CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (100) for cleaning a container, in particular an inner wall of a container, comprising: a base member (1) that can be coupled to a feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent, a rotating member (3) mounted rotatably about a rotational axis (A) on the base member (1), a support member (2) having a first end portion (16) and a second end portion spaced apart along the rotational axis (A),
wherein the first end portion (16) can be coupled to the base member (1) and the second end portion to the rotating member (3) in such a way that in the coupled state the rotating member (3) is rotatably accommodated between the base member (1) and the support member (2),
wherein the cleaning device (100) further comprises a coupling means (15) which is adapted to lock the support member (2) in place relative to the base member (1) in the coupled state. The invention also relates to a method for assembling a cleaning device (100).

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning a container, in particular an inner wall of a container, comprising: a base member that can be coupled to a feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent, a rotating member mounted rotatably about a rotational axis on the base member, a support member having a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along the rotational axis, wherein the first end portion can be coupled to the base member and the second end portion to the rotating member in such a way that in the coupled state the rotating member is rotatably accommodated between the base member and the support member, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a coupling means which is adapted to lock the support member in place relative to the base member in the coupled state.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is adapted to couple the base member in the coupled and locked state to the feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means is form-fittingly and detachably engageable with the base member in order to lock the support member in place relative to the base member in the coupled state.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is insertable into the base member in such a way that it is rotatably accommodated in a first position in the base member and is moveable in the base member into a second position in which the support member engages form-fittingly with the base member in the coupled state.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the coupling means is engageable with the base member in such a way that the coupling means prevents the support member from moving back into the first position from the second position.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member has an end face facing the rotating member in the assembled state and having an aperture by which the first end portion of support member is insertable into the base member, wherein the first end portion, when it has been inserted into the base member, is form-fittingly engageable with the base member by a rotational movement about its rotational axis.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the support member has a rod that extends along the rotational axis between the first end portion and the second end portion and in the coupled state is accommodated at least in sections thereof in the rotating member.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the first end portion has at least one vane extending radially outwards from the rod and designed to match the aperture such that the vane can pass through the aperture and engages form-fittingly behind the aperture by a rotational movement about its rotational axis.

9. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is rotationally symmetric in design and is arranged coaxially with the base member and/or the support member.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 9, further comprising a bearing element, in particular a bearing ring, for mounting the rotating member on the support member.

11. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein a slide surface is formed on the base member, and the rotating member has a matching slide surface which cooperates with the slide surface of the base member.

12. The cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the bearing element and/or the slide surface is conical in shape in order to support the rotating member in the axial and in the radial direction.

13. The cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the bearing element includes a polymer.

14. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a metal material.

15. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member has a cylindrical, in particular a hollow cylindrical portion which is fluidically connectable, at least in sections, to a feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent.

16. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member has at least one spray hole through which the cleaning agent can be introduced into the container.

17. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member further comprises, in the region of its cylindrical portion, a self-cleaning bore extending from the interior of the base member towards the rotating body and is adapted to conduct cleaning agent from the interior of the base member towards the outer side of the rotating member.

18. A method for assembling a cleaning device, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cleaning device for cleaning a container, said cleaning device including a base member that can be coupled to a feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent, a rotating member that can be mounted rotatably about a rotational axis on the base member, a support member having a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along the rotational axis, wherein the first end portion can be coupled to the base member and the second end portion to the rotating member in such a way that in the coupled state the rotating member is rotatably accommodated between the base member and the support member, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a coupling means which is adapted to lock the support member in place relative to the base member in the coupled state; bringing the cleaning device into a coupled state, locking the cleaning device in the coupled state, coupling the cleaning device in the coupled and locked state to a feed pipe for supplying a cleaning agent.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of bringing the cleaning device into a coupled state comprises the steps of: coupling the a support member of the cleaning device, in particular the first end portion of the support member to the base member, and coupling the support member, in particular the second end portion of the support member, to the rotating member so that in the coupled state the rotating member is rotatably accommodated between the base member and the support member.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of locking the cleaning device in the coupled state comprises the step of locking the support member in place relative to the base member in the coupled state by means of the coupling means.

Description

[0039] The invention shall now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment and the attached Figures, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1: shows an exploded perspective view of the cleaning device;

[0041] FIG. 2: shows a first top view of the rotating member of the cleaning device;

[0042] FIG. 3a: shows a sectional view of the cleaning device along line A-A,

[0043] FIG. 3b: shows a second top view of the cleaning device as a cross-sectional view;

[0044] FIG. 4: shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device along line B-B.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a cleaning device 100 according to the invention.

[0046] Cleaning device 100 comprises a base member 1 that is connectable to a feed pipe. This connection is preferably releasable in design.

[0047] A support member 2 is releasably connected to base member 1. Base member 1 and support member 2 together form a receptacle for a rotating member 3, which is accommodated rotatably about a rotational axis A.

[0048] Rotating member 3 has spray holes 4 in the form of spraying slots 4, for example, and extending in the direction of rotational axis A. Spray holes 4 are shaped in such a way that rotating member 3 is made to rotate by fluid (cleaning fluid) being expelled, thus resulting in a spray pattern that meets the requirements. Even coverage is generally aimed for, whereby the fluid being expelled should also have a mechanical effect on dust and dirt.

[0049] Cleaning device 100 further comprises a bearing element 5 which is arranged between support member 2 and rotating member 3 and is adapted to rotatably mount rotating member 3 on support member 2.

[0050] Bearing element 5 may preferably be embodied as a bearing ring which is conically shaped in order to support rotating member 3 in the radial direction and in the direction of rotational axis A. Using a separate bearing element 5 allows a selection of different materials to be paired, for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for bearing element 5 and stainless steel for support member 2. Such a pairing prevents seizure of the components, for example, and reduces the stick-slip effect.

