Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
  • B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
  • B05B3/04—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet
  • B05B3/0409—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements
  • B05B3/0418—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine
  • B05B3/0422—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine with rotating outlet elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
  • B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
  • B05B3/04—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet
  • B05B3/0409—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements
  • B05B3/0418—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine
  • B05B3/0422—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine with rotating outlet elements
  • B05B3/0445—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine with rotating outlet elements the movement of the outlet elements being a combination of two movements, one being rotational
• • 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
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B57/00—Tank or cargo hold cleaning specially adapted for vessels
  • B63B57/02—Tank or cargo hold cleaning specially adapted for vessels by washing

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a tank cleaning system, primarily for washing the cargo tanks of tankers and comprising a driving system that consists of a turbine, which is positioned in a turbine pipe, and a gear box, which has an ingoing shaft driven by the turbine and an outgoing shaft driving a washer head, said tank cleaning system also comprising a housing which is provided with an inlet connected to a source of supply of cleaning fluid and an outlet for supplying the cleaning fluid or conveying the cleaning fluid to the washer head, said turbine being placed inside the housing, between which turbine and said source of supply there are provided bypass means designed to lead to the turbine pipe a major or minor share of the cleaning fluid supplied through the inlet, and the shares of the cleaning fluid are brought together in the housing and then conveyed to the washer head through the outlet of the housing.
• a driving system that consists of a turbine, which is positioned in a turbine pipe, and a gear box, which has an ingoing shaft driven by the turbine and an outgoing shaft driving a washer head
• said tank cleaning system also comprising
• NO publication No. 145,608 describes such an apparatus in which the turbine is provided with means for adjusting the speed of rotation. These means make it possible to adjust the angle of the turbine blades and thus the speed of rotation of the turbine at a given flow of cleaning fluid. Furthermore, the apparatus is provided with a gear box situated under the pipes and channels through which the cleaning fluid passes.
• the disadvantage of this apparatus is that the means for adjusting the speed of rotation of the turbine are very complicated and also consist of many small individual parts. As, among other things, the apparatus is intended for being secured to the decks of tankers where physical strain and the surrounding environment are sometimes very rough, there is a great risk that the many individual parts will be damaged and consequently give rise to subsequent operation stoppages.
• a tank cleaning apparatus which is characterized in that the bypass means are provided in the turbine pipe and consist of openings in the turbine pipe between the inlet and the turbine and of a jacket which is designed to be displaced in relation to the turbine pipe and to cover part of the openings in a variable manner.
• the turbine blades of a preferred embodiment are secured to a reaction ring which delimits the outer circumference of the turbine wheel and causes fringe effects in connection with the operation of the turbine to be avoided.
• the turbine and the gear box will preferably be assembled in one and the same housing in which the cleaning fluid is led into one end of the housing and out of the other end. This requires that the gear box is sealed in order to avoid that cleaning fluid penetrates into it.
• the gaskets of the gear box are preferably made from polyethylene, high-molecular (PEHD, PEWST tm , PEHWO ,m ).
• the individual bearings of the gearwheels and the shafts are produced from materials which make it possible to let the gear box operate dryly, i.e. a gear box in which it is not necessary to use lubricants.
• PTFE or te ⁇ on ®
• te ⁇ on ® which has a very low friction coefficient and is very heat resistant, is preferably used for the bearings.
• the washer head which is placed at the end of a pipe extending in prolongation of the outlet of said housing, consists of a cabinet with an ingoing shaft which is an extension of the outgoing shaft of the gear box and extends through said pipe and an outgoing shaft where the actual nozzles of the washer head are mounted.
• the nozzles typically consist of one to four nozzles mounted perpendicularly on the outgoing shaft, the longitudinal axis of the nozzles crossing the longitudinal axis of the outgoing shaft.
• the longitudinal axis of the nozzles may be out of level with the shaft so that an increased "throwing effect" is obtained during the rotation of the washer head.
• the transfer of the rotation of the ingoing shaft to the rotation of the outgoing shaft is effected via a differential gear having a crown wheel and a drive pinion.
• the differential gear is further constructed in such a manner as to obtain a rotation of the cabinet itself in relation to the pipe extending in prolongation of the outlet. It is noted that the washer head is not part of the invention but the reference thereto is included for the sake of completeness.
• a preferred embodiment of the bypass function according to the invention is provided at a slidable jacket placed around the turbine pipe and intended for being slid in order to cover more or less of the openings in the turbine pipe.
• Said openings constitute the actual bypass for the cleaning fluid as the fluid which is led through these openings is not led through the turbine.
