SYSTEM FOR CLEANING WALLS OF AQUATIC BASINS

Abstract

System for treating inner walls of aquatic basins, including at least one working head, a mobility assembly for moving the working head along a wall to be treated, the working head having a working disc arranged in a rotational manner and connected to a rotary shaft which can be driven by a disc motor, the working disc bearing a wall contact foam having a plurality of radial slots connecting the center of rotation of the disc to the periphery of the disc.

Claims

1. A system for treating internal walls of aquatic tanks, having at least one dynamic suction head, a mobility assembly for moving the dynamic suction head along a wall to be treated, the dynamic suction head comprising a rotary disk that is arranged in a rotary manner and connected to a rotational shaft able to be driven by a disk motor, the rotary disk bearing a wall interface layer, characterized in that the wall interface layer comprises a plurality of radial grooves arranged in the portion of the disk that is situated next to the wall to be treated and connecting the rotational center of the disk to the periphery of the disk and at least one orifice that ensures, when in operation in an aquatic tank in the immediate vicinity of a wall to be treated, a flow of water between the rear of the disk and the front of the disk, through the disk and passing along the radial grooves of the working disk and being ejected laterally and released into the water of the tank, this hydrodynamic flow generating a suction effect to press the disk against the wall.

2. The treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orifice(s) is/are disposed around the perimeter of the rotational shaft.

3. The treatment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational shaft has a through-orifice.

4. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic suction head comprises an axial peripheral sleeve having a circumferential side wall arranged so as to surround the rotary disk wherein an evacuation hole is arranged through the side wall of the axial peripheral sleeve.

5.-7. (canceled)

8. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic suction head serves only to fix the treatment system to a tank wall to be treated.

9. The treatment system of claim 8, also comprising at least one wall treatment head, separate from the dynamic suction head, designed to carry out a polishing or cleaning treatment on at least one wall of the tank.

10.-14. (canceled)

15. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the level of the suction effect is variable depending on the speed of rotation of the disk.

16. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the level of the suction effect is variable depending on the number and the dimensions of the radial grooves.

17. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the level of the suction effect is variable depending on the diameter of the disk.

18. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic suction head has a double function, a first function for acting as a suction head to fix the treatment system to a tank wall to be treated, and a second function to carry out a cleaning treatment on the wall with the aid of said treatment surface, in which the water circulates in the rubbing foam of the disk, rinsing it and carrying away the biofilm and other dirt removed from the wall.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] All the embodiment details are given in the following description, supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 12, which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a face-on view, from the outside of an aquatic tank, of an example of a working disk;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a face-on view of an embodiment variant of the working disk in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a treatment head;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of another exemplary embodiment of a treatment head;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the wall treatment system using rails and holding heads;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a wall treatment system using rails and dynamic suction heads;

[0043] FIG. 7 is schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a wall treatment system using a floating platform;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a schematic depiction, in the form of a face-on view, of an example of a floating platform carrying a working head;

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic depiction, in the form of a side view, of the floating platform in FIG. 8;

[0046] FIG. 10 is a schematic depiction, in the form of a top view, of the floating platform in FIG. 8;

[0047] FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a treatment system, in particular a wall cleaning system, using a mobility assembly having rollers; and

[0048] FIG. 12 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a treatment system, in particular a wall polishing system, using a mobility assembly having rollers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Rotary Disk and Suction Effect

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary embodiments of rotary disks 11 as seen from the face that is able to be contact with the wall of the tank to be treated. It is apparent that the disk 11, of radius R, comprises a plurality of radial grooves 15 or slots, i.e. ones that are oriented in the direction of the radius R. The grooves are oriented radially from the rotational center of the disk. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, a plurality of orifices 16 are arranged around the rotational shaft. Each of these orifices 16 communicates with a groove 15. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, a single orifice 17 is arranged centrally in the rotational shaft 12 connecting the disk 11 to a motor 13 that is visible in FIGS. 3 and 4. The central orifice 17 communicates with each of the grooves 15. On account of this or these orifice(s) 16 or 17 and the grooves 15, when the disk is set in rotation in the immediate vicinity of a wall to be treated in an aquatic environment, a flow of water is generated between the rear and the front of the disk, i.e. from the rear of the disk 11, then through the disk and passing along the grooves 15 arranged radially in the portion of the disk situated next to the wall. This hydrodynamic flow generates a suction effect that tends to press the disk against the wall. The level of the suction effect is variable depending on the number and the dimensions of the grooves, on the diameter of the disk, on the material used, and especially on the speed of rotation of the disk. This suction effect allows the disks to fulfill various hydromechanical functions, as explained below.