[0051] To support the bearing of rotating member 3, an upper slide surface 6, which is conical in shape so as to support rotating member 3 simultaneously in the radial direction and in the direction of rotational axis A, is formed on base member 1.

[0052] The base member has an end face 7 that faces rotating member 2. This end face has at least one passage 8 through which liquid can flow out of base member 1 into the interior of rotating member 3.

[0053] A slot-like aperture 9 extending from end face 7 along rotational axis A into the interior of base member 1 is formed in end face 7. A central bore 10 is formed in end face 7 and hence also in slot 9.

[0054] Support member 2 has a rod 11 which extends along rotational axis A and which is dimensioned so that it extends through rotating member 3 and end face 7 in the coupled state of cleaning device 100.

[0055] Support member 2 also has a first end portion 16 which can be coupled to base member 1. Support member 2 also has a second end portion which can be coupled to rotating member 3.

[0056] End portion 16 disposed at the end of rod 11 has at least one vane 12 which is accommodated in base member 1 in the coupled state of cleaning device 100. Rod 11 is therefore dimensioned such that it can be guided through the central bore. Vane 12, for its part, is dimensioned such that it can be guided through slot 9.

[0057] The base member has a hollow cylindrical portion 13. Cylindrical portion 13 can be accommodated, for example, in a feed pipe through which cleaning fluid flows. Cylindrical portion 13 may also be designed in such a way that the feed pipe is accommodated in portion 13. A hole 14 is form in cylindrical portion 13.

[0058] Cleaning device 100 is brought into the coupled state by inserting rod 11 and vane 12 of support member 2 into base member 1 through apertures 9, 10 and by vane 12 being brought by rotation into form-fitting engagement with base member 1, out of which support member 2 cannot be moved by the force of gravity alone.

[0059] Cleaning device 100 further comprises a coupling means 15 for attaching cylindrical portion 13 to the feed pipe. In the coupled state of cleaning device 100 at least, coupling means 15 can be inserted into hole 14 in order to engage form-fittingly with base member 1 and lock support member 2 and base member 1 in the coupled state.

[0060] For example, cleaning device 100 in the coupled state can be guided single-handedly through a tank opening to a feed pipe inside the tank and attached to the end thereof. The coupling means is finally inserted through hole 14 and guided over the first end portion 16. This secures or locks the spatial arrangement of the parts, in particular of base member 1 and support member 2. It is also possible at the same time and by means of the coupling means to attach cleaning device 100 to the feed pipe.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a view onto cleaning device 100 from the side facing away from base member 1. Spray hole 4 of rotating member 3 is embodied as an elongate spraying slot 4, whereby spraying slot 4 extends along an extension axis B that is not oriented in the direction of rotational axis A and does not intersect it.

[0062] The quantity, size and orientation of the apertures 4 formed as spraying slots in the example determine the rigidity of rotating member 3 and the formation of the expelled spray jet, and hence the spray pattern produced by cleaning device 100.

[0063] FIG. 3 a) shows a cross-sectional view, along line A-A, through cleaning device 100 in the coupled state.

[0064] Vane 12 on rod 11 of support member 2 rests in a recess 17 which is formed on end face 7 facing hole 14. The dimensioning of rod 11 in the direction of rotational axis A is such that the first end portion 16 projects towards coupling means 15.

[0065] Vane 12, recess 17, the distance of hole 14 to end face 7, and the length of rod 11 are dimensioned such that rod 11 and hence support member 2 can move with only a small amount of play. Vane 12 and recess 17 are also designed in such a way that rotation of support member 2 about rotational axis A is not possible, or possible to a small extent only when base member 1, support member 2, rotating member 3 and coupling means 15 are in the assembled state. In particular, no rotation is possible by which vane 12 can align with slot 9, which would lead to cleaning device 100 falling apart.

[0066] The number of vanes 12, and their distribution along a periphery of rod 11, is preferably selected such that force is applied evenly from rod 11 into end face 7.

[0067] A self-cleaning bore 18 leading from an interior of cylindrical portion 13 towards rotating member 3 is also provided. Cleaning fluid passes through this self-cleaning bore 18 and then flows off an outer side of rotating member 3.

[0068] FIG. 3 b) shows cleaning device 100 in the coupled state. The first end portion 16 can be seen at the centre. In the example, it is surrounded by four openings 8 that are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction and in particular in the form of an ring. The ring of openings 8 is interrupted in sections by slot 9 extending in the radial direction.

[0069] In the coupled state, vane 12 is transverse to slot 9 and rests in the elliptically shaped recess 17. A short axis of the elliptically shaped recess 17 extends parallel to slot 9, and a long axis extends perpendicular to slot 9. The short axis of the elliptically shaped recess 17 is shorter than the radial extension of vane 12. In order fora rotation to align vane 12 with slot 9, it is necessary to lift vane 12 out of the plane of the drawing. However, this is blocked by coupling means 15.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows the longitudinal cross-section through cleaning device 100 along line B-B, which runs through the plane of slot 9. It can be seen that recess 17 forms a pocket which penetrates end face 7 only partially, in this case half way.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0071] A Rotational axis [0072] B Extension axis [0073] 1 Base member [0074] 2 Support member [0075] 3 Rotating member [0076] 4 Spray hole [0077] 5 Bearing element [0078] 6 Slide surface [0079] 7 End face [0080] 8 Passage [0081] 9 Aperture, central bore [0082] 10 Aperture, central bore [0083] 11 Rod [0084] 12 Vane [0085] 13 Cylindrical portion [0086] 14 Hole [0087] 15 Coupling means [0088] 16 First end portion [0089] 17 Recess [0090] 18 Self-cleaning bore [0091] 100 Cleaning device