact with the inner surface of the pipe and has a cleaning effect. The water supply pressure of tap water is usually 5 to 6 kg/ ^cm2 , which is about twice the pressure inside the bulb, and the spherical cleaning tool that is in close contact with the pipe is pushed forward by the water pressure, and foreign matter that adheres to the inner surface of the pipe is removed. completely peel off.

The spherical cleaning tool has the characteristic that both the ball 1 and the wire mesh 2 are easily bent, and can easily move forward even in curved pipes with sudden bends or irregularly shaped pipes with steps. For example, it is possible to clean a long water pipe system of 20km all at once.

Furthermore, if the wire mesh becomes damaged, the wire 8 can be cut and removed and replaced easily, allowing it to be used for a long period of time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since this invention is configured as described above,
This produces the following effects.

By simply providing an opening through which a spherical cleaning tool can be passed at the tip and end of the pipe, it can be easily and quickly removed without digging out the water pipe, even if there is a curved pipe or an irregularly shaped pipe with a step in the middle. The inside of the pipe can be cleaned beautifully, and costs can be significantly reduced compared to conventional methods.

The spherical cleaning tool folds up when the air is removed, so it can be easily loaded into water pipes even through small openings, and since there is a wire gauze on the surface, it is easier to use than conventional cleaning tools such as brushes. Even stuck objects that are difficult to remove can be easily and beautifully stripped off and washed, and furthermore, by simply replacing the wire mesh, the wire mesh can be used for a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of loading a spherical cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention into a water pipe, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a water pipe cleaning state, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the elasticity of the spherical cleaning tool used in the above. FIG. 4 is a side view of a spherical cleaning tool covered with wire mesh. 1...Elastic ball, 2...Wire mesh, 3...Cleaning tool, 4
...Water pipe, 5...Foreign object, 9...Air hose.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Using a spherical cleaning tool made of a bag-like elastic ball that inflates with air and covering it with wire mesh, push the folded cleaning tool into the pipe through an opening made by removing a valve or fire hydrant, and fill it with compressed air to make it into a spherical shape. A method of cleaning water pipes in which the interior of the pipe is penetrated and cleaned using tap water pressure, and cleaning tools are discharged along with foreign objects from the opening created by removing the drain valve or fire hydrant at the end of the pipe.