.~.~> With conservation or recovery of the cleaning agent {1}
DEFINITION
Classification: 15/3.5
(under subclass 3) Machines for cleaning the inside of tubular conduits, such machines comprising means for introducing a carrier fluid into a conduit either in addition to or in the absence of normal fluid flow in the conduit, combined with means to introduce a solid cleaning member, agent or material into the stream of fluid or the conduit whereby the cleaning member, agent or material is conveyed or pushed through the conduit by fluid pressure for mechanically cleaning the inside of the conduit.
(1) Note. Devices in which the cleaning instrumentality is propelled through the conduit by mechanical traction developed by a motor means which is actuated by a fluid not confined solely by the conduit are excluded and may be found in the appropriate implement subclass of this class. See for example, subclass 104.12.
(2) Note. In the patents in this group of subclasses the cleaning means, in the carrier fluid, is introduced at one end of the conduit and at least the fluid has an egress point at another place. Thus, the cleaning of receptacles, in which the cleaning means is introduced and removed from the mouth of the receptacle, is excluded, an example of such devices, being the bottle shotting inventions classified in subclass 95 of this class.
(3) Note. The mechanical cleaning member, agent or material may be a structure of hard material for scraping the interior of the conduit or of soft materials as sponge or rubber, for
wiping the surface to be cleaned, or it may be a soluble or insoluble comminuted or granular material, as sand, glass beads, or softer material. Patents in this subclass which utilize sand as the cleaning material to perform a disclosed cleaning (and not abrading) function are included as a specific exception to the general line with Class 451, Abrading, because the structures and modes of operation of such systems are similar to those of systems which circulate the other stated types of materials.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
95, and 96, for similar means to clean receptacles (bottles) by shotting. 104.05+, for implements, per se, for cleaning the insides of tubular work.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids,
93, for similar apparatus in which soluble solid cleaning materials are dissolved in a liquid stream and applied to work to be cleaned.
137, Fluid Handling,
238+, for similar systems disclosed and claimed as installed in fluid handling systems, and subclass 268 for fluid handling systems having means for holding solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained.
222, Dispensing,
148+, for similar systems disclosed and claimed as installed in dispensers.
451, Abrading, for a process of or apparatus for scouring. Search particularly
75+, for a process of sandblasting and subclasses 103+ for apparatus for sandblasting. Generally, a claim to engaging work by abradant material, either for scouring or for abrading, is found in Class 451. See (3) Note above. Also see section IX of the class definition of Class 451 for another statement of this line. Special note to cleaning of open ended tubular work: A claim directed to a method or apparatus which by disclosure includes removal of base material is to be found in Class 451; whereas a claim directed to similar method or apparatus, which by disclosure includes removing extraneous material only, is to be found in Class 15 if the sand or other scouring means is carried through the tubular work by a fluid stream. Note that bottle shotting is to be found in Class 15, subclasses 95+.