• the speed of rotation of the turbine is at its minimum when only a very small part of the cleaning fluid is led through the turbine, which will be the case when the openings are completely uncovered.
• any intermediate position will be possible so that the speed of rotation of the turbine may be varied infinitely or stepwise.
• the openings are designed in such a manner as to obtain linearity between the axial angle of the cabinet in relation to the turbine pipe and the speed of rotation of the turbine.
• the turbine is provided with means of braking which will stop the turbine when the openings are completely uncovered so that the turbine and, consequently, the washer heads are prevented from rotating.
• fig. 1 illustrates the principle of an embodiment of the invention
• fig. 2 is a cross section of a second specific embodiment of a tank cleaning system according to the invention
• fig. 3 is a cross section of an alternative specific embodiment of a tank cleaning system according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows the general principle of a tank cleaning system according to the invention.
• Cleaning fluid which is pumped out of a tank, e.g. by the cargo pumps of a tanker, is led in at the connection flange to the bypass valve 2.
• the specific construction of the bypass valve 2 is not determined in detail. The requirement on the valve is that it makes it possible to lead one part of the cleaning fluid to a turbine 3 and another past the turbine.
• the turbine 3 drives a shaft 4 via a gear box 5.
• the shaft 4 extends through a fixed pipe 6 to a washer head 7.
• the washer head 7 consists of a cabinet 8, wherein the rotation of the shaft 4 is transmitted to provide both a rotation of the cabinet 8 about a vertical axis V and a rotation of a nozzle means 9 around a horizontal axis H.
• the part of the cleaning fluid which is led through the turbine 3 is led out, after having passed the turbine, through openings 10 and mixed with the part which was led past the turbine 3. Then the cleaning fluid is led on through the pipe 6 to the washer head 7 and out through nozzles 11 on the nozzle means 9.
• the washer head 7 and its rotation around the vertical axis V, and the nozzle means 9 and its rotation around the horizontal axis H are known within the prior art and thus will not be described in detail.
• FIG. 2 shows an alternative and more detailed embodiment of a tank cleaning system according to the invention.
• a housing 20 is provided with an inlet 21 and an outlet 22, which are situated in a top and a bottom cover 23, 24, respectively.
• a turbine pipe 25 and a turbine 26 are provided in a turbine housing 27, which is in direct contact with a gear box 28 with an outgoing shaft 29.
• a jacket 30 is mounted which is slidable axially in relation to the pipe 25.
• Said jacket 30 is in mesh with a traction wheel 31 mounted on and secured to a shaft 32 by means of a key 33 which shaft is intended to be connected to a motor (not shown).
• the inlet of the tank cleaning system is constituted by a flange 34 which is secured to the top cover 23 of the housing by means of bolts 35 and which is provided with seals 36 in order to prevent the cleaning fluid from running out between the flange 34 and the top cover 23. It is possible to replace the flange 34 in order to provide the possibility of connecting the system to different types of pumping devices for the cleaning fluid.
• the top cover 23 is mounted to the sidewalls 37 of the housing 20 by means of other bolts 38. This makes it possible to remove it for any servicing of the parts inside the housing 20. Between the top cover 23 and the sidewalls 37 there are also seals 39.
• the inlet 21 passes into a mouth 40 on the turbine pipe 25.
• the turbine pipe 25 is provided with openings 41 which are rectangular in the embodiment shown. It will be possible, however, to design the openings with any geometrical shape, preferably a shape which ensures linearity between the slide of the jacket 30 and the speed of rotation of the turbine 26.
• the turbine 26 is situated at the end of the turbine pipe 25 . It consists of a set of firmly mounted guide blades 42 which are secured to a hub 43. The actual turbine rotor is mounted under said guide blades.
• the turbine rotor comprises a hub 44, which is shrunk or otherwise secured to a turbine shaft 45.
• Turbine blades 46 are secured to the hub at one of their ends and to a reaction ring 47 at their other end.
• the reaction ring 47 delimits the outer circumference of the actual turbine rotor.
• the turbine pipe 25 is provided with openings 48 for outlet of the part of the cleaning fluid that is led through the turbine 26.
• the turbine shaft 46 forms the ingoing shaft for the gear box 28.
• the gear box 28 is constituted by a separate gear housing inside the housing 20 and comprises sidewalls 49 and a top cover 50, the bottom cover of the gear box 28 being constituted by the bottom cover 24 of the housing 20.
• the transition between the turbine pipe 25 and the top cover 50 of the gear box 28 is provided with seals 51 of high-molecular polyethylene and washers 52 in order to prevent cleaning fluid from penetrating into the gear box.
