Abstract: A hydrodemolition apparatus provides multiple degrees of freedom enabling the treatment of overhanging or vertically inclined surfaces. A nozzle wall or track is pivotable to present the nozzles substantially normal to the overhanging or inclined surface. The nozzle wall or track is positioned proximate to the inclined surface by a combination of a vertically displaceable carriageway, a laterally displaceable carriage and an elongated member that terminates in the pivotable nozzle wall or track.

Abstract: A scarifying rig may be mounted on the surface of a floating roof to move about the perimeter of the roof. The rig comprises a trolley, one or more support rails fixed on the trolley, and a horizontal arm mounted on the support rails for controlled movement along the support rails. A vertical rail is attached substantially to the end of the horizontal arm for reciprocating vertical movement (up and down) about the end of the horizontal arm. A nozzle assembly is mounted to the vertical rail.

Abstract: A scarifying rig may be mounted on the surface of a floating roof to move about the perimeter of the roof. The rig comprises a trolley, one or more support rails fixed on the trolley, and a horizontal arm mounted on the support rails for controlled movement along the support rails. A vertical rail is attached substantially to the end of the horizontal arm for reciprocating vertical movement (up and down) about the end of the horizontal arm. A nozzle assembly is mounted to the vertical rail.

Abstract: A method of removing an obstruction of coke built up in a riser of a fluid catalytic converter and of cleaning the riser involves using a suspended centralizer and narrowly angled nozzles for first hydroblasting a drainage orifice in the obstruction, adjusting guide arms and manipulating the suspended apparatus to allow enlargement of the orifice, further adjusting the guide arms and enlarging the angles of the nozzles to work the remaining coke built up.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for scarifying the interior surface of pipes, such as a sewer pipe. The apparatus comprises a chassis, a carriage coupled to the chassis to reciprocate along a longitudinal axis of the chassis, a shaft capable of indexing rotation coupled to the carriage, and arms extending radially from the indexing shaft and tipped in high-pressure nozzle assemblies. The method comprises positioning the apparatus in a pipe and alternately reciprocating the carriage and indexing the shaft so as to scarify successive longitudinal swathes of the pipe surface until the desired circumference of the pipe section is scarified. The apparatus is then repositioned in the next section of pipe and the method is repeated until the desired length of pipe is scarified. The invention may further comprise a separable propulsion unit.

Abstract: A scarifying rig may be mounted on the surface of a floating roof to move about the perimeter of the roof. The rig comprises a trolley, one or more support rails fixed on the trolley, and a horizontal arm mounted on the support rails for controlled movement along the support rails. A vertical rail is attached substantially to the end of the horizontal arm for reciprocating vertical movement (up and down) about the end of the horizontal arm. A nozzle assembly is mounted to the vertical rail.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydrodemolishing the inside surfaces of an inclined pipe, particularly suited to contiguous pipe sections with access ports between the sections. The fluid supply hose is fed to the hydrodemolition rig inside the pipe from the same side as the winch that controls the movement of the rig. The rig is moved upstream in a scarifying pass, then downstream in a cleaning pass for each section and re-staged at each access port.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydrodemolishing the inside surfaces of an inclined pipe, particularly suited to contiguous pipe sections with access ports between the sections. The fluid supply hose is fed to the hydrodemolition rig inside the pipe from the same side as the winch that controls the movement of the rig. The rig is moved upstream in a scarifying pass, then downstream in a cleaning pass for each section and re-staged at each access port.

Abstract: A hydrodemolition rig for an inclined surface comprises a frame, a carriage, and a plurality of wheel assemblies. The wheel assemblies are spaced from one another about the frame, with at least two of the wheel assemblies comprising a wheel and a hydraulic assembly for selectively adjusting the spacing between the wheel and the frame. The carriage is configured to reciprocate within the frame and to carry one or more nozzles for delivering water for hydrodemolition.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydrodemolishing the inside surfaces of an inclined pipe, particularly suited to contiguous pipe sections with access ports between the sections. The fluid supply hose is fed to the hydrodemolition rig inside the pipe from the same side as the winch that controls the movement of the rig. The rig is moved upstream in a scarifying pass, then downstream in a cleaning pass for each section and re-staged at each access port.

Abstract: A method of removing an obstruction of coke built up in a riser of a fluid catalytic converter and of cleaning the riser involves using a suspended centralizer and narrowly angled nozzles for first hydroblasting a drainage orifice in the obstruction, adjusting guide arms and manipulating the suspended apparatus to allow enlargement of the orifice, further adjusting the guide arms and enlarging the angles of the nozzles to work the remaining coke built up.

Abstract: Material lining the inside surface of a section of pipe is removed by a hydrodemolition nozzle assembly mounted on a working end of an elongated boom. The opposed end of the boom is supported outside the pipe on a movable support for inserting and retracting the boom from the inside of the pipe. The nozzles remove the liner while the working end of the boom is supported by a wheel resting on the liner that has not yet been removed and that rolls along the inside liner as the pipe is made to revolve around the boom. The nozzles are oriented to eject the liner and water downstream and away from the boom.

Abstract: A hydrodemolition rig for an inclined surface comprises a frame, a carriage, and a plurality of wheel assemblies. The wheel assemblies are spaced from one another about the frame, with at least two of the wheel assemblies comprising a wheel and a hydraulic assembly for selectively adjusting the spacing between the wheel and the frame. The carriage is configured to reciprocate within the frame and to carry one or more nozzles for delivering water for hydrodemolition.

Abstract: An apparatus for hydrodemolishing the inside surfaces of an inclined pipe, particularly suited to contiguous pipe sections with access ports between the sections. The fluid supply hose is fed to the hydrodemolition rig inside the pipe from the same side as the winch that controls the movement of the rig. The rig is moved upstream in a scarifying pass, then downstream in a cleaning pass for each section and re-staged at each access port.

Abstract: A steeply inclined surface is hydrodemolished by providing a staging platform and a rig that includes a base frame defining a planar footprint within the frame. The rig is suspended from the platform by a cable such that frame is coplanar with the surface and the incline of the surface causes the rig to lean against it. Rails are provided on the surface to restrain spurious lateral movement of the rig. The rig is positioned on the surface and nozzles mounted on a trolley within a travelling carriage on the frame travel in two dimensions to hydrodemolish the surface within the footprint. The rig is moved vertically along the rails and laterally along the platform to reposition the rig to work a new section of the surface in conjunction with other rails that are also mounted on the surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing material lining the inside surface of a cylindrical structure, the apparatus comprising: a support for supporting the structure in a horizontal orientation; an elongate horizontal boom for being inserted into the structure; a nozzle assembly connected to the boom member, the nozzle assembly comprising one or more nozzles wherein each nozzle is suitably spaced from the lining to deliver a jet of fluid under pressure to the lining; a conduit in fluid communication with the nozzle assembly suitable for delivering a flow of fluid to each nozzle under sufficient pressure to cut the lining material adjacent the nozzle; and a rotation mechanism cooperating with the support to passively enable the structure to being rotated while supported by the support or to actively impart rotation to the structure while supported by the support, wherein the rotation of the structure is about a central longitudinal axis of the structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing material lining the inside surface of a cylindrical structure. An elongate horizontal boom is inserted into a horizontally supported cylindrical structure. A high pressure nozzle assembly is connected to the boom to cut the lining material adjacent the nozzle. A rotation mechanism cooperates with the support to enable the structure to be about a central longitudinal axis of the structure.

Abstract: Material lining the inside surface of a section of pipe is removed by a hydrodemolition nozzle assembly mounted on a working end of an elongated boom. The opposed end of the boom is supported outside the pipe on a movable support for inserting and retracting the boom from the inside of the pipe. The nozzles remove the liner while the working end of the boom is supported by a wheel resting on the liner that has not yet been removed and that rolls along the inside liner as the pipe is made to revolve around the boom. The nozzles are oriented to eject the liner and water downstream and away from the boom.

Abstract: Material lining the inside surface of a section of pipe is removed by a hydrodemolition nozzle assembly mounted on a working end of an elongated boom. The opposed end of the boom is supported outside the pipe on a movable support for inserting and retracting the boom from the inside of the pipe. The nozzles remove the liner while the working end of the boom is supported by a wheel resting on the liner that has not yet been removed and that rolls along the inside liner as the pipe is made to revolve around the boom. The nozzles are oriented to eject the liner and water downstream and away from the boom.

Abstract: A shield system for a hydrodemolition apparatus has a loop whose ends are secured to opposite sides of a reciprocating nozzle carrier. The loop may be supported by a supporting structure surrounding the frame along which the nozzle carrier reciprocates. The loop overlays portions of one or more gaps through which one or more nozzles extend to work an underlying surface. The nozzles have access to the underlying surface through the gaps under the nozzle carrier, but the balance of the gaps are covered by the loop which is drawn or pushed by the nozzle carrier during reciprocation.