Abstract
The present invention relates to a cleaning in place nozzle system (1) for cleaning surfaces of complex shape, comprising a first body part (21) comprising a dry section (22) and a fluid section (23), a second body part (25) coaxially arranged in the first body part, a nozzle part (26) having a nozzle axis (NA), a fluid inlet (24) arranged in the first or second body part and a fluid outlet (27) arranged in the nozzle part wherein the nozzle system is operatively connected to an intelligent control unit (28) for controlling rotational movement of the nozzle part and/or the body parts. The invention further relates to a method for cleaning a container using a cleaning in place nozzle unit.
Claims
1. A cleaning in place nozzle system for cleaning surfaces of complex shape, comprising: a first body part comprising a dry section and a fluid section, a second body part coaxially arranged in the first body part, a nozzle part having a nozzle axis where the nozzle part is arranged in the second body part, a fluid inlet arranged in the first or the second body part, a fluid outlet arranged in the nozzle part, where in a closed position the second body part is retracted into the first body part and the nozzle part is retracted into the second body part, in an open position the second body part is extended out of the first body part and where the nozzle part projects out of the second body part, and wherein the robotic nozzle system is operatively connected to a control unit for controlling rotational movement of the nozzle part and/or the first body part and/or the second body part.
2. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle axis is different from 180° to the longitudinal axis of the first and/or the second body part.
3. Cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the actuators for controlling the rotational movement of the nozzle part and the second body part are arranged in the dry section of the first body part.
4. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the second body part has an outer boundary, where the nozzle part may be positioned within the outer boundary of the second body part when the nozzle system is in its closed position.
5. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the second body part may have an outer boundary, where the nozzle is at least partly positioned outside the outer boundary of the second body part, when the nozzle system is in its open position.
6. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the first body part has an outer boundary, where the fluid outlet of the nozzle part is positioned inside the outer boundary of the first body part and/or the outer boundary of the second body part when the nozzle system is in its closed position.
7. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the fluid outlet is arranged to expel fluid at an angle of between 45° to90° to the nozzle axis.
8. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the fluid section of the first body part comprises a first annular wall and a second annular wall, the one wall having a smaller diameter than the other wall in order for the one wall to slide inside the other wall.
9. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle part is slidably arranged along the nozzle axis.
10. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein a first actuator, e.g. an electrical step motor, drives the rotational movement of the nozzle part.
11. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein a second actuator, e.g. an electrical step motor, drives the rotational movement of the second body part.
12. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the second axle connected to the second actuator for rotating the second body part is hollow and the first axle connected to the first actuator for rotating the nozzle part is positioned inside the first hollow axle.
13. A cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein the second axle is connected to the nozzle part via a pinion gear.
14. A method for cleaning a volume e.g. a container using a cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 wherein a path of the expelled fluid is adapted to clean in a different path near local extremities of the container.
15. Use of a cleaning in place nozzle unit according to claim 1 for equipment to the food industry e.g. vessel, containers or internal volume equipment.
Description
[0058] The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which:
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a container for having internal local areas that need increased cleaning attention,
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning in place robotic nozzle system according to the invention,
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning in place robotic nozzle system shown in FIG. 2,
[0062] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a closed state and a popped in (open) state of a system according to the invention,
[0063] FIGS. 5A-5C show in a cross-sectional view the stages of popping in,
[0064] FIGS. 6A-6C show in a cross-sectional view the popping in of a system according to the invention when water pressure is applied,
[0065] FIG. 7 shows in enlarged view an expelling of fluid from the nozzle part, and
[0066] FIG. 8A, 8B and 8C show different stages of a further embodiment of an internal valve system.
[0067] All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and show only those parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.
[0068] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning in place robotic nozzle system 1 for cleaning surfaces of complex shape. The robotic nozzle system 1 is mounted to a container 2. The container 2 could be used in various industries e.g. chemical, food, beverage, medicine, oil, power plant, purification of water, water handling in general, or direct food preparation in large-scale kitchens and food production. The robotic nozzle system comprises a nozzle part 26 (Seen in FIG. 2) for expelling fluid 4. The expelled fluid 4 has a point of contact 5 with the surface to be cleaned 6. The point of contact 5 follows a controlled path 7 and in the shown situation of cleaning, the controlled path 7 follows a first, a second, and a third path section 8, 9, 10 adapted to the local surface area 11, 11′, 11″ to be cleaned. The first local surface area 11 benefits from the first path section 8 due to the fact that this local surface area 11 comprises a maintenance opening 12 for maintenance of the container 2. In a similar manner, the third path section 10 is adapted for this specific local surface area 11″ due to the presence of a sensor 13. It is noted that the situation shown in FIG. 1 is just one situation in which the robotic nozzle unit 1 may work, whereas in other situations the robotic nozzle unit may work in pipes, tubes or entire rooms, all of various sizes.
