Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
  • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
  • B08B9/093—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays
  • B08B9/0936—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by the force of jets or sprays using rotating jets

Definitions

• the invention relates to the technical field of cleaning, in particular of surfaces and more particularly of surfaces of tanks and other containers, but also of their accessories, or of flat parts.
• Tubular design equipment such as pipes, pumps, plate or tubular exchangers can be cleaned without dismantling: this cleaning in place is obtained by creating by the simple circulation of the cleaning water the most intense turbulence possible in contact with the walls to clean. There is no mechanical action other than that generated by the turbulences, but the water is likely to contain adjuvants, facilitating the detachment, the dissolution and the entrainment of the stains.
• adjuvants can consist of soda, detergent products, wetting products, etc.
• Installations producing liquid or pasty phases are generally composed of this tubular equipment, and also of closed containers, such as mixing or storage tanks.
• Turbulence is relatively easy to obtain in tubular equipment (pipes, pumps, exchangers, ...) when the flow is sufficient.
• turbulence is obtained by the projection of a continuous supply of water at high flow rate by means of perforated balls or nozzles, creating a runoff which causes the stains, but this turbulence is weaker, because attenuated by the runoff itself, and by the often large distance between the nozzles and the wall.
• This form of cleaning brings considerable time savings in the operation of production facilities for liquid or pasty phases, makes it possible to obtain a satisfactory state of cleanliness for tubular equipment, and can be easily automated.
• the nozzle or ball systems assume that the enclosures are closed, of totally concave shape so that all the surfaces to be cleaned are reached from a central point where the balls or nozzles will be installed.
• the second important point is that the overall device only allows the inside of a cylindrical tank to be cleaned.
• the movable heads are not designed to cross curves with a small radius of curvature since a fixed end nozzle must, according to the invention, be installed for cleaning the mantle
• the object of the invention is to overcome these various drawbacks.
• this installation comprises a rail along which a shuttle carrying one or more nozzles for spraying high pressure washing liquid is capable of moving by means of a suitable motorized device.
• the rail adopts a homothetic profile of a generator of the surface of the equipment to be cleaned by means of modular elements with reversible or non-reversible attachment.
• the invention aims fundamentally to propose a device capable of optimizing the effectiveness of washing by adapting the cleaning tool to the shape of the surface to be cleaned so as to make the distance between the nozzles and the wall as constant as possible
• This modularity is made possible by rectilinear elements, capable of being associated with curvilinear elements, with adapted radius of curvature.
• the rail can have a rotary movement.
• the rail can also have a translational movement for cleaning flat parts.
• the sweeping of the surface to be cleaned by high pressure washing results from the combination of the translation of the spray nozzles along the rail and a relative movement of translation or rotation between said rail and the surface. to clean.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of the operating principle of the installation according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a detailed view of the modular rail according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the application of the installation according to the invention to the cleaning of coating turbines.
• Figure 4 shows an advantage of the modular design allowing the cleaning of identical machines of different geometries.
• Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the application of the invention to the cleaning of drums and tanks of small dimensions and not provided with drain.
• Figures 6 to 9 are schematic representations of the application of the installation according to the invention for cleaning closed tanks without agitator.
• Figure 10 is a schematic representation of the process and the implementation of the installation according to the invention in connection with the cleaning of open tanks.
• This rail (1) is of substantially rectangular cross section, and is advantageously made of stainless steel. It is made up of straight elements (1) and curved elements (8) machined and assembled end to end.
• One of the surfaces of the rail (1) is machined in the form of a rack (7), making it possible to guarantee the absence of mechanical sliding of the shuttle (3) and consequently, the precise positioning of said shuttle, and therefore of the nozzles. washing.
• the curvilinear elements (8) can have different radii of curvature, depending on the nature of the surfaces to be cleaned, and in particular their geometry. They are most often standard elements as standard, but they can also be defined on a case-by-case basis.
• This latching system can be of the male (9) and female (10) slide type with spring plunger ensuring locking or the like. It can also be produced by a system of hinges and retaining pins for unfolding and folding the rail when it is inserted within said enclosure.
• the rail made up of assembled straight and curved sections is supported on a fixed or rotating structure thanks to supports (2) made of stainless steel profiles, the ends of which are welded to the rail and the structure.
