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CN-116528989-B - Retractable cleaning device and system

CN116528989BCN 116528989 BCN116528989 BCN 116528989BCN-116528989-B

Abstract

A retractable cleaning apparatus (100) for jet cleaning of a tube (202) or container (204) is disclosed. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) includes a rotatable spray head (102) configured to spray an interior (206) of a tube (202) or container (204) with a cleaning liquid (L). The rotatable spray head (102) is linearly movable along a Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102) between a Retracted Position (RP) and a Cleaning Position (CP). The rotatable spray head (102) is rotatable about a Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102) independent of the flow of cleaning liquid (L). The rotatable spray head (102) may be rotated at an angular velocity independent of the flow of cleaning liquid (L). The angular velocity may be in the range of 0.1-1.3 radians per second. A system (200) comprising the retractable cleaning apparatus (100) is also disclosed.

Inventors

  • JENSEN BO BOYE BUSK

Assignees

  • 阿法拉伐股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20211129
Priority Date
20201130

Claims (19)

  1. 1. A retractable cleaning device (100) for jet cleaning of a tube (202) or a container (204), the retractable cleaning device (100) comprising: A rotatable spray head (102), the rotatable spray head (102) being configured to spray an interior (206) of the tube (202) or container (204) with a cleaning liquid (L), wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is linearly movable along a Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102) between a Retracted Position (RP) and a Cleaning Position (CP), Wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is rotatable about a Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102) independent of the flow of the cleaning liquid (L), and wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is rotatable at an angular velocity independent of the flow of the cleaning liquid (L), Wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is linearly movable along the Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102) between the Retracted Position (RP) and the Cleaning Position (CP), the rotatable spray head (102) being rotatable about the Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102), wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is configured for reciprocal rotation about the Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102), wherein the retractable cleaning device (100) further comprises a pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit (104), wherein the pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit (104) is configured to convert a reciprocal translational Driving Movement (DM) into a Reciprocal Rotational Movement (RRM) of the rotatable spray head (102), wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is coupled to a rotatable component (106), and wherein the pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit (104) comprises a linearly movable first piston (108), the pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit (104) being configured to convert the reciprocal translational movement (DM) into the Reciprocal Rotational Movement (RRM) of the linearly movable first piston (108).
  2. 2. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the rotatable spray head (102) is rotatable at an angular velocity in the range of 0.1-1.3 radians per second.
  3. 3. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the linearly movable first piston (108) is disposed in a piston chamber (110), the piston chamber (110) including a first fluid port (112), the first fluid port (112) configured to transfer fluid into or out of the piston chamber (110) on a first side of the linearly movable first piston (108) such that the linearly movable first piston (108) moves linearly in the piston chamber (110) in response to transferring fluid into or out of the piston chamber (110) through the first fluid port (112).
  4. 4. A retractable cleaning device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the piston chamber (110) comprises a second fluid port (114), the second fluid port (114) being configured to transfer fluid into or out of the piston chamber (110) on a second side of the linearly movable first piston (108), such that the linearly movable first piston (108) is linearly movable in the piston chamber (110) in response to transferring fluid into or out of the piston chamber (110) through the second fluid port (114).
  5. 5. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein the rotatable member (106) is mechanically coupled to the linearly movable first piston (108).
  6. 6. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 5, wherein the rotatable component (106) is mechanically coupled to the linearly movable first piston (108) by means of a cam arrangement (115) or by means of threads (116 a,116 b).
  7. 7. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, the retractable cleaning apparatus (100) further comprising: A pneumatically or hydraulically driven linearly movable second piston (118) mechanically coupled to the rotatable spray head (102), the linearly movable second piston (118) configured to linearly move the rotatable spray head (102) between the Retracted Position (RP) and the Cleaning Position (CP).
  8. 8. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 7, wherein the pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit (104) and the pneumatically or hydraulically driven linearly movable second piston (118) are provided in a common actuator (140).
  9. 9. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein each rotational movement of the Reciprocating Rotational Movement (RRM) is less than 8 radians.
  10. 10. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 9, wherein each rotational movement of the Reciprocating Rotational Movement (RRM) is less than 7 radians.
  11. 11. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein the rotatable spray head (102) comprises a plurality of nozzle channels (120), each nozzle channel terminating in a nozzle orifice (122), wherein a majority of the nozzle channels (120) extend in a radial direction of the rotatable spray head (102).
  12. 12. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein the rotatable spray head (102) comprises a plurality of nozzle channels (120), each nozzle channel terminating in a nozzle orifice (122), wherein at least two of the nozzle channels (120) extend at different angles (a, β) relative to a Longitudinal Axis (LA) of the rotatable spray head (102).
  13. 13. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein the rotatable spray head (102) comprises 4-40 nozzle channels (120), each nozzle channel terminating in a nozzle orifice (122).
  14. 14. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 13, wherein said rotatable spray head (102) comprises 4-30 nozzle channels.
  15. 15. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 14, wherein said rotatable spray head (102) comprises 10-30 nozzle channels.
  16. 16. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 15, wherein said rotatable spray head (102) comprises 20-25 nozzle channels.
  17. 17. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 11, wherein each nozzle orifice (122) has a diameter in the range of 0.5-5 mm.
  18. 18. The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) of claim 17, wherein each nozzle orifice (122) has a diameter in the range of 1-3 mm.
  19. 19. A system (200), comprising: a tube (202) or a container (204), The retractable cleaning apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1-18, Wherein the retractable cleaning apparatus (100) is attached to the tube (202) or container (204) and is configured to spray an interior surface (206) of the tube (202) or container (204) with cleaning liquid.