[0069] FIG. 2 shows a robotic nozzle system 1 in a partly transparent illustration. In this embodiment, the robotic nozzle system 1 comprises a first body part 21 comprising a dry section 22 and a fluid section 23. The fluid section 23 of the first body part comprises a fluid inlet 24. The robotic nozzle system 1 further comprises a second body part 25 coaxially arranged in the first body part 21 along the longitudinal body axis BA. The second body part 25 comprises a nozzle part 26 having a nozzle axis NA. The nozzle part 26 is adapted to rotate around the nozzle axis NA in the direction of the arrow NAA. The nozzle part 26 comprises a fluid outlet 27. The robotic nozzle system 1 is operatively connected to an intelligent control unit 28 for controlling the rotational movement of the nozzle part 26 and the second body part 25. The second body part 25 rotates in the direction of the body axis arrow rotation BAAR. The dry section 22 of the first body part 21 is illustrated in a transparent manner and hence, a first actuator 29 for controlling the rotational movement of the nozzle part 26 in the direction of the nozzle axis arrow NAA is visible. Furthermore, a second actuator 30 is shown. The second actuator 30 is adapted for controlling the rotational movement of the second body part 25 in the direction of the body axis arrow BAAR. In FIG. 2, no wires are shown between the intelligent control unit 28 and the actuators 29, 30 but wires are shown in FIG. 4A and 4B. In a further embodiment, the connection may be wireless e.g. Bluetooth or similar.
[0070] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the robotic nozzle system 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It shows the dry section 22 of the first body part 21 which comprises the first and the second actuator 29, 30. The first actuator 29 is connected via a first shaft 31 to a pinion gear 32 that rotates the nozzle part 26. The second actuator 30 is connected via a hollow shaft 33 to the second body part 25 in order to rotate the second body part 25. The first shaft 31 is positioned inside the hollow shaft 33. The second body part 25 is slidably arranged in relation to the first body part 21. In this embodiment, the second body part 25 is arranged to be slid into the fluid section 23 (seen in FIG. 2) of the first body part 21 along the longitudinal body axis BA. In order for the second body part 25 to slide along the longitudinal body axis BA, i.e. in the direction of the body axis sliding arrow BASA, the actuators 29, 30 need to be able to slide as well. Hence, the first and the second actuator 29, 30 are slidably arranged in the dry section 22 of the first body part 21. Two bars 34 ensure a precise sliding of a fixture 35 for the first and the second actuators 29, 30. The fluid section 23 (seen in FIG. 2) of the first body part 21 has a first annular wall 36 and a second annular wall 37. The robotic nozzle system 1 is shown in its fully extended position, typically called the “popped in” position. In this position, the first and the second annular walls 36, 37 are in a position furthest away from each other. In order to move the second body part 25 in relation to the first body part, i.e. retract the second body part 25 into the fluid section 23 (seen in FIG. 2) of the first body part 21, a body return spring 38 is arranged in contact with the first body part 21 and the second body part 25. Furthermore, in order to retract the nozzle part 26 into the second body part 25, a nozzle retraction spring 39 is arranged in contact with the second body part 25 and the nozzle part 26. A sealing ring 40 is arranged to achieve a fluid tight connection when the nozzle part 26 is retracted into the second body part 25. In this embodiment, upon retraction, the nozzle part 26 slides along the nozzle axis NA. A further sealing ring 41 ensures a fluid tight connection between the first body part 21 and the second body part 25.