Single- or Dual-Function Suction Head

[0050] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, in cross section, examples of a dynamic suction head 10 bearing a disk such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2. As illustrated, the disk 11 has a wall interface layer 14 on the side of the disk intended to interface, with or without contact, with the wall 3 to be treated. The interface layer 14 is either separate from the disk 11 or integral with or in one piece with the disk. The disk 11 is made of a rigid and preferably nonporous material, for example aluminum. The grooves 15 and the orifices 16 and 17 are advantageously made in the mass of the disk 11.

[0051] Depending on the embodiments, the dynamic suction head implements one or two functions. Specifically, it can generate a suction function as described above. It can also generate a suction effect coupled with a wall treatment effect, for example a cleaning or polishing effect.

[0052] In the case of the dual mode, the interface layer 14 comprises a treatment surface made of a material that makes it possible to carry out cleaning work on an aquatic tank wall, often made of PMMA, without otherwise risking damaging said wall. The treatment surface may be made for example: from polyurethane or of polyethylene with variable hardnesses and densities and (open or closed) cell dimensions and porosities that are variable depending on the objectives of the treatment.

[0053] In the case of the dual mode, a variant can provide an interface layer made up of more or less flexible lips disposed in the continuation of the walls of the grooves 15 and made directly from the mass of the disk 11 or from that of the interface layer 14. What is being referred to in this case are walls of the grooves 15 perpendicular to the wall to be treated 3. These lips protrude by several millimeters from the surface of the disk 11 or from the interface layer 14. They can have a length more or less equal to the radius R of the disk 11 and may be single or double. Specifically, the presence of these lips, positioned in the grooves 15, favors the flow of water in the latter in order to evacuate the biofilm scraped off the wall during the rotation of the disk 11. Thus, in this dual-function mode, the interface layer 14 is in contact with the wall to be treated.

[0054] In the case of the single-function mode with a simple holding effect, the disk 11 is located preferably at a small distance from the wall, for example a few millimeters therefrom, in order to ensure the hydrodynamic effect, while avoiding contact with the wall.

[0055] A motor 13 and a shaft 12 oriented along the axis A-A, which are provided in the suction head, allow the rotary disk 11 to be set in rotation. When the disk is submerged and situated at a small distance (for example 1 to 2 cm for a disk with a diameter of 100 mm) from a wall to be treated, the rotation of the grooved disk produces a negative pressure that tends to move the working disk toward the wall 3, the latter being fixed. The suction head 10 is designed to be able to move toward the wall by virtue of this effect. In the case of a disk with a diameter as mentioned above, the speed of rotation that makes it possible to produce the hydrodynamic effect that tends to press the disk against the wall to be treated is for example between 800 and 1200 rpm (purely by way of example).

[0056] The arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of water flow when a suction head is in position against a wall of an aquatic tank. The water comes from the rear of the working disk, passes through the orifices 16 and 17 and then communicates with the radial grooves 15. Once the disk is in position, the flow of water takes place continuously as long as the rotation of the disk is maintained. In addition to contributing to the suction effect, this flow makes it possible to ensure that the treatment surface is cleaned in order to prevent the biofilm and other dirt removed during the cleaning of the wall from collecting on the disk and saturating the treatment surface, preventing the cleaning treatment from being continued. In this dual-function embodiment, the suction disk is in direct contact with the wall to be treated. It acts on the latter by rubbing in order to carry out a cleaning action.

