Method and apparatus for navigating longitudinal bores

Abstract

An apparatus for accessing longitudinal bores which includes: a length of resilient tube configured to be extendible along at least a portion of its length; wherein one end of the resilient tube includes a utility head thereon; and wherein the other end of the tube is configured to directly or indirectly connect to, and receive a force from, a physical energy source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for navigating a pipe having one or more bends and/or accessing and clearing a blockage in a pipe, the apparatus comprising: a length of resilient tube comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the resilient tube comprises a utility head comprising at least one aperture therein; a supporting body configured to support at least a portion of the length of the resilient tube and comprising: a handle; an inlet port; an outlet port; and a valve located between the inlet port and the outlet port; wherein the outlet port is connected to the second end of the resilient tube and the inlet port is connectable to a pressurized fluid supply; wherein the supporting body also comprises a control device configured to open the valve to allow pressurized fluid from the fluid supply to flow through the resilient tube and out the aperture in the utility head, and to close the valve to prevent fluid flow to the utility head; and wherein at least a portion of the resilient tube is configured to automatically extend in length under force of the pressurized fluid as the pressurized fluid flows through the resilient tube, and to return to a substantially non-extended, resting state when the pressurized fluid is prevented from flowing through the resilient tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting body comprises a tube supporting region within which a portion of the resilient tube is held and along which the resilient tube may be moved to allow the resilient tube to be fed out from the supporting body and to be retrieved respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendible length of the resilient tube comprises a corrugated elastomeric tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the utility head is configured to produce a fluid jet when pressurized fluid is supplied to the utility head.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pressurized fluid to be supplied to the utility head is water.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a trigger that is configured to open and close the valve by squeezing and releasing the trigger.

7. A method of accessing and clearing a blockage in a pipe, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing the apparatus of claim 1 and feeding the first end of the resilient tube into a pipe until the utility head encounters the blockage; b) maintaining the supported portion of the resilient tube in position with respect to the supporting body; and c) activating the control device to allow pressurized fluid to flow through the at least one aperture in the utility head as a fluid jet and to cause at least a portion of the resilient tube to extend in length under force of the pressurized fluid and butt against the blockage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressurized fluid flowing through the resilient tube is of a sufficient pressure to cause the resilient tube to become substantially rigid so that the utility head can be driven into a blockage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pressurized fluid is provided at a sufficient pressure to cause the utility head to butt against the blockage in a ramming motion.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressurized fluid flowing through the resilient tube is of a sufficient pressure to create a fluid jet as the fluid exits the at least one aperture of the utility head.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressurized fluid supplied to the utility head is water.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising deactivating the control device to prevent fluid flow to the utility head and to cause the extended portion of the resilient tube to retract to a substantially non-extended, resting state.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising repeating the activation and deactivation of the control device to cause the utility head to repeatedly butt against the blockage as the resilient tube extends and substantially retracts until the blockage is cleared.

14. A method for navigating a pipe having one or more bends, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing the apparatus of claim 1 and feeding the first end of the resilient tube into a pipe such that a portion of the resilient tube extends past a bend in the pipe; b) maintaining the supported portion of the resilient tube in position with respect to the supporting body; c) activating the control device to allow pressurized fluid to flow through the at least one aperture in the utility head as a fluid jet and to cause at least the portion of the resilient tube that extends past the bend to extend in length under force of the pressurized fluid; and d) deactivating the control device to prevent fluid flow to the utility head and to cause the extended portion of the resilient tube to retract to a substantially non-extended, resting state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pressurized fluid flowing through the resilient tube is of a sufficient pressure to create a fluid jet as the fluid exits the at least one aperture of the utility head.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the pressurized fluid supplied to the utility head is water.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising repeating the activation and deactivation of the control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a profile view of a system for navigating pipes in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the system shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4a shows a pipeline including a blockage;

(6) FIG. 4b shows the pipeline of FIG. 4 with the system of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 4c shows the pipeline of FIG. 4 with the system of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 5a shows a detail view of a section of the pipeline and system shown in FIG. 4b;

(9) FIG. 5b shows a detail view of a section of the pipeline and system shown in FIG. 4b;

(10) FIG. 6a shows a length of non-pressurized corrugated resilient tube in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(11) FIG. 6b shows the length of corrugated resilient tube shown in FIG. 6a under pressure.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(12) With respect to FIGS. 1-3 there is shown an apparatus for accessing longitudinal bores (not shown) as generally indicated by arrow 1. The system 1 includes a length of blow molded corrugated resilient tube 13. For clarity the corrugated resilient tube 13 is not shown in full length, but should be understood to loop at the left end of FIG. 1. The resilient tube 13 is configured to attach at one end to a physical energy source in the form of a pressurized water supply (not shown) by way of hose fitting 3. The other end of resilient tube 13 includes a utility head 12 in the form of a capped hose end with an aperture 12a there through. Aperture 12a allows the corrugated resilient tube to depressurise to an un-stretched rest state when no pressure is applied or to emit a forward direct jet of fluid when pressurised.

(13) The apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 is attached to conveyance device 4 at outlet port 7.

