tapping pipe used for evacuation of aluminium from a reduction cell of an aluminium smelter by drilling wherein the drill rod is flexible whereby it may drill obstructing material from said tapping pipe through a bend in the tapping pipe application_number US 59227900 A description the apparatus 10 shown in fig1 is formed of two sub assemblies a drill rig assembly 12 and a tapping pipe cradle assembly 14 assembly 14 comprises a framework 16 which supports a platform 18 at a location somewhat above ground level platform 18 has support elements 20 22 24 for supporting the tapping pipe 26 which is to be cleaned as shown the tapping pipe 26 is of curved configuration and for cleaning it is supported from beneath by two of the elements elements 22 and 24 which may for example be in the form of u201c v u201d blocks with the element 20 being upwardly extending from the platform 18 but having a downwardly depending and upwardly open hooked upper end 20 a which hooks over a forward end of the pipe 26 after positioning in this fashion hydraulic rams 28 30 35 mounted on the frame 16 are actuated to press against the pipe.