Patent Application
20110232776
The present invention relates to cleaning devices and more particularly to a cleaning device for cleaning a valve stack.
At the present time, many commercial valve stacks, of the kind commonly used by utilities companies, site contractors, golf courses. The valve stacks are located below the street-level and/or ground-level have not been equipped with devices which efficiently remove contaminants, Rainwater and other types of liquids which may carry waste such as dirt, stones, grass, leaves, insects, plants, rocks, hypodermic needles and other man-made debris, and man-made products from the surface to the interior of the commercial stack where a valve may be located. The valve may be used to control the flow of a fluid such as water, gas, sewer or other types of fluids. This valve stack tends to attract these contaminants as a result of being a form of obstruction within the commercial stack. After some time, a large amount of debris may accumulate around the valve and nut, and at some time, it may become necessary for a user to service or operate the valve. The debris may inhibit this activity or may prevent the user from reaching or operating the valve. The commercial valve stack which may be a cover/lid may be difficult to access because of the limited diameter of the commercial valve stack. The valve nut may be out of arms reach which may cause additional problems. Cleaning the commercial stack may require significant amounts of manpower and time. This of course represents a financial hardship on the government agency that may be charged with maintaining or repairing the commercial valve stack.
A method for cleaning a stack may include the steps of opening a cover of the stack, placing a cleaning tool within the stack to engage the debris within the stack, removing the debris above a valve with the cleaning tool and removing the cleaning tool from the stack.
The cleaning tool may include a first cleaning blade, and the cleaning tool may include a second cleaning blade.
The first cleaning blade may be a spiral discontinuous blade and a second cleaning blade may be a spiral discontinuous blade.
The first cleaning blade may include a first radial cutting edge, and the second cleaning blade may include a second radial cutting edge.
The first cutting blade may include a first axial cutting edge, and the second cutting blade may include a second axial cutting edge.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
The second cleaning blade 117 may include a second axial cutting edge 111 which may be formed on the leading edge of the second cleaning blade 117 and may include a second radial cutting edge 109 which may be formed on the top outer surface of the second radial cutting edge 109.
The first cleaning blade 119 and a second cleaning blade 117 may be connected to the central shaft 113 which may be connected to the handle 115 which may be substantially traverse to the central shaft 113.
In operation, the user rotates the handle 115 which may rotate the central shaft 113 which rotates the first cutting blade 119 and the second cutting blade 117. The first and second cutting blade 111, 113 cut the debris by the rotation of the first and second radial cutting edge 109, 107 and the first axial cutting edge and the second axial cutting edge 105, 111. Although, two blades are illustrated, the present invention may include three or more blades.
A nut may be placed on the top of the tool 115 so that the operation may be performed by a drill socket or hand ratchet.
The cleaning device 100 may be formed from metal, plastic or other suitable material.
Varying the length of the central shaft 113 is advantageous to accommodate the vertical stack 205 of different depths. The couplings to connect the detachably connected sections 113a, 113b may be a securing stainless pin or other device.
The present invention can be used for gas valves or gas workers, water valves for city workers, stacks under construction for construction workers such as workers building docks.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
The present invention claims priority under 35 USC section 119 and based upon a provisional application filed on Jul. 31, 2009 with a Ser. No. 61/273,116
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61273116 | Jul 2009 | US |
