Shock waves for pipe cleaning

Abstract

A pipe cleaning apparatus includes a shock wave generating device of a shock wave module and a traction module with rollers connected to the shock wave module. The modules are connected by a joint permitting maneuverability around pipe bends.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cleaning an obstacle in a pipe comprising:
 at least one shock wave module including a shock wave generating device;   at least one traction module including rollers connected to a motor; and   a joint maneuverable around pipe bends coupling said at least one shock wave module to the traction module.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rollers are spring-loaded. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one turbine module generating energy from fluid flow in a pipe and coupled to provide energy to at least one of the traction module and the shock wave module. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of shock wave modules each including at least one shock wave generator coupled to the at least one traction module. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of traction modules each including rollers coupled to the plurality of shock wave modules. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of shock wave modules including a first shock wave module at least generating frontal shock waves and a second shock wave module at least generating lateral shock waves. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one shock wave module generates frontal and lateral shock waves. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one shock wave module generates frontal and lateral shock waves. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shock wave modules each including at least one shock wave generator coupled to the at least one traction module. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of traction modules each including rollers coupled to the plurality of shock wave modules. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one turbine module generating energy from fluid flow in a pipe and coupled to provide energy to one or more of the traction modules and the shock wave modules. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical cleaning module coupled to the at least one traction module and at least one shock wave module. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a mechanical cleaning module coupled to the at least one traction module and at least one shock wave module. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one turbine module generating energy from fluid flow in a pipe and coupled to provide energy to at least one of the traction module and the shock wave module. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a mechanical cleaning module coupled to the at least one fraction module and at least one shock wave module. 
     
     
         16 . A method for cleaning an obstacle in a pipe comprising maneuvering at least one shock wave generating device within a pipe to a site of an obstacle and applying frontal and lateral shock waves to the obstacle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising maneuvering the at least one shock wave generating device around one or more pipe bends in the pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the obstacle includes at least one of scale, asphaltene, paraffin deposit, biofilm formation and sludge. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the obstacle includes at least one of scale, asphaltene, paraffin deposit, biofilm formation and sludge. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the shock wave generating device includes spring-loaded rollers.