• these supports When the rail is fitted with a latching system for dismantling, these supports also include a latching system.
• a stowage area is installed near the origin of the rail, providing a typical fixed length of approximately 150 mm and serving as a station (11) for the shuttle (3).
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show an installation of the type in question, in which this station, and therefore the rail associated with it, is mounted on a chassis (12), advantageously provided with rollers (13) to facilitate its displacement.
• the principle of implementing a station (11) eliminates any disconnection or hydraulic, pneumatic or electric connection, the shuttle being thus systematically connected to the various fluids necessary for its operation.
• FIG. 4 shows the possibility of changing the rail for cleaning different coating turbines with different geometries.
• the rail shown in the upper part of Figure 4 is intended for cleaning a drum of larger diameter and shorter length while that of the lower part is intended for cleaning '' a drum whose small opening does not allow the passage of the rail: the latter is inserted by being folded, by means of a rail hinge, supports forming hinges, then unfolded inside said object by a jack
• the shuttle (3) supporting the nozzles (4) typically consists of a U-shaped support, the base of which faces the rack (7). This U-shaped structure allows the shuttle to pass along the rail, even in the presence of a support, and whatever the orientation of the hoses and other cables connecting the shuttle to the structure.
• the rolling system implemented uses two toothed pinions (5) at the same pitch as the rack (7) and two counter rollers (not shown) bearing on the opposite face of the rail, these counter rollers can be formed by sliding shoes
• the toothed gears (5) are driven by a direct current gear motor with tachometer dynamo located on a lateral external face of the U-shaped support.
• This type of motor makes it possible to control any movement of the shuttle: holding in a fixed point by using the engine as a function of brake, advance or reverse of the shuttle at programmed speed, and simultaneously check the position.
• the U-shaped structure receives one or more nozzles (4) on the opposite external face. More specifically, the assembly of the nozzles is carried out on the arrival of high pressure fluids on the shuttle, by means of rapid fixing systems, allowing an easy and rapid exchange of the spraying system.
• the nozzles (4) used are nozzles of the fixed jet type, and typically consist of a flat or circular jet, or nozzles of the dynamic jet type of the rotary nozzle type (the rotation of an internal turbine driven by the water or the washing liquid causes a cone to describe the line of the jet).
• the orientation of the nozzles can be changed manually or by means of an automatic device (not shown).
• the change of orientation of the nozzles can occur, for example when the shuttle arrives at the distal end of the rail, which makes it possible to perform, when the shuttle returns, a second passage with a different orientation of the high pressure jet, so that certain areas to be cleaned, possibly not accessible during the first passage of the shuttle, become so during its return journey, thus optimizing the cleaning efficiency.
• the nozzles are supplied by one or more high pressure groups (not shown). These are of a type known per se, so there is no need to describe them here in detail.
• two bypass pipes (34, 35) are put in place from the arrival of the high pressure fluids at the nozzles, and opening respectively upstream (36) and downstream (37) of the shuttle, and oriented towards the rail.
• upstream 36) and downstream
• downstream 37) of the shuttle
• the speed of movement of the shuttle on the rail is adjusted so that the shuttle has progressed by a length equivalent to or slightly less than that of the impact zone of the jets emitted by the nozzles when it occurred a relative object - rail rotation of 360 ° (by rotation of the object or the rail),
• this width is linked to the geometry of the nozzles, and to the distance between nozzle and wall to be cleaned, made as constant as possible by the modularity of the construction of the rail (1). .
• the relative rail-object rotation speed which defines the speed of advance of the jet impact area, is adjusted according to the fouling of the object
• a series of detectors for example of the inductive type according to a range perpendicular to the axis of the rail.
• These detectors can detect metal pins installed along the rail and also forming lines perpendicular to the axis of the rail. The presence or absence of these pawns in a line will generate a code recognized by the control system as the signaling of a singular point on the rail which should generate an automatic action.
• These singular points are constituted for example by the entrance to the station which stops the shuttle, the end of the rail which causes the change of direction of movement, the entry or exit of a curve of the rail or any other singular point rendered required by the cleaning process.
• Such singular points can also be linked to the degree of local fouling of the enclosure. They can also cause the nozzles to stop or the shuttle to slow down.
• this drum is rotary, in particular by means of a motor referenced by the frame (16), the rail (1) inserted therein is fixed.