[0057] The suction head 10 preferably comprises a peripheral sleeve 18 arranged coaxially with the rotational shaft 12. This sleeve has a circumferential side wall 19 designed to surround the rotary disk 11. In the examples in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sleeve continues toward the rear of the rotary disks so as to surround a portion of the shaft 12. The sleeve makes it possible to delimit a working zone W inside which the disk carries out a cleaning action against the wall to be treated. This working zone W is also delimited at the rear of the disk 11 by a cover 24, closing the sleeve 18. In the examples illustrated, the cover 24 is in the form of an inverted U, with a central opening for the shaft 12 of the motor to pass through. Complementary orifices 23 provided in the cover 24 ensure fluidic communication between the working zone W and the zone of the motor M. The cover 24 may also be flat or in the form of a non-inverted U.

[0058] An evacuation hole 20 is arranged through the side wall 19 of the axial peripheral sleeve 18. This tunnel allows the flow of water to leave the sleeve to return to the tank. The tunnel is advantageously positioned so as to be located in the upper zone of the suction head 10 during cleaning phases. This prevents the exiting flow of water from acting against the bottom of the tank, which would risk pushing stones or particles or dirt toward the working head. If a hard and/or abrasive foreign body were ever to be located between the working disk and the wall to be treated, there would be significant risks of the wall being scratched or damaged in some other way. The peripheral sleeve 18 provides additional protection against the ingress of such contaminants into the working zone W. A filtration element or system can be connected to this evacuation hole 20.

[0059] In order to prevent the peripheral sleeve 18 from exerting an excessive force on the wall 3, the rotary disk 11 cooperates with the latter via at least one spring 21. Use is made for example of a peripheral spring arranged axially in the continuation of the opposite end of the peripheral sleeve 18 from the working zone W. The spring 21 acts on the sleeve 18 on one side and on the cover 24 on the other.

[0060] In contrast to the assembly formed by the disk 11 and the interface layer, the peripheral sleeve 18 is designed to remain angularly fixed, without rotation, with respect to the wall to be treated. A circumferential seal or a material with a hardness less than the wall to be treated is advantageously provided at the contact end of the peripheral sleeve 18. This sleeve or material allows gentle contact with the wall, without risking damaging it. The connection between the angularly fixed part of the head and the rotary part of the head is provided by a bearing 22, for example a plain bearing or rolling bearing. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two embodiments of a suction head 10. In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the parts that can be set in rotation comprise the shaft 12, the disk 11, the interface layer 14 and the cover 24. The bearing 22 is arranged between the cover and the spring 21. In the embodiment in FIG. 4, the parts that can be set in rotation comprise only the shaft 12, the disk 11 and the interface layer 14. In this case, the bearing 22 is arranged between the shaft 12 and the cover 24.

Variant with Multiple Heads

[0061] In a variant, the wall treatment system provides two or more suction heads, mounted in a group. For example, in the case of two suction heads, these are fixed together side by side or one above the other. The drives and the disks are preferably provided to rotate in opposite directions in order to compensate for the torque effect that tends to rotate a single head in the opposite direction to the actuating motor of the disk. Similarly, it is possible to provide an assembly with four suction heads mounted in two pairs of two as described above so as to form a square. Other arrangements with different, even or odd numbers of heads are also possible.

Mobility Assembly

[0062] In order to carry out cleaning operations on tank walls, the suction head 10 cooperates with a mobility assembly 30. In the following text, various examples of mobility assemblies are presented.

Mobility Assembly with Rails

[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates a first example of a mobility assembly 30 having a vertical rail 31 for moving the suction head in the vertical direction and a horizontal rail 32. According to this first exemplary embodiment, the mobility assembly has different elements for supporting and ensuring the mobility of the suction head 10. As illustrated, the mobility assembly 30 has a vertical rail 31 and two horizontal rails 32 arranged at the ends of the vertical rail. The vertical rail 31 is designed to allow the mobility of the suction head 10 by carrying out movements in translation along the axis Y. The movement of the suction head 10 in translation along the axis Y is ensured for example by a vertical movement motor provided in the suction head 10. To make the movement in translation easier, rollers are advantageously arranged between the suction head 10 and the vertical rail 31. The vertical rail 31 is for its part mounted so as to be movable along the axis X. The mobility of the vertical rail 31 on the axis X is allowed for example by one or two horizontal movement motors. By virtue of these two types of movement, a dual-function suction head can be moved over the entire area covered by the span of the rails 31 and 32.