(14) Conveyance device 4 includes a handle portion 5 having a trigger 6. The trigger 6 activates valve assembly 9, shown in FIG. 3. In use, the valve assembly 9 allows force in the form of a pressurized fluid from the water supply to flow from the conveyance device 4 inlet port 10 to outlet port 7 and therefore into resilient tube 13.

(15) Whilst not shown in the Figures, it will be appreciated that inlet port 10 is configured for attachment to one end of a hose (not shown) wherein the other end of the hose is connected to a pressurised fluid generated by a physical energy source (not shown).

(16) The handle portion 5 is configured to allow a person's hand (not shown) to simultaneously grip both the handle 5 and, as generally indicated by arrow 11, a portion of the resilient tube 13. It will be appreciated that the length of resilient tube 13 that can be fed out and retrieved is dictated by the length of corrugated resilient tube 13 available. In some embodiments (not shown) a substantially non-extensible hose is connected between the corrugated resilient tube 13 and the outlet port 7 of the conveyance device 4.

(17) The use of the apparatus for accessing a longitudinal bore is now described by way of example. In this regard a pipeline 100 is shown in FIGS. 4a-4c. Access to the pipeline 100 is available at first end 102. The pipeline 100 includes a blockage 101 which is separated from access point 100 by a number of corners 103a, 103b, 103c and 103d. Traditional means of pushing a flexible material such as a hose down the pipe may, with persistence, be able to navigate bends 103a and 103b due to their large radii. However bends 103c and 103d are unlikely to be easily navigated by the hose. The reason for this is evident in FIGS. 4b and 5a, which shows the utility head 12 and a portion of the corrugated resilient tube 13 inside the pipeline 100. In FIGS. 4b and 5a the corrugated resilient tube 13 is in its non pressurized un-stretched state. It will be appreciated that further application of longitudinal force A will result in the hose maintaining its straight trajectory and hitting the pipe wall at point 104. Because the corrugated resilient tube 13, or a regular hose for that matter, requires a degree of resiliency in order to be pushed into the pipeline 100 it is likely to become stuck as the relatively short portion that extends across the corner is not flexible enough to bend around the corner without a substantial force being applied. This issue is further exacerbated by the previous corners 103a, 103b and 103c each of which reduce the force that can be applied to push the corrugated resilient tube 13 utility head 12 around corner 103d. This problem is not solved by using a more flexible resilient tube as instead of sliding along the pipeline a highly flexible resilient tube would simply concertina or bunch up on itself.

(18) FIG. 5b shows the corrugated resilient tube 13 of FIG. 5a once a pressurised fluid source is applied to the resilient tube 13. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 the pressurised fluid source is applied by way of pulling trigger 6. Prior to pulling trigger 6 the corrugated resilient tube 13 is manually fed into the pipe system 100 until an obstruction is felt, the pipe is then held in place at the pipe entry 102 by the operator (not shown). As the corrugated resilient tube 13 extends under pressure it tends to jam itself in the pipeline 100, particularly at any corners 103a, 103b, 103c. Because the resilient tube 13 is held in place at the pipe entry 102 by the operator, the end 12 receives a large proportion of the pressure induced extension force. The extension force acts to drive at least the utility head 12 and a portion of the corrugated resilient tube 13 around the corner 103d. Further feeding force by the operator as the pressurised fluid source is disconnected results in the corrugated resilient tube being able to be fed around the corner 103d. As the pressurised fluid source is disconnected fluid pressure is lost through an aperture 12a in the end of the utility head 12 until the resilient tube 13 internal pressure reaches equilibrium with the pipe 100 pressure.

(19) FIG. 4c shows the pipeline 100 with a resilient tube length of resilient tube 2 inserted to the point whereby the blockage 101 has been reached by the utility head 12. If simply pushing more of the resilient tube 2 into the pipeline 100 fails to dislodge the blockage 101, the user can connect the pressurised fluid (not shown) to the resilient tube 13 by pulling trigger 6. This application of pressure results in the utility head 12 extending forward and butting against the blockage 101. At the same time a jet of water sprays from aperture 12a in the end of the utility head 12. This jet of water assists in breaking up and freeing the blockage.

(20) By pulling the trigger on and off, the utility head 12 effectively batters the blockage until it becomes dislodged. In some systems an electronic controller may be used which electronically controls connection of the pressurised fluid by way of a solenoid valve. Such embodiments will provide a number of settings, such as extend, retract and pulse. In the pulse mode the resilient tube 13 repeatedly lengthens and relaxes in a pulsing or vibrating motion.

(21) FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate the elongation and retraction of a section of corrugated resilient tube 13 upon the application and removal of internal fluid pressure. In FIG. 6a the length of corrugated resilient tube 13 has an equal internal and external fluid pressure and the corrugated resilient tube 13 takes its natural unstretched form having length A. In FIG. 6b the length of corrugated resilient tube 13 has an internal pressure substantially higher than the external pressure, the higher internal pressure causes the corrugated resilient tube 13 to stretch and elongate to length A′. At the same time the internal fluid pressure forces jets of fluid (not shown) out of apertures 12a. The jets of fluid aid in clearing blockages and also allow the internal corrugated resilient tube 13 pressure to return to equilibrium once the pressurized fluid source is disconnected. Once the internal fluid pressure has fallen to below the pressure required to elongate the corrugated tube, the corrugated resilient tube returns to its natural unstretched form having length A.

(22) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.