A pipline bulk residue remover and method for efficiently removing such residue. The apparatus includes a cable passing through the length of a pipeline potentially thousands of feet in length and connected to a device at each end to enable the cable to be moved in opposite linear directions together with a unique pipe cleaning device consisting of a central tubular structure provided with a plurality of radially extending pivotal plates in staggered sets with the plates being freely swingable in one direction and prevented from free swinging in the other direction so that the periphery of the plates can be located adjacent the internal periphery of the pipline for removing residue therefrom in one direction of movement and passing freely through the pipeline in the other direction of movement. The method involves the insertion of the cable through the pipeline, entry of the cleaning device and reciprocation of the cleaning device in short increments determined by the quantity of residue in the pipeline and the amount of tension measured on the cable so that the residue can be incremently removed with maximum efficiency through an exit point in order to avoid sticking of the pipe cleaning device in the pipeline and to reduce the power requirements and size requirements of the apparatus.
