Abstract
A nozzle for cleaning-in-place of a vessel has a nozzle body to be connected to a wall of the vessel and defining an opening, a nozzle insert is contained within the nozzle body and is able to assume at least two distinct positions relative to the nozzle body, a first position in which the nozzle insert is retracted into the nozzle body and a second position in which the nozzle insert is advanced in the axial direction relative to the nozzle body and protrudes into the vessel. Apertures are exposed in the second position to allow distