GB2205510A

GB2205510A - Foam cleaning equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2205510A
Application number: GB08812825A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Brian Woods
Original assignee: OAKITE Ltd
Current assignee: OAKITE Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-29
Filing date: 1988-05-31
Publication date: 1988-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-31
Also published as: GB2205510B; GB8812825D0; GB8712705D0

Abstract

Foam cleaning equipment comprises an air driven water pump (1), a means (3) of supplying air at a constant flow rate to the air driven water pump to provide an output from the water pump at a preset pressure and volume, a connection from the air driven water pump to a water supply, a mixing means, e.g. a venturi (4), attached to the outlet from the air driven water pump, said mixing means having a connection (6) to a supply of detergent and foaming agent, and a means (9) of supplying air at a controlled pressure and volume to the mixing means. <IMAGE>

Description

FOAM CLEANING This invention relates to foam cleaning and is particularly concerned with equipment for generating the foam for foam cleaning purposes.

Foam cleaning is known and involves the introduction of an admixture of a detergent and a foaming agent into a water stream and its aeration, the generated foam then being supplied along a hose or other suitable supply line to be deposited on an item to be cleaned such as through an appropriate hand-held nozzle. Ordinarily the admixture of detergent and foaming agent is supplied to a venturi through which the water stream passes to be drawn into the water stream at a rate determined by the flow of the water stream through the venturi, the venturi also having an air supply inlet, and the arrangement being such that foam issues from the outlet from the venturi.

To achieve the production of foam of an optimum consistency, it is important that the water stream is at a particular pressure and a particular flow rate. In the equipment of the prior art the venturi is connected directly to mains supply with the attendant problem that the pressure of mains supply can vary quite noticeably from locality to locality. This frequently has the effect that the foam produced is not at the optimum consistency with the direct result that the cleansing action of the foam is impaired.

The object of the present invention is to provide foam cleaning equipment that avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

According to the present invention, foam cleaning equipment comprises an air driven water pump, a means of supplying air at a constant flow rate to the air driven water pump to provide an output from the water pump at a preset pressure and volume, a connection from the air driven water pump to a water supply, a mixing means attached to the outlet from the air driven water pump, said mixing means having a connection to a supply of detergent and foaming agent, and a means of supplying air at a controlled pressure and volume to the mixing means.

The equipment may also include a water tank to provide a supply of water to the air driven water pump, but equally the equipment can be connected to a remote water tank and from which it naturally follows that the equipment of the invention can be static and secured to a strategically located support structure, or can be fully portable either by providing trolley means on which the equipment can be mounted, or by suitably locating the components within a casing and which may be provided with its own transport wheels.

The mixing means can be a conventional venturi and such that an admixture of detergent and foaming agent can be drawn into the water stream issuing from the air driven water pump, and there being the controlled supply of pressure air to the venturi to aerate the mixture.

The means of supplying air at a constant pressure and volume to the air driven water pump may be a simple pressure regulator.

The equipment of the invention therefore has the major advantage over the prior art in that the output from the air driven pump can be preset to be at the ideal pressure and volume for the particular mix of detergent and foaming agent.

Equally, the supply of pressure air to the venturi can be controlled to ensure that foam of the correct consistency issues from the end of a hose or supply line. Thus, for a supply line of greater length, the regulator can be set to provide a greater volume of air.

The equipment may be provided with a tank to contain a supply of detergent and foaming agent and hence be totally self-contained, but equally the supply of detergent and foaming agent can be from a separate tank or container with a simple connection by a hose or the like to the venturi.

The equipment of the invention therefore avoids totally the problems of the prior art by ensuring that the supply of water to the venturi eliminates the problems caused by variation in mains supply pressure, by providing the venturi with a water supply at a constant controlled rate via the air driven water pump under the control of an air regulator.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of foam cleaning equipment in accor.dance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of foam cleaning equipment in accordance with the present invention.

In Figure 1, foam cleaning equipment comprises an airdriven pump 1 with a connection 2 to a water supply, an air supply 3 to the motor, a venturi 4 secured to the outlet from the pump 1, an air supply 5 to the venturi, and the venturi having a connection 6 to a supply of an admixture of detergent and foaming agent. In the air supply 3 to the pump 1, a tap 7 is provided, and an air regulator with an attendant pressure gauge 8 provided in the line from the tap 7 to the pump 1. In the air supply to the venturi, an air regulator with an attendant pressure gauge 9 is provided.

