Anti-fouling apparatus for cleaning deposits in pipes and pipe joints

Abstract

A system for cleaning pipes and pipe joints where the interior surface of the pipe becomes coated with material being processed comprising a cylindrical cleaning body having opposing first and second ends, said cylindrical body having an annular shape with interior and exterior walls so that the outer wall contacts the interior surface of a pipe and wherein ends of the cleaning body have means for removing material deposited on the interior surface, a means for moving the apparatus along the length of said pipe, a first and second means for cleaning said cleaning body having passages that allow fluid to pass through, wherein said first and second cleaning means mates with said first and second ends of said cleaning body, where said cleaning body is moved into contact with said cleaning means to dislodge accumulated deposits from the cleaning body and simultaneously dislodging accumulated deposits from said cleaning means.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cleaning a pipe or joint comprising:
 a moveable wiping component having opposing first and second ends,   the wiping component having an exterior wall that contacts the interior surface of the pipe and wherein the first and second ends of the wiping component each have at least one edge,   a external sliding component, wherein an internal wall of the external sliding component contacts an external surface of the pipe or joint,   an upper pipe flange having passages that allow fluid to pass through,   a lower pipe flange having passages that allow fluid to pass through,   wherein the upper pipe flange mates with the first end of the wiping component and thereby dislodges accumulated deposits from the wiping component and from the upper pipe flange,   wherein the lower pipe flange mates with the second end of the wiping component and thereby dislodges accumulated deposits from the wiping component and from the lower pipe flange.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external sliding component comprises one or more magnets. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wiping component functions while fluid flows through the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external sliding component further comprises an indexing pin protruding from the inside of the external sliding component. 
     
     
         5 . A cleaning pig for cleaning a pipe or joint comprising:
 a moveable wiping component having opposing first and second ends, and   an external sliding component,   wherein the wiping component has an interior wall and an exterior wall so that the exterior wall can contact the interior surface of the pipe or joint,   wherein the wiping component has an opening through the interior thereof to allow for the passage of fluids therethrough, and   wherein ends of the wiping component have at least one edge.   
     
     
         6 . The cleaning pig of  claim 5  wherein the at least one edge of the wiping component is a knife edge. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning pig of  claim 5  wherein the ends of the cleaning body have inner and outer edges and a V-shaped groove between the inner and outer edges. 
     
     
         8 . A self-cleaning pipe and pipe joint system comprising:
 a pipe or pipe joint,   a wiping component having opposing first and second ends,   the wiping component having an interior wall and an exterior wall so that the exterior wall contacts the interior surface of a pipe and wherein ends of the wiping component have at least one edge,   an external sliding component external to the pipe or pipe joint,   an upper pipe flange attached to a first end of the pipe or pipe joint,   a lower pipe flange attached to a second end of the pipe or pipe joint,   wherein the upper and lower pipe flanges each have passages that allow fluid to pass through,   wherein the upper pipe flange mates with the first end of the wiping component and thereby dislodges accumulated deposits from the wiping component and from the upper pipe flange, and   wherein the lower pipe flange mates with the second end of the wiping component and thereby dislodges accumulated deposits from the wiping component and from the lower pipe flange.   
     
     
         9 . A cleaning pig for cleaning a pipe or pipe joint comprising:
 a wiping component having opposing first and second ends,   an upper and lower pipe flange,   wherein upper pipe flange is capable of mating with the first end of the wiping component thereby dislodging any accumulated deposits from the wiping component, and   wherein the lower pipe flange is capable of mating with the second end of the wiping component thereby dislodging any accumulated deposits from the wiping component   wherein the wiping component has an interior wall and an exterior wall so that the exterior wall can contact an interior surface of the pipe or joint,   wherein the wiping component has an opening through the interior thereof to allow for the passage of fluids therethrough, and   
       wherein the ends of the wiping component have at least one edge.