Abstract
A sewer cleaning apparatus which has a hollow cylindrical body propelled by a plurality of water jets with a clam shell opening on the front of the apparatus operated by a plurality of piston assemblies that are attached to the sides of the cylindrical body. The apparatus is propelled by high pressure water ejected from the apparatus in a rearward direction. The high pressure water operates the piston assembly opening the clam shell and provides forward thrust for the apparatus allowing the hollow bucket type object to trap solids inside apparatus.
Claims
1. An apparatus for removing solids from sewers comprising: a hollow cylindrical body and a plurality of high-pressure water jets configured to provide forward thrust to the cylindrical body; and wherein the cylindrical body has a front end, a first clam shell half and a second clam shell half, the first and second clam shell halves being hingedly attached to one another to form a clam shell, the clam shell being situated at the front end of the cylindrical body and operated by at least one piston assembly that is configured to open and close the clam shell on the front end of the cylindrical body in response to water pressure supplied by a water jet manifold assembly situated on a rear end of the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery-operated linear actuator configured to operate the clam shell, wherein the battery-operated linear actuator is triggered by the water pressure supplied by the water jet manifold assembly.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sliding actuator that is configured to open and close the clam shell; wherein the sliding actuator travels on round guides that are configured to prevent the sliding actuator from moving in any direction except laterally; wherein the degree of linear travel by the sliding actuator is limited by guide slots and round guides; wherein the sliding actuator is connected to the at least one piston assembly, and wherein the piston assembly is configured to force the clam shell to open when the piston assembly is pressurized with water; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a sliding actuator return spring that is configured to exert pressure on the sliding actuator as the water pressure supplied by the water jet manifold assembly decreases, thereby closing the clam shell.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the water jet manifold assembly is tubular in shape and comprised of a water jet manifold and a plurality of fixed orifice jets that are threaded into the water jet manifold; wherein the fixed orifice jets are angled so as to maintain the apparatus in a upright position and to propel it through a trunk sewer or sewer pipe as water is ejected from the jets; and wherein the water jet manifold is connected to one or more threaded hose couplings that are configured to deliver high-pressure water to the water jet manifold.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one piston assembly is connected to the water jet manifold; wherein water pressure from the water jet manifold assembly is provided to the piston assembly through an internal fluid path between the water jet manifold and the piston assembly; wherein as water pressure moves from the water jet manifold assembly into the piston assembly, internal fluid pressure forces an internal ram to extend, thereby causing the sliding actuator to move laterally and the clam shell to open; wherein as the clam shell opens, the sliding actuator return spring compresses, thereby creating a spring force; and wherein the sliding actuator return spring is configured to cause the clam shell to close when the spring force exceeds the force of the water pressure supplied by the water jet manifold assembly.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be better understood from the following Detailed Description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views.
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Apparatus for removing solids from sewers with the clam shell in the closed position.
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus for removing solids from sewers with the clam shell in the open position.
(4) FIG. 3 is a front and rear view of the Apparatus with the clam shell in the closed position and the Y-hose connected to the apparatus.
(5) FIG. 4 is a cut-away view illustrating the method of use in a flooded trunk sewer using a jet/vac type truck.
(6) FIG. 5 is a cut-away view illustrating the method in which solids are vacuumed from the apparatus after the apparatus is removed from the pipe containing solids.
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus using a battery operated linear actuator to open and close the clam shell.
(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus operating the clam shell using mechanical means.
(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus with a fixed bullet nose and a plurality of perforations or holes to drain water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(10) For illustration purposes only, the following various embodiments of the apparatus for removing solids from sewers. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
(11) Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the numeral 1 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 identify the apparatus for removing solids from sewers.
(12) Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for removing solids from sewers 1 is a hollow cylindrical body and in the preferred embodiment constructed from stainless steel. The apparatus and clam halves are constructed from thin gauge material and formed into the cylindrical shape. The apparatus would be constructed in various sizes depending on the size of the trunk sewer or pipe solids are being removed from and the size of the access to said pipes. As an example, if removing solids from a 6.10 mm (24″) sewer pipe with an equally sized access, the apparatus would be approximately 304 mm (12″) to 450 mm (18″) in diameter and 762 mm (30″) to 915 mm (36″) in length. Replaceable wear strips 25 are even spaced around the perimeter of the apparatus and can be made of stainless steel or plastic or other type of material. The clam shell opening 2 is considered the front of the apparatus. The two clam shell halves open on a hinge 3. Due to the curvature of the bucket, the hinge is fairly short to allow the clam shell 2 to open. The clam shell is opened and closed by lateral movement (that is, movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus) of the sliding actuator 8. The sliding actuator 8 travels on round guides 9 which are designed to retain the sliding actuator 8 and prevent all motion except lateral travel (of sliding actuator) to open and close the clam shell halves 2. The amount of linear travel of sliding actuator 8 is also limited by the guide slots 24 and the round guides 9. The sliding actuators are connected to the piston assembly 10, which when pressurized with water forces the clam shell halves 2 open. The piston assembly is tubular in shape and has an internal rod and piston assembly 26. When water pressure increases, the piston is extended which opens the clam shell 2. When water pressure decreases, the spring 11 exerts tension on the sliding actuator 8, which closes the clam shell 2.
