Cable cleaning units

Abstract

A cable cleaning unit comprising a chamber adapted to surround a section of the cable to be cleaned, a plurality of outlets located within the chamber through which jets of high pressure fluid are directed onto the surface of the cable and mechanism for withdrawing fluid from the chamber.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cable cleaning unit comprising a chamber adapted to surround a section of the cable to be cleaned, a plurality of outlets located within the chamber through which jets of high pressure fluid are directed onto the surface of the cable, said outlets being arranged so that said jets strike the surface of the cable at an angle inclined to the longitudinal axis of the cable being cleaned and are deflected from the surface of the cable in the direction of travel of the cable cleaning unit, the portion of the chamber receiving the deflected jets being arcuate so as to direct the fluid with dirt and other matter entrained therein away from the surface of the cable, and means for withdrawing fluid from the chamber. 
     
     
       2. A cable cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein a manifold having at least one outlet, said arcuate portion of the chamber is provided with a plurality of openings connected to said manifold and said chamber has at least one second outlet remote from said arcuate portion. 
     
     
       3. A cable cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein a tongue or lip projects into said chamber to prevent used fluid with entrained solid matter from falling back onto and interfering with the action of said jets. 
     
     
       4. A cable cleaning unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein seals are provided at each end of said body. 
     
     
       5. A cable cleaning unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rear face of said seals at the forward end of said body are connected to passages which connect to said manifold and means are provided for compressing said seals.