Pipe cleaning spiral
The pipe cleaning spiral or drainage spiral is a tool for cleaning drainage pipes ( pipe cleaning ) without having to unscrew them. The term is misleading because it is not technically be a spiral , but a spiral- shaped flexible shaft is. Therefore, the term drain cleaning shaft is also common in everyday language.
Requirement
Theoretically, drinking water pipes could also be cleaned with the tool; however, the pollution problem does not arise with these in practice (the resulting pollution would not be acceptable in the case of drinking water); similar to pipelines in process engineering . Drinking water pipes are therefore primarily cleaned by flushing with high pressure.
Wastewater, on the other hand, is polluted with grease , faeces and also with waste from sinks or toilets; Urine also leads to deposits through urine stones that can obstruct the flow. Such obstacles typically form in pipe bends. There they cannot be reached without special tools, especially when the pipes are in a wall.
properties
The spiral is either wound open at the end and thus an independent tool, or it brings the actual tool (drill, milling cutter or similar) that is attached to the tip of the spiral to the place of use. Drain cleaning spirals have different coupling systems for use with separate tools. Tools for pipe cleaning that can be separated from the spiral, also called spiral tools, have the advantage that a suitable tool can be used depending on the existing pipe blockage.
Due to the design of the spiral, it can transfer pressure and rotation, but no transverse forces. The spiral follows the course of the pipe up to the obstacle in the pipe.
size
Spirals are available in different dimensions: spirals for the do-it-yourselfer often have a diameter of 6 mm or 9 mm, for larger pipes such as rain gutters also 10 mm, 12 mm or 15 mm. Professional pipe cleaning spirals usually have a diameter of 16 mm, 22 mm or 32 mm. In addition, there are smaller professional spirals with 6.4 mm, 8 mm or 10 mm, which are used depending on the pipe dimensions and bends. The spirals are 2 to 10 m long and can be extended to almost any length using couplings. Longer spirals are also common for so-called drum machines, i.e. drain cleaning machines with magazines.
Operation and tools
Simple spirals up to 10 m are operated manually (with a knob or a hand crank). Professional versions are designed for electric drives. This is done using pipe cleaning machines, but in some cases also by connecting a drill. With these professional spirals, the spiral tools can be changed: drills for stubborn, hard blockages, milling cutters for ingrown roots and chain knobs for incrustations on the pipe walls. There is also a large number of other special tools.
The work is achieved - at least when drilling - through a combination of rotation, pressure and hammering. The pressure is almost always carried out manually, as the (mechanical) feedback from the spiral allows conclusions to be drawn about the type of blockage and the degree of removal. Devices with automatic feed of the spiral are the exception.
Depending on the blockage, it may be necessary to use a pipe inspection camera ( sewer camera ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ DVGW: cleaning and disinfection of drinking water installations. November 1, 2013, accessed May 8, 2018 .
- ↑ ROKA Store GmbH: Coupling systems for pipe cleaning spirals. Retrieved May 8, 2018 .