Unpredictable hydraulic equipment faults such as pressure drift, stuck valve spools and abnormal overheating often originate from invisible contaminants clinging to the inner walls of pipelines. During tube fabrication, new machine assembly and major overhauls, welding slag, mill scale, accumulated sludge and rust debris circulate with hydraulic fluid. These hard particles continuously wear pumps, seals and control valves, triggering frequent breakdowns and costly production downtime.

Traditional cleaning methods including acid pickling, high-pressure water jetting and oil circulation flushing carry obvious limitations. They struggle to clean complex bent sections, may corrode pipe substrates, leave residual moisture, create hazardous waste and require long working cycles. The AM‑1 FKIT pneumatic cleaning kit by APS tube pneumatic cleaning adopts compressed-air driven dry foam pigging, offering a versatile all‑in‑one solution for pipe pre-treatment, on-site maintenance and pre-assembly cleaning of hydraulic tubing, JIC and BSP threaded connections.

AM‑1 FKIT Complete Packing List

All accessories are neatly organized in a portable carrying case and ready for immediate field deployment:

• AM‑1 gun handle: 1 pc
• Foam pig retainer: 1 pc
• 50 mm gun head: 1 pc
• Quick conversion adapter: 1 pc
• Total 31 nozzles, covering bore sizes from 5 mm to 50 mm
  • White Hose Nozzles (10 pcs): HN6, HN8, HN10, HN13, HN16, HN19, HN25, HN32, HN38, HN50 (one each)
  • Green Tube / JIC Nozzles (14 pcs): TN5, JN6, TN6, TN8, JN10, TN10, JN/TN13, JN/TN16, JN19/TN19, JN25/TN22, JN32/TN25, TN32, JN/TN38, JN/TN50 (one each)
  • Blue BSP Nozzles (7 pcs): BN006, BN010, BN013, BN016, BN019, BN025, BN032 (one each)
• User manual: 1 copy, including foam pig selection chart

With three colour-coded nozzle families, this kit supports hydraulic hoses, straight tubing, JIC flare fittings and BSP threaded ports. Quick-change nozzle design lets operators switch formats rapidly on site, ideal for pipe workshops, hydraulic skid assembly, mobile service and mixed-spec hydraulic system retrofits.

Working Principle

Filtered compressed air serves as the power source. Select the matching nozzle and foam pig according to the pipe inner diameter and fitting type, then load the foam pig through the gun assembly into the pipeline inlet. The foam pig is manufactured with an outer diameter slightly larger than the pipe bore. Once pushed forward, it compresses tightly against the inner wall and rotates, mechanically scraping away oil sludge, rust and welding residues.

Its flexible construction enables smooth passage through 90° elbows, U-coils, tees, reducers and short threaded connection segments. The pig exits at the far end for easy recovery. The whole cleaning process remains fully dry; no water or chemical detergents are required. Operators can assess pipe cleanliness instantly by inspecting contaminants trapped on the retrieved foam pig.

Key Advantages

✅ Extensive multi-standard nozzle coverage Thirty-one colour-coded nozzles span 5–50 mm and cover three common connection standards: hydraulic hose, JIC and BSP. One kit handles most mixed-spec hydraulic circuits, eliminating the need to purchase separate tool sets for different thread and tube styles. Fast nozzle swapping boosts productivity during batch cleaning jobs.

✅ Dry physical cleaning protects pipes and fittings No acidic or corrosive chemicals are used, and no residual water stays inside the line after cleaning. It safely cleans precision cold-drawn steel tubes, stainless steel lines, rubber hydraulic hoses, aluminum tubing and machined JIC / BSP fitting ports without scratching thin walls or damaging sealing surfaces. No post-wash drying is required, avoiding hydraulic oil emulsification and secondary corrosion, and supporting compliance with strict NAS cleanliness standards.

✅ Flexible foam pigs navigate complex pipe layouts Unlike water flushing or oil loop flushing, which leave residues hidden inside bends and near fitting junctions, foam pigs follow the pipe path and reach hard-to-access zones. Built-up slag and sludge at elbows, coils and threaded transition points are stripped out, cutting solid particle contamination at the source of the hydraulic circuit.