[0071] FIG. 4A shows a closed state of the robotic nozzle system 1, and FIG. 4B shows a popped in (open) state of a robotic nozzle system 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B are shown as partly transparent in order to see the sliding movement of the first and the second actuator 29, 30 (seen in FIG. 3). In these figs., wires 42 are shown connecting the intelligent control unit 28. It will be understood that the connection between the intelligent control unit 28 and the actuators 29, 30 (seen in FIG. 3) in other embodiments may be different, e.g. wireless (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc.) in order to achieve an operative connection. In FIG. 4A, it is shown that the second body part 25 is retracted into the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21. The second body part 25 is slid fully along the body axis BA and closes sealingly to the first body part by seal (not shown). In FIG. 4B, the second body part 25 is popped in, i.e. projected into the volume to be cleaned. In other words, the second body part 25 is projected away from the first body part 21 in the direction along the body axis BA, i.e. in the direction of the body axis sliding arrow BASA. In this state, the nozzle part 26 is projected along the nozzle axis NA, and the fluid outlet 27 is able to expel fluid. In this state, it is seen that the wires 42 are stretched but still operatively connected to the intelligent control 28.
[0072] FIGS. 5A-5C show in a cross-sectional view the stages of popping in the robotic nozzle system 1 without showing the fluid (fluid will be shown in FIGS. 6A-6C). FIGS. 5A-5C show the first annular wall 36 and the second annular wall 37 moving in relation to each other as the first body part 21 and the second body part 25 move in relation to each other. In FIG. 5A, the second annular wall 37 is fully encapsulating the first annular wall 36. In. FIG. 5B, the first and the second annular walls 36, 37 are free of each other, and an opening 50 is seen between the rims of the annular walls 36, 37, hence allowing fluid communication between the first volume 52 outside the second annular wall 37 and the second volume 53 inside the annular walls 36, 37. In FIG. 5C, the second body part 25 is slid further along the body axis BA, and the opening 50 is larger. In this fully projected state of the second body part 25, i.e. popped in, the nozzle part 26 is projected.
[0073] FIGS. 6A-6C shows a cross-sectional view of the robotic nozzle system 1 similar to that of FIGS. 5A-5C but now showing how the fluid 60 spreads when water pressure is applied to the fluid inlet 24. In FIG. 6A, a fluid pressure is applied to the fluid inlet 24 of the robotic nozzle system 1. The fluid 60 spreads in the first volume 52 outside the annular walls 36, 37. The first volume 52 is limited by a first end wall 61 of the first body part 21 and an opposing second end wall 62 of the second body part 25. The first end wall 61 is fixed, but the second end wall 62 is slidably arranged as shown previously. Due to the pressure from the fluid 60 subjected to the second end wall 62, the second body part 25 will start to slide and the return spring 38 will be compressed, i.e. the second body part 25 will start to slide in the direction of the body axis slide arrow BASA.
[0074] In FIG. 6B, the second body part 25 has moved so much that an opening 50 is present between the first annular wall 36 and the second annular wall 37. This opening 50 allows for fluid communication to the inner volume 53 of the annular walls 36, 37. In this way, the full inner volume 53 of the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 starts to be filled with fluid 60.
[0075] In FIG. 6C, the whole volume of the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 is filled with fluid 60. Furthermore, fluid communication is created from the fluid section 23 to the fluid outlet 27 via internal canals or volumes of the second body part 25 and the nozzle part 26. The fluid pressure forces the nozzle part 26 to project, and the fluid outlet 27 is free to let the fluid 60 flow out to become expelled fluid 4.
[0076] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the expelling of expelled fluid 4 from the fluid outlet 27 in the nozzle part 26. In this embodiment, the fluid outlet 27 is arranged in an expel angle EA in relation to the nozzle axis NA, and hence also in an angle ABA in relation to the body axis BA. In the present embodiment, the angle between the nozzle axis NA and the body axis BA is approximately 90°. In such embodiment, the fluid outlet 27 may be arranged to expel fluid in an expel angle EA smaller than 90° whereby it is achieved that the robotic nozzle system 1 is capable of cleaning a surface right under the robotic nozzle system 1. In another embodiment, the nozzle axis NA, i.e. the nozzle part 26 itself, may be arranged in an angle in relation to the body axis BA different from 90°. In this way, it is achieved that the fluid outlet 27 may expel fluid in an angle of 90° and the surface right under the robotic nozzle system 1 may still be cleaned.
[0077] When the fluid pressure is stopped, the projection process is reversed due to the return springs 38. The return springs 38 causes the nozzle part 26 and the second body part 25 to be retracted. A small play between the first body part 21 and the second body part 25 ensures that fluid 60 in the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 is forced out of the fluid outlet 27 until the second body part 25 is fully retracted into the first body part 21 (Seen in FIGS. 6A-6C)
[0078] Furthermore, when the fluid pressure is stopped, the fluid pressure inside the nozzle system may be released gradually, so that when the pressure inside the nozzle system drops below a predefined level the nozzle part will retract into the second body part, and when the fluid pressure drops below a second predefined level the second body part will retract into the first body part, until the second body part is completely retracted and the nozzle system is in its closed position, as seen in FIG. 4A. Thus, the system may be transformed between its open and closed positions by providing a fluid pressure that forces the second body part in and/or out of the first body part, and that forces the nozzle part in and/out of the second body part, while the second body part is at least partly extended out of the first body part.
