CLEANER

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaner comprising a base member connectable to a conduit for a cleaning agent, a head rotatably mounted about a first axis on the base member and a nozzle head mounted rotatably about a second axis on the head and having at least one nozzle. According to the invention, the nozzle head has an auxiliary nozzle which forms a cleaning jet and directs it toward the head, or an auxiliary nozzle which forms a cleaning jet and directs it toward the head is arranged on the nozzle head.

Claims

1. A cleaner comprising a base member connectable to a conduit for a cleaning agent, a head mounted rotatably about a first axis on the base member, a nozzle head mounted rotatably about a second axis on the head having a nozzle, and an auxiliary nozzle forming a cleaning jet directed toward the head, wherein the nozzle head includes the auxiliary nozzle or the auxiliary nozzle is arranged on the nozzle head.

2. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is arranged on the nozzle head and is configured to direct the cleaning jet to hit a base of the head, the base of the head being arranged on a side of the head facing away from the base member.

3. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is arranged at a greater distance from the second axis than the base.

4. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the auxiliary nozzle is arranged flush with a surface of the nozzle head.

5. The cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the nozzle head is planar.

6. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary nozzle includes a bore in the nozzle head.

7. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is arranged on a nozzle receiver.

8. The cleaner according to claim 7, wherein an outlet subchannel is arranged between an interior space of the nozzle head and the auxiliary nozzle.

9. The cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary nozzle branches off from the outlet subchannel and an end of the outlet subchannel is closed by a seal arranged between the nozzle and the nozzle receiver.

10. The cleaner according to claim 8, wherein a separating member separates the outlet subchannel and a channel arranged in the nozzle from one another.

11. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is configured such that the cleaning jet may move in a direction having at least one component of movement that is orthogonal to a surface of the head.

12. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein an outlet of the auxiliary nozzle is arranged flush with a surface of the nozzle head.

13. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary nozzle includes a bore in the nozzle head.

14. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is arranged on a nozzle receiver.

15. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is configured such that the cleaning jet may move in a direction having at least one component of movement that is orthogonal to a surface of the head.

16. The cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is configured such that the cleaning jet may move in a direction having at least one component of movement that is orthogonal to the surface of the head.

17. The cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary nozzle includes a bore in the nozzle head.

18. The cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is arranged on a nozzle receiver.

19. The cleaner according to claim 9, wherein a separating member separates the outlet subchannel and a channel arranged in the nozzle from one another.

20. The cleaner according to claim 19, wherein the auxiliary nozzle is configured such that the cleaning jet may move in a direction having at least one component of movement that is orthogonal to the surface of the head.

Description

[0025] The invention shall now be described with reference to an embodiment, and the description of its advantages shall be described in greater depth. In the Figures,

[0026] FIG. 1: shows a view of a cleaner having a base member, a head and a nozzle head;

[0027] FIG. 2: shows a cutaway view of a detail of the head and the nozzle head.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a view of a cleaner 1.

[0029] Cleaner 1 has a base member 2 that is connected to a conduit 3. Conduit 3 conducts a cleaning agent, generally a liquid, and protrudes together with cleaner 1 into a vessel to be cleaned. The connection between base member 2 and conduit 3 may be releasable, for example by means of a screw connection. Clamps or welds are also known from the prior art.

[0030] Base member 2 defines a first axis L along which it can extend. The first axis L may coincide with a direction in which conduit 3 extends.

[0031] A head 4 is mounted rotatably about the first axis L on base member 2. Rotation is produced by a drive means as known from the prior art. The drive means may comprise a stationary guide vane wheel and a rotatably movable vane wheel. The movable vane wheel is operatively connected to the head. The stationary guide vane wheel and the movable vane wheel are arranged so that cleaning agent can flow through them. The cleaning agent flowing through causes the movable vane wheel to rotate, and the rotation is then transferred to the head.

[0032] A nozzle head 5 is mounted rotatably about a second axis A on head 4. The second axis A is at an angle to the first axis L and is often chosen to be a right angle. However, it may also differ from a right angle by a few dozen degrees.

[0033] The nozzle head has at least one nozzle 6, from which the cleaning agent entering cleaner 1 via conduit 3 is discharged from cleaner 1. Nozzle 6 is shaped to form a jet, so that the cleaning agent has a cleaning effect when it hits an inner wall of a vessel, even in vessels that are some metres in diameter, and so that it also removes dirt kinetically from the inner wall.

[0034] A plurality of nozzles 6 may be arranged on nozzle head 5 in the circumferential direction around the second axis A. The number and design of the nozzles 6 is generally adapted to the size of the vessel and to the amount and pressure of the cleaning agent, whereby nozzles 6 of different designs may also be arranged on the nozzle head 5 of a cleaner 1.

[0035] Nozzle 6 is fastened in a nozzle receiver 7. Its fastening may be releasable so that nozzle 6 can be changed. A seal 8 that seals a gap between the components is provided between nozzle 6 and nozzle receiver 7. This prevents dirt from being deposited there and any inadvertent escape of cleaning fluid that would mean a reduced effectiveness of nozzle 6. Nozzle receiver 7 is designed as a socket that protrudes from nozzle head 5 in a radial direction relative to the second axis A.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of head 4 and nozzle head 5. Nozzle head 5 is seen in a partial section view.

