Pipe clearing cables and apparatus
Cables and associated apparatus for clearing obstructions in pipes or other cavities are disclosed. In one implementation a device for clearing obstructions includes an elongate resilient central core member, an elongate coil spring surrounding the core member; and an elongate spacer positioned between the central core member and the coil spring.
1. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member;
an elongate coil spring surrounding the core member;
an elongate spacer disposed between the central core member and the coil spring; and
an elongate non-metallic jacket disposed between the elongate resilient central core and the elongate spacer.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video camera head coupled to the device at a distal end thereof, wherein the video camera head is communicatively coupled to a video display unit to display the interior of a pipe when the video camera head is pushed into the pipe.
3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a video camera head coupled to the device at a distal end thereof, wherein the video camera head is communicatively coupled to a video display unit configured to display interior of a pipe when the video camera head is pushed down into the pipe.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate spacer includes a plurality of helical grooves configured to receive the coil spring and maintain the coil spring in a predetermined pitch such that the adjacent coils of the coil spring are spaced apart at a predetermined distance.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein each of the helical grooves has a predetermined width substantially larger than a thickness of the coil spring to limit a degree of lateral bending of the device.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate resilient central core member is made of a composite material including fibers held together with a binder.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate resilient central core member is made of a glass reinforced plastic material.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an elongate helical flat wire positioned between the elongate non-metallic jacket and the elongate spacer and is wound in a direction opposite to a direction of coils of the coil spring.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises a steel braid tightly woven over the elongate helical flat wire to strengthen the device relative to counter-torque forces.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein exterior portion of the coil spring is engaged to a truck-nut drive mechanism operable to force the device down into a pipe, or to withdraw the device from the pipe.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate resilient central core member comprises a plurality of centrally positioned insulated conductors to transmit power and data.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate spacer comprises one or more of a polyethylene material, an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene material, a polypropylene material, and a Nylon material.
13. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member;
an elongate coil spring surrounding the core member; and
an elongate spacer disposed between the central core member and the coil spring; and
an elongate non-metallic jacket disposed between the elongate resilient central core and the elongate spacer;
wherein the elongate non-metallic jacket is made of a plastic material.
14. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member comprising a non-metallic material;
an elongate steel coil spring surrounding the central core member;
an elongate spacer disposed between the core member and the coil spring;
a cutting head; and
a camera head, each coupled to the device at a distal end thereof, wherein the camera head is mounted with radial fins that engages an inner wall of a pipe in such an arrangement that the camera head is non-rotatable with the device and the cutting head is rotatable by the device to clear obstructions in the pipe.
15. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member comprising a non-metallic material;
an elongate steel coil spring surrounding the central core member; and
an elongate spacer disposed between the core member and the coil spring;
wherein the elongate resilient central core member comprises a plurality of spaced apart non-insulated conductors embedded in an exterior portion thereof.
16. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member comprising a non-metallic material;
an elongate steel coil spring surrounding the central core member; and
an elongate spacer disposed between the core member and the coil spring;
wherein the elongate resilient central core member has a round cross-section, and include a plurality of conductors overlapping on an exterior of the round elongate resilient central core member with a protective jacket surrounding the conductors and core member.
17. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member comprising a non-metallic material;
an elongate steel coil spring surrounding the central core member; and
an elongate spacer disposed between the core member and the coil spring;
wherein the elongate spacer includes one or more circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending voids formed in the elongate spacer, to transmit a high pressure fluid.
18. A device for clearing pipe obstructions, comprising:
an elongate resilient central core member comprising a non-metallic material;
an elongate steel coil spring surrounding the central core member;
an elongate spacer disposed between the core member and the coil spring; and
an elongate non-metallic jacket disposed between the elongate resilient central core and the elongate spacer, and pair of elongate helical flat wire including a first helical wire wound in a first direction and a second helical wire wound in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.