[0079] This may similarly be done using external pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, where the pressure may be utilized to transform the system from a closed position to an open position, and vice versa. The pneumatic or hydraulic pressure may be applied through a separate input—i.e. a pressure input, where the pressure input is separate and/or independent from the fluid input of the cleaning fluid. Thus, the system may be transformed between its open and closed positions by providing an external pressure that forces the second body part in and/or out of the first body part, and that forces the nozzle part in and/out of the second body part, while the second body part is at least partly extended out of the first body part.
[0080] Thus, the nozzle part may be provided with a resilient part having a first predefined resilience, and the second body part may be provided with a second resilient part that has a second predefined resilience, where the first predefined resilience is larger than the second predefined resilience. Thus, this allows the nozzle part to be completely retracted into the second body part, prior to the second body part being retracted into the first body part. If the nozzle part is not fully retracted when the second body part is retracted into the first body part, the nozzle may block the retraction of the second body part into the first body part. The resilient parts may have a predefined resilience that is directed towards the pressure applied by the cleaning fluid and/or the pressure of pneumatic and/or hydraulic force, so that when the pressure falls below a predefined magnitude, the predefined resilient part will overcome the force applied by the pressure, and move the nozzle part and/or the second body part.
[0081] It will be understood by the skilled person in the art that the robotic nozzle unit 1 may also be without the popping in function, i.e. where the second body part 25 is fixed in relation to the first body part 21 along the body axis BA. Similarly, the nozzle part 26 may be fixed in relation to the second body part 25 along the nozzle axis NA.
[0082] FIGS. 8A-8C show a further embodiment of the popping in function of the robotic nozzle system 1. The function itself is the same as described in FIGS. 6A-6C, i.e. applying a fluid pressure through the fluid inlet 24 into the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 (no fluid is shown, only the mechanical movements caused by the fluid pressure). FIG. 8A shows a valve lever knee 80 is in its fully bent position. The valve lever knee 80 is connected to the first body part 21 in the one end and to a valve 81 in the other end. In FIG. 8A, no fluid pressure is applied and therefore neither the second body part 25 nor the nozzle part 26 are popped in, i.e. projected from the first body part 21 and the second body part 25 respectively. In FIG. 8B, a fluid pressure is applied, i.e. fluid is filled into the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21. The fluid pressure applies a pressure on the valve 81 and hence the valve 81 is forced to move in a direction away from the dry section 22 of the first body part 21. During this motion caused by the fluid pressure, the valve lever knee 80 is stretched. In FIG. 8B, the valve lever knee 80 is almost stretched to its full extent along the body axis. The valve 81 is still in full contact with a valve seat 82 of the second body part 25. When the valve 81 and the valve seat 82 are in full contact no fluid can flow through the apertures 83 from the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 to the internal volume of the second body part 25. Hence, no fluid can flow to the nozzle part 26 via the second body part 25. FIG. 8C shows that applying a continued fluid pressure causes the second body part 25 to move further than the valve lever knee 80 and hence the valve 81 can reach i.e. be in contact with the valve seat 82 and hence the valve 81 is no longer in contact with the second body part 25. This is caused by the force applied from the fluid pressure on the seat rim 84 of the valve seat 82. Therefore, the fluid in the fluid section 23 of the first body part 21 starts to flow into the internal volume of the second body part 25. With the apertures 83 being open, the fluid now continues to flow towards the nozzle part 26 and applies a force on the end section 85 of the nozzle part 26. The nozzle part 26 will be forced out of second body part 25, i.e. moving along the nozzle axis NA and starts to expel fluid from the fluid outlet 27. In this way a full fluid communication is established from the fluid inlet 24 to the fluid outlet 27. Hence the robotic nozzle system 1 has a first position with no fluid communication from the fluid inlet 24 to the fluid outlet 27 and a second position having full fluid communication.
[0083] Although the invention has been described in the above in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.
[0084] The reference numbers discussed with reference to some figures may be found in other figures of the disclosure, where elements shown in one figure may be found in a plurality of figures.
