Inventors:
Jose O. Esparza - Houston TX
Assignee:
Shell Oil Company - Houston TX
International Classification:
B08B 104
Abstract:
Coatings are loosened for removal from various substrates by rotating a chain-like flail against the coating while maintaining the flail oriented and positioned with respect to the surface of the coating so that the next-to-last terminal link of the flail barely strikes the coating on the edge of the link, twists and then whips the terminal link flat against the coating on the side of the link. The flail is useful for remote controlled operations as underwater or in a hazardous area as high radiation environment and may be employed for cleaning any underwater surface such as conduits, ships hulls, docks, and offshore drilling or production structures. In particular, the flail works well on underwater conduits when used in combination with a wire wheel brush which removes the coating from the conduit after the coating is first loosened by the flail.