Description

Retractable cleaning device and system Technical Field The present invention relates to a retractable cleaning apparatus for jet cleaning of a pipe or a container, and in particular to a retractable cleaning apparatus having a rotatable jet head configured to jet the interior of the pipe or container with cleaning liquid. A system including the retractable cleaning apparatus is also disclosed. Background Plumbing and tanks for various liquids or gases are used in many industrial processes such as spray drying equipment, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical processing, material fermentation, and the like. It is often important to ensure that the interior of the pipe and tank are free of unwanted debris and contaminants. Unwanted contaminants in such pipes and tanks can negatively impact the quality of finished products manufactured, processed or stored. Furthermore, if regulations applicable to certain industries (such as the food and pharmaceutical industries) are to be complied with, the interior of the pipes or tanks must be properly cleaned. Thus, the interior of such pipes and tanks are typically cleaned at specific intervals, for example after each processing batch, to ensure product quality and to comply with any relevant regulations. Jet cleaning systems can be used to clean debris and residue from the interior of pipes, tanks, and other containers by using a process commonly referred to as jet cleaning or impingement cleaning. One common type of such spray cleaning system employs a retractable cleaning device that is attached to and insertable into a pipe or tank to be cleaned. Such cleaning devices typically exhibit a rotatable spray portion or body which can be inserted into a pipe or tank during cleaning. When not in use, the spray portion or body is typically retracted from the conduit or tank leaving the conduit or tank substantially unaffected. The rotatable spray portion of such devices typically rotates during cleaning of the pipe or tank so that the sprayed liquid sprays and impinges on the surface of the pipe or tank to be cleaned. Furthermore, such devices are typically placed in the pipe at regular intervals in order to achieve a satisfactory coverage of the interior of the pipe. The liquid ejected from the rotatable ejection portion typically drives rotation of the ejection portion because the liquid exerts a reactive force on the rotatable ejection portion by exiting the rotatable ejection portion under pressure. This type of rotatable spray portion (commonly referred to as free spin) typically rotates at about 100rpm, but the actual rotational speed is affected by, for example, the liquid pressure, the amount of liquid sprayed, and the design of the rotatable spray portion (to give some examples). Thus, each cleaning device has a specific spray length within which effective cleaning is achieved, i.e. within which sufficient spray pattern and pressure are achieved. This means that for longer pipes and large tanks, a plurality of cleaning devices must be installed at regular intervals. A cleaning device of the kind described above is disclosed in DE 20 2004 012949 U1. DE 20 2004 012949 U1 discloses a device for cleaning the interior of a tank. The device comprises a spray body or part which can be inserted into a tank to be cleaned. The spray body is rotated by means of liquid sprayed through a plurality of spray nozzles provided at the spray body. Current technology provides solutions for cleaning the interior of pipes and tanks. However, in some cases, the efficiency of the cleaning apparatus has proven unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the ejection length of the device is difficult to predict, as the ejection length will be affected by the actual liquid pressure and the resulting rotational speed and design of the rotatable ejection portion. Further, the higher the rotation speed becomes, the shorter the injection length becomes. This results in that the cleaning devices have to be mounted at a relatively short distance from each other to ensure that adequate cleaning is provided. This in turn leads to a high consumption of liquid, which is undesirable. Furthermore, the installation of many cleaning devices results in increased costs and increased effort for both installation and maintenance. Furthermore, the more cleaning equipment used in the system, the greater the risk with respect to malfunctions and outages becomes. Another disadvantage with an increased number of cleaning devices is an increased risk of leakage, because of the introduction of a larger sealing surface in the pipes or tanks of the system at hand. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved retractable cleaning device. Disclosure of Invention In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved retractable cleaning apparatus for jet cleaning of pipes or containers. Another object is to provide such a retractable cleaning device capable of improving the spray leng