• the top cover 50 of the gear box 28 is held in contact with the sidewalls 49 of the gear box by means of through-going bolts (not shown), which extend from the bottom 24 of the gear box. Between the top cover 50 and the sidewalls 49 there is further provided a seal 53 of high-density polyethylene.
• the gear box 28 is provided with an ingoing shaft constituted by the turbine shaft 46. a main shaft 54 connected to the outgoing shaft 29, and an intermediate shaft 55.
• the ingoing shaft 46 is embedded in the top cover 50 of the gear box 28 via a single-row angular contact ball bearing 56.
• the main shaft 54 is embedded in the ingoing shaft 46 via a slide bearing 58 and in the other end 59 in the bottom cover 24 via a single-row angular contact ball bearing 60.
• the intermediate shaft 55 is embedded in the top cover 50 and bottom cover 24 of the gear box 28 and are fixed by means of a pin 61 so that the intermediate shaft 55 is unable to rotate.
• the ingoing shaft 46 is provided with a toothing 62.
• the intermediate shaft 55 is provided with a first and a second gearwheel 63, 64 which are both attached to the shaft 55 via slide bearings 65.
• the main shaft 54 is provided with a third and a fourth gearwheel 66, 67, the third gearwheel 66 of which is attached to the shaft 54 via slide bearings 68 and the fourth gear wheel 67 is secured to the shaft 54 by means of a key 69.
• gearwheels 63, 64, 66, 67 and between the ingoing shaft 46 and the main shaft 54 are manufactured from PTFE (or teflon ® ).
• PTFE or teflon ®
• the advantage of using this material is, as mentioned earlier, primarily the possibility of letting the gears run dryly due to the low friction coefficient and the high resistance to thermal influences.
• the gearwheels 63, 64, 66, 67 are retained in their axial direction by means of axial or thrust bearings
• the gear box 28 is provided with a seal box 71 in order to prevent here as well that cleaning fluid will penetrate into the gear box.
• the outgoing shaft 29 extends further through the outlet
• the outlet 22 leads into a socket 72 which is intended to be connected to one end of a firm pipe (not shown) in the other end of which the washer head is mounted.
• the socket 72 is secured to a bottom flange 73 which is bolted to the bottom cover 24 of the housing 20 by means of bolts 74.
• the bottom flange 73 is replaceable so that different types of washer heads may be used in connection with the system according to the invention.
• the flange 73 is designed in such a manner that when it is mounted on the bottom cover 24 of the housing 20, a cofferdam 75 is formed between the outside 76 of the bottom cover 24 and the inside 77 of the flange 73.
• the cleaning fluid is received after having been led through a passage 78 in the bottom cover 24 of the housing 20 before the fluid is led on through the outlet 22 to the washer head.
• the jacket 30 is slid up around the openings 41 causing a larger or lesser part of the openings to be covered.
• the jacket 30 is provided on its outside with a thread 79 spiralling along the outside.
• a corresponding thread 80 is provided on the traction wheel 31, and the jacket 30 is slid by rotating the traction wheel 31 causing the jacket 30 to be slid up or down along the turbine pipe 25 depending the direction of rotation of the traction wheel.
• the traction wheel 31 is, as mentioned, mounted on a shaft 32 extending through a sleeve 81 which is secured to the top cover 23 of the house 20.
• a shaft 32 extending through a sleeve 81 which is secured to the top cover 23 of the house 20.
• the shaft 32 is embedded in slide bearings 83 in the sleeve 81, and the sleeve is provided with seals 84 in order to prevent leakages of cleaning fluid.
• the outer end of the shaft 32 is intended to be connected to an adjustable motor (not shown) which is adjusted either continuously or stepwise.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the adjustment of the speed of rotation of the turbine 26.
• a jacket 30' is slid along the openings 41 of the turbine pipe 25 so that a larger or smaller part of the openings are covered.
• On its outside the jacket 30' is provided with a toothing 86 extending along the outside of the jacket.
• a corresponding toothing 86 is provided on the traction wheel 31 and the jacket 30' is slid by rotating the traction wheel 31 causing the jacket to be slid around the circumference of the turbine pipe 25 depending on the direction of rotation of the traction wheel.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8090591

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1993
  • 1993-02-15 DK DK17293A patent/DK17293A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1994
  • 1994-02-15 EP EP94907504A patent/EP0773833A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-02-15 AU AU61066/94A patent/AU6106694A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-15 WO PCT/DK1994/000063 patent/WO1994017922A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1995
  • 1995-08-11 NO NO953173A patent/NO300833B1/no unknown
  • 1995-08-14 FI FI953842A patent/FI953842A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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