Thus, with the air supplies 3 to the pump 1, and 5 to the venturi 4 connected to a common supply of pressure air, with the water pump 1 connected to an appropriate water supply and with the venturi 4 connected to an appropriate supply of detergent and foaming agent, the tap 7 can be opened to a degree to allow air at a required pressure set by the air regulator 8 to be fed to the water pump 1, and when water is pumped through the venturi at a required rate to suit the particular admixture of detergent and foaming agent being used. As water passes through the venturi, the admixture of detergent and foaming agent is drawn into the water supply, at a rate determined by the rate of water flow through the venturi, and air is fed into the admixture of water, detergent and foaming agent at a pressure set by the air regulator 9 in the air supply 5 to the venturi.As a result, foam issues from the outlet from the venturi of a predetermined consistency unaffected by any variations in the pressure of the water supply to the pump 1, and unaffected by any variations in supply of pressure air to the supply lines 3 and 5 to the pump and venturi respectively.

With an appropriate hose means with an outlet nozzle (not shown) connected to the outlet from the venturi, foam can be deposited where cleaning is required, with the advantage that the regulator 9 can be adjusted to provide air at a rate to suit the length of supply hose being used.

By employing an air-driven pump and venturi each with controlled supply of pressure air, the equipment of the invention can be connected to any appropriate supply of both water and pressure air. Thus, as shown, the equipment may be contained in a housing 1B that could be transportable with suitable flexible connections to a water and pressure air supply, or could be static and strategically located. The water supply could be mains supply connected to the pump or could be from a static tank, remote from the equipment or built into the housing 18, The pressure air supply could be from an appropriate compressor, or gas bottles, and in an establishment having a constant supply of pressure air for other purposes, could be tapped from the supply.

With portable equipment, the admixture of detergent and foaming agent could be provided in a suitable portable container to be taken with the equipment to its required location, and with static equipment appropriate static tank means could be provided.

In Figure 2, essentially the same equipment is provided, and like parts are, accorded the same reference numerals as appear in Figure 1. In Figure 2, an additional tap 11 is provided in the air supply 5 to the venturi 4.

Thus at the end of operations, and when it is highly advisable to clean the equipment, this is perfectly possible with the construction of Figure 1, but with that construction there is the need to use the regulator 9 as a shut-off valve to prevent the supply of pressure air to the venturi but to maintain the supply of pressure air to the water pump and whereby the venturi and the supply hose can be flushed clean.

This naturally involves the resetting of the regulator 9 before next, usage, hence the advantage of the construction of Figure 2 by its provision of the second tap 11, and which enables disconnection of the supply of pressure air to the venturi without the need to alter the setting on he regulator 9.

Claims

1. Foam cleaning equipment comprising an air driven water pump, a means of supplying air at a constant flow rate to the air driven water. pump to provide an output from the water pump at a preset pressure and volume, a connection from the air driven water pump to a water supply, a mixing means attached to the outlet from the air driven water pump, said mixing means having a connection to a supply of detergent and foaming agent, and a means of supplying air at a controlled pressure and volume to the mixing means.

2. Foam cleaning equipment as in Claim 1, wherein the water pump is provided with a connection for mains water supply.

3. Foam cleaning equipment as in Claim 1, wherein the water pump is provided with a connection for the supply of water from a static tank.

4. Foam cleaning equipment as in Claim 1, wherein the equipment includes a tank for the supply of water to the pump.

5. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mixing means connected to the outlet from the pump is a venturi.

6. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein an air regulator is provided in the supply line for pressure air to the pump.

7. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein an air regulator is provided in the supply line for pressure air to the mixing means.

8. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein a connection is provided on the venturi to a supply of detergent and foaming agent, and whereby detergent and foaming agent are admixed with the water at a rate determined by the water flow through the venturi.

9. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein a tap is provided in the supply line for pressure air to the water pump.

18. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein a tap is provided in the supply line for pressure air to the mixing means.

11. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 1PI, wherein the said equipment is contained within a housing for strategic location.

12. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the said equipment is contained within a housing for transport to a required location.

13. Foam cleaning equipment as in Claim 12, wherein the housing contains a tank for the supply of water to the pump.

14. Foam cleaning equipment as in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the housing contains a tank for the supply of an admixture of detergent and foaming agent to the mixing means.

15. Foam cleaning equipment as in any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the housing is provided with transport wheels.

16. Foam cleaning equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.