[0064] The mobility assembly is fixed to the wall to be cleaned by means of fixed (non-rotary) suckers 40 disposed for example at the ends of the horizontal rails. These fixed suckers are advantageously connected to a suction system that is situated for example outside the tank to be treated and makes it possible to generate the suction necessary to fix the suckers.

[0065] In an advantageous variant, which is illustrated in FIG. 6, the fixed suckers are replaced by dynamic suction heads 10. As explained above, the suction heads are designed to produce a hydrodynamic effect that tends to suck the working disks against the wall to be treated. This effect is advantageously used to fix the mobility assembly 30 to the wall. This embodiment makes it possible to avoid the use of suction tubes connecting the vacuum pump to the various suckers of the previous example. The suction heads 10 are simply connected electrically to a control unit intended to be positioned outside the tank, for example above the latter, in an intervention zone used for maintaining the tank and for caring for the marine fauna located in the tank.

Mobility Assembly with a Floating Platform

[0066] FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate a second example of a mobility assembly 30, of the type having a floating platform 33 to which a dual-function suction head 10 is connected. A winch 36 carries a cable 37 to which a suction head is attached. The cable makes it possible to move the suction head vertically along the wall 3 to be cleaned. The lateral movements of the floating platform 33 and consequently of the suction head 10 are effected by virtue of motor-driven rollers 34 bearing against the wall, clearly visible in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. A propeller motor 35 makes it possible to propel the platform through the tank and to move it up to the wall to be treated. Once in the vicinity of the wall, one or more holding heads 40 or, in a variant, suction heads, hold the platform against the wall by a suction effect as described above.

[0067] In a variant, the sliding of the peripheral sleeve 18 with respect to the cover 24 is eliminated or reduced, further improving the hydrodynamic effect and the resultant holding force. To this end, use is made of one or more springs with greater stiffness characteristics or the spring(s) 21 is/are eliminated. Preferably, these elements rotate without being in contact with the wall to be treated 3, several millimeters away therefrom, by virtue of optimum adjustment of the abutment of the peripheral sleeve 18. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the holding head 40 is bearing against the wall 3. In FIG. 10, the two holding heads 40 are away from the wall 3.

Mobility Assembly with Rollers

[0068] FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a system for treating a wall by cleaning. A set of four dual-function dynamic suction heads 10 make it possible both to fix the system 1 to the wall 3 to be cleaned and to carry out the cleaning of the wall by means of a non-abrasive mechanical rubbing action, for example with the aid of the wall interface layer 14, which is specifically designed to carry out this cleaning function, as described above in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the example illustrated, the dynamic heads 10 are provided at the four corners of the treatment system so as to allow easier access to the edges and corners of the walls to be treated. Other types of configuration can be provided. The mobility assembly 30 comprises a plurality of rollers 34 disposed so as to be in contact with the wall in order to roll over the latter. The rollers are in this case mounted in pairs spaced apart by a central electric motor, the assembly being remote-controlled by a suitable remote control. The action of the rollers rolling against the wall makes it possible to move the treatment system. The suction power of the dynamic suction heads is regulated and adapted so as to allow both a fixing force against the wall while allowing the movement along the latter through the action of the rollers. The roller carriage can pivot, for example by desynchronizing the speeds of rotation of the wheels on each side, thereby making it possible to move the treatment system in all useful directions.

[0069] FIG. 12 is a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a system for treating a wall by polishing. A set of four single-effect dynamic suction heads 10 make it possible to fix the system 1 to the wall 3 to be cleaned. Four working heads 50 adapted for polishing tasks are provided at the four corners of the device in order to carrying out the polishing of the wall by means of a slightly abrasive mechanical rubbing action of the known type.

[0070] In the example illustrated, the independent heads 50 are provided at the four corners of the treatment system so as to allow easier access to the edges and corners of the walls to be treated. Other types of configuration can be provided. The mobility assembly 30 comprises a plurality of rollers 34 such as those described above in relation to FIG. 11.