[0037] Nozzle 6 is connected to nozzle receiver 7. Nozzles 6 and nozzle receivers 7 are advantageously simple and reliable in design with matching threads that allow a screw connection 9 to be produced. Through nozzle 6 there extends a channel 10 through which pressurised cleaning agent flows from an interior space 11 of nozzle head 5 before exiting nozzle 6.

[0038] The nozzle head has an auxiliary nozzle 12 through which an auxiliary nozzle channel 13 extends. Auxiliary nozzle 12 is in fluid communication with an interior space 11. Cleaning agent under pressure in interior space 11 flows through auxiliary nozzle channel 13 and is expelled from auxiliary nozzle 12.

[0039] Auxiliary nozzle 12 is designed in such a way that the discharged cleaning agent is formed into a jet and that the jet is directed toward head 4. The design is defined by the diameter and length of auxiliary nozzle channel 13, and also by whether and in what form auxiliary nozzle channel 13 tapers along the flow path. In conjunction with the pressure of the cleaning agent, this results in a form of jet that may also fan out. The design is specified, for example, for a particular cleaning agent pressure for the intended use and for a particular distance between auxiliary nozzle 12 and head 4. It is necessary in this regard to take into account how strong the impact of the cleaning agent is to be and to what extent fanning out is necessary to achieve the desired cleaning pattern on head 4.

[0040] A jet spraying direction S is determined, in particular, by the extent to which a longitudinal axis H of auxiliary nozzle channel 13 is inclined toward the second axis A when viewed in the spraying direction.

[0041] The inclination of longitudinal axis H, a distance R from auxiliary nozzle 12 to the second axis A, and the rotation about the second axis A all result in a spray cone. The inclination and distance R are selected so that the spray cone and head 4 intersect geometrically, such that head 4 is hit at least temporarily by a jet of cleaning agent when auxiliary nozzle 12 rotates about the second axis A. During such rotation, head 4 is preferably hit to a predominant extent, or even better all the time, in order to improve the result of cleaning.

[0042] On a side facing away from the supply line, head 4 has a base 14 that is spaced a distance D away from the second axis A. When cleaner 1 is in operation, base 14 is generally located at the bottom of head 4 in relation to the direction of gravity. The base may be planar in design or dome-shaped. If it is dome-shaped, D denotes the maximum distance between the base and the second axis A.

[0043] The embodiment shows the advantageous design in which the distance R of auxiliary nozzle 12 from the second axis is selected to be greater than the distance D of base 14 from the second axis. As a result, the jet of cleaning agent hits base 14 and cleans it while auxiliary nozzle 12 is rotating about the second axis A. If necessary, the inclination of auxiliary nozzle 12 relative to the second axis A is adjusted to direct the cleaning agent jet onto base 14.

[0044] Auxiliary nozzle 12 is provided on nozzle receiver 7. This provides advantages, for example in comparison with an arrangement on nozzle 6, in that the orientation of auxiliary nozzle 12 on nozzle receiver 7 is fixed and does not depend on the installed condition of nozzle 6. In the case of a screw connection, nozzle 6 can be skewed relative to the target state, for example by not tightening the screw connection sufficiently. If that happens, auxiliary nozzle 12 is also misaligned.

[0045] The cleaning agent is fed from interior space 11 to the auxiliary nozzle channel 13 of auxiliary nozzle 12 with the aid of an outlet subchannel 15. This outlet subchannel 15 passes through nozzle receiver 7 and is arranged next to channel 10 and can be provided in the form of a parallel bore to channel 10, for example.

[0046] Outlet subchannel 15 and channel 10 are separated from each other by a separating member 16. By this means, nozzle 6 and auxiliary nozzle 12 take cleaning agent from interior space 11 without the flows of cleaning agent being dependent on each other. This is advantageous in terms of flow mechanics and also provides a way of introducing a flow-modulating means, for example a guide surface, into channel 10.

[0047] Outlet subchannel 15 has an end 17 before which auxiliary nozzle channel 13 branches off in the direction of flow. End 17 is sealed, for example by a sealing weld. However, the embodiment shown, in which the closure is achieved by means of the seal 8 that is already present, is more advantageous. This is constructionally simple, reliable in terms of assembly and allows outlet subchannel 15 to be accessed for cleaning when maintenance work is carried out on the cleaner. In this case, outlet subchannel 15 may be provided in the form of a bore that is placed on the seat surface of seal 8 on the side of nozzle receiver 7.

[0048] An outlet 18 of auxiliary nozzle 12 may be flush with an area 19 of nozzle head 5. In the case shown here, area 19 is located on nozzle receiver 7, which in this section is planar. This avoids any edges or steps, prevents any deposits of dirt and makes it easier to clean area 19.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0049] 1 Cleaner [0050] 2 Base member [0051] 3 Conduit [0052] 4 Head [0053] 5 Nozzle head [0054] 6 Nozzle [0055] 7 Nozzle receiver [0056] 8 Seal [0057] 9 Screw connection [0058] 10 Channel [0059] 11 Interior space [0060] 12 Auxiliary nozzle [0061] 13 Auxiliary nozzle channel [0062] 14 Base [0063] 15 Outlet subchannel [0064] 16 Separating member [0065] 17 End of the outlet subchannel [0066] 18 Outlet of the auxiliary nozzle [0067] 19 Surface [0068] L First axis [0069] A Second axis [0070] R Distance between the auxiliary nozzle and the second axis [0071] D Distance between the base and the second axis [0072] S Jet spraying direction [0073] H Longitudinal axis of the auxiliary nozzle