✅ Portable kit for single-person field operation The complete set is compact and easy to transport. The lightweight AM‑1 gun works with standard industrial air compressors and does not rely on fixed workshop infrastructure. It fits pipe prefabrication workshops, TBM and mining machinery service, farm equipment repair, hydraulic station upgrades and marine hydraulic maintenance, helping reduce equipment downtime.

✅ Tiered foam pig options for different contamination levels Foam pigs are available in standard cleaning, friction-enhanced and abrasive grit grades, matching light oil films, thick sludge and heavy rust respectively. Undamaged foam pigs can be recovered and reused repeatedly, lowering long-term consumable expenditure compared with chemical cleaning and continuous oil flushing.

✅ Low environmental impact Only solid debris is removed during pigging. There is no wastewater or spent acid to dispose of, removing the burden of hazardous waste handling and helping factories meet environmental regulations.

Standard Operating Procedure for Hydraulic Pipe Cleaning

⚠️ Safety reminder: Wear safety goggles at all times. Never aim the pipe outlet toward personnel. Stabilize the compressor working pressure and secure both pipe ends firmly to prevent dangerous hose whipping.

1. Disassemble and isolate pipelines Detach the target pipework and disconnect sensitive components including cylinders, manifolds and valve blocks to create an unobstructed through path. Deburr tube ends and fitting edges to prevent sharp cuts that may tear foam pigs.
2. Select compatible nozzle and foam pig Identify the pipe type: hose, straight tube, JIC or BSP thread, then choose the corresponding colour-coded nozzle. Use abrasive grit pigs for heavy rust and welding slag; standard foam pigs are recommended for routine degreasing.
3. Assemble the cleaning gun Fit the selected nozzle onto the AM‑1 gun handle, attach the quick conversion adapter, connect the air supply hose, install the foam pig retainer and load the foam pig.
4. Perform repeated pigging passes Apply steady compressed air to propel the foam pig and capture it at the discharge end. For heavily contaminated lines, run multiple passes until the recovered foam pig shows no obvious dirt.
5. Verify cleanliness and seal ports After cleaning, blow loose particles out with compressed air and cap all openings immediately to prevent dust ingress before assembly. Carry out particle count testing if formal cleanliness certification is required.
6. Clean and store the kit Wipe slag and oil residue from the gun, nozzles and adapter. Return all components to the carrying case for dry storage.

Typical Application Scenarios

Pre-fabrication cleaning of hydraulic steel tubes and high-pressure hoses; overhaul maintenance for construction machinery, tunnel boring machines, mining equipment and agricultural machinery; cleaning of JIC and BSP fitting assemblies; hydraulic station, machine tool and marine hydraulic system retrofits; heat exchange tubing and small-bore lubrication line servicing.

Comparison with Traditional Cleaning Methods

• Acid pickling: Risks corrosion to tube walls and sealing threads, residual acid contaminates hydraulic fluid, and hazardous waste disposal adds high overhead. The APS dry foam pigging system is non-corrosive and chemical-free.
• High-pressure water jetting: Trapped moisture is difficult to fully remove, often causing rust and oil emulsification inside hydraulic systems. Dry pigging removes the drying process entirely.
• Oil circulation flushing: Consumes large volumes of costly hydraulic oil and performs poorly around bends and threaded transitions. Foam pigging delivers predictable cleaning results with controlled consumable costs.

Important Safety Guidelines

1. Never point the gun or pipe outlet at people. Install suitable shielding at the discharge side.
2. Do not exceed the rated working pressure specified in the user manual; overpressure operation is prohibited.
3. Do not clean cracked, dented or structurally damaged pipes to avoid burst hazards.
4. Collect dirty used foam pigs centrally to avoid cross-contamination across the workshop.
5. Clean and protect nozzles and gun parts from rust; store the whole kit in a dry location when not in use.

Reliable hydraulic performance begins with clean pipe interiors and uncontaminated fitting ports. The comprehensive AM‑1 FKIT kit from APS tube pneumatic cleaning delivers a flexible, portable dry foam pigging solution for mixed-standard hydraulic lines ranging from 5 mm to 50 mm. It suppresses contamination at its source, lowers hydraulic failure rates and extends the service life of hydraulic equipment.