• the modular rail substantially takes the form of a generator of said turbine. As can be seen in Figure 3.
• the rail (1) is mounted from the departure station (11) by snap-fastening, as already specified.
• it is supported near its end by a support (2), coming to bear on a fixed arm (15) emanating from the chassis (12) and also introduced inside said rotary enclosure (14) by the opening with which the latter is provided.
• the rail (1) is offset by a substantially constant distance relative to the internal surface of the tank (14) to be cleaned.
• the shuttle (3) is capable of moving, and in this case comprises two nozzles (4), the jet of which is oriented towards the wall with an optimized angle.
• This shuttle is supplied with water or washing solution thanks to the hoses (6), connected to the hydraulic and pneumatic system (18) via appropriate pipes, comprising relay units (19) for the connection of fluids and signals. control.
• the shuttle In order to methodically cover the surface to be cleaned, the shuttle travels along the rail at a non-constant speed. It is indeed necessary to dwell on the angles presented by said enclosure. Thus, in a curve of the rail during a concavity of the surface, the shuttle slows down, since the generator of the object then represents a distance greater than the length of the corresponding rail. It is the opposite which occurs at a convexity such as in the vicinity of the neck or the distal end of the enclosure. Groups of metal pins are therefore created at the entry and at the exit of each curve so as to cause a variation in speed of the shuttle according to the convex or concave direction of the curve and the value of the radius of curvature.
• the central unit delivering the water or the cleaning solution (18) with the required characteristics is installed in a fixed manner, most often in the technical zone or even in the washing zone. In the latter case, it is then provided with an appropriate cover.
• the rail (1) is connected to the station (11), formed within a frame (20).
• the rail (1) is mounted fixed (not rotatable).
• the tank undergoes a movement of both rotation to allow the cleaning of the side walls and the neck of the tank according to the principle described above, and also of linear translation by means of an electric jack and turret positioner to ensure cleaning. effective bottom (21) of said tank.
• This translational movement can also be printed on the rail (1), also by means of a jack, acting on the station (11). These movements have been represented by the arrows in the figure.
• the frame (20) comprises a chute (22) for receiving the washing water and a system (23) for purging and emptying this zone.
• the tank being fixed, the rail and its support are movable in rotation in order to ensure systematic scanning, in particular of the lateral faces and of the bottom, of the tank in question.
• the rail is associated with a motorization system (24) thus ensuring this rotation, along the axis of revolution of the tank to be cleaned.
• a motorization system (24) thus ensuring this rotation, along the axis of revolution of the tank to be cleaned.
• the enclosure to be cleaned is a tank with full opening, this is provided with a lower bearing and a nozzle on the roof.
• the enclosure to be cleaned is a tank with a central manhole.
• the dimensions of the tool allow it to penetrate without difficulty through the upper opening (25).
• the nozzles (4) are provided with extension tubes (26), so that the jet which they emit is closer to the surface to be cleaned and therefore their efficiency increased.
• the shuttle (3) progresses very slowly in the curves, in order to also ensure effective cleaning at the level thereof.
• the overturning torque is compensated by a retractable arm (27) extending diametrically opposite, this arm being provided with a wheel (28), which comes to rest against the side wall, as can be observe.
• the device to be cleaned also consists of a tank with a central manhole.
• the folding tool shown folded on the right of the figure
• the overturning torque is also compensated by a retractable arm, like the previous embodiment
• the surface to be cleaned consists of a very large tank, also provided with a manhole.
• the quick-mounting rail system according to the invention is assembled inside the tank itself.
• the element to be cleaned is in this case, an open tank of toroidal shape.
• the rail (1) is secured in a reversible manner at the station (11) linked to the tool.
• the rail is integral with a spar (31) connected at one end to the block (24), ensuring the effective rotation of the rail and at the other end of a roller coming to roll on the outer flange of the tank.
• a counterweight (32) completes the device.
• the speed of progression of the shuttle takes into account the different convex or concave curves which it meets and which it detects, always with the objective of optimizing the operating and cleaning efficiency.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8854040

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2000
  • 2000-09-07 FR FR0011378A patent/FR2813541B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-09-05 AU AU2001291933A patent/AU2001291933A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-05 EP EP01972140A patent/EP1345708A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-09-05 WO PCT/FR2001/002749 patent/WO2002020185A1/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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