(13) Referring again to FIG. 1, at the rear of the bucket is a water jet manifold assembly 4 which is tubular in shape and designed to contain, direct, and eject high pressure water to propel the apparatus. The high pressure water is ejected from fixed orifice jets 5 that are threaded into the water jet manifold. The force of the water ejected from the jets 7 propels to the apparatus through the trunk sewer or pipe. The jets 5 at the top of the bucket are directed and angled in such a manner as to maintain the apparatus in an upright position while traveling through the pipe. The angle of the jets 5 are generally in a downward angle providing the necessary self-righting force 13 in FIG. 2. High pressure water is supplied through two threaded hose couplings 6 which are part of the water jet manifold 4.
(14) Referring to FIG. 3, high pressure water is supplied through a Y-hose assembly 22 connected to the water jet manifold assembly 4 at the rear of the apparatus using two threaded hose couplings 6. A “2 into 1” hose fitting 23 connects the two pieces of hose making the Y-hose assembly. The sewer jetting hose 15 FIG. 4 from the jet/vac sewer type truck 21 FIG. 4 is connected to the “2 into 1” hose fitting 23.
(15) Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus 1 is shown as it would appear when pressurized with water. The piston assembly 10 is connected directly to the water jet manifold assembly 4 by a threaded connection or bolted flange. Water pressure from the water jet manifold assembly 4 is provided to the piston assembly through an internal fluid path between the direct connect of the water jet manifold 4 and the piston assembly 10. The water pressure from the water jet manifold assembly 4 moves into the piston assembly 10 and the pressure forces the internal ram 26 FIG. 1 to extend, which moves the sliding actuator 8 and forces the clam shell 2 open. In the open position, tension on the sliding actuator return spring 11 is increased and thus provides the force necessary to close the clam shell 2 when water pressure is decreased. When pressure is decreased, water inside the piston assembly 10 exits the rear of the piston assembly through the internal path between the piston assembly 10 and the water jet manifold 4 and drains out through the water jets 5.
(16) Referring to FIG. 4, the apparatus for removing solids from sewers is shown in the best mode of operation. The apparatus for removing solids from sewers is lowered into and retrieved from a maintenance hole 16 from the hose 22 and hose reel 15 of the jet/vac truck 21. The apparatus for removing solids from sewers is lowered into the trunk sewer and front positioned to face the desired direction of travel. High pressure water is then supplied to the apparatus for removing solids from sewers through the hose 22. When high pressure water is supplied to the apparatus for removing solids from sewers the water jets propel the apparatus through the trunk sewer or pipe 19. As high pressure water is supplied, the water pressure acts on the piston assembly and forces the clam bucket open. Thus, when the apparatus is travelling into the sewer or pipe 19, the clam shell opening is in the open position allowing solids to be scooped into the apparatus. Thus the apparatus makes it easy to remove submerged solids 20 in a trunk sewer 17 or like pipe by using water jet propulsion to travel through the pipe, scooping solids, trapping said solids in the apparatus for mechanical removal. When the high pressure water is turned off or reduced, forward motion of the apparatus stops and the clam shell closes 18. As water pressure is decreased, the spring assembly 11, in FIG. 1 closes the clam shell opening and traps solids inside the apparatus. As a demonstration of the method of use, [19] the left-most apparatus shown in the sewer pipe of FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus traveling into the submerged solids 20 and [18] the right-most apparatus shown in the sewer pipe of FIG. 4 illustrates the retrieval of the solids using the apparatus.
(17) Referring now to FIG. 5, after the apparatus has been removed from the trunk sewer or pipe, the Y-hose assembly 22 is easily pushed to one side so that the solids can be physically dumped or vacuumed from inside the bucket using the jet/vac truck vacuum apparatus 23.
(18) Referring now to FIG. 6, the pressure switch 27 senses increased pressure in the water jet manifold 4 and signals the battery pack and controller unit 29 to open the clam shell. When pressure decreases, the battery pack and controller unit 29 closes the clam shell.
(19) Referring now to FIG. 7, the clam shell 2 is opened when the jet force 7 pushes the sliding actuator 8 forward. In this embodiment, the jet manifold assembly 4 and the sliding actuator 8 are connected and move independent of the rest of the bucket.
(20) Referring now to FIG. 8, which is an alternate embodiment to the clam shell embodiment described above, bullet nose 31 is fixed to the apparatus and solids pass around the apparatus. When the apparatus is retrieved, trapped water drains from the plurality of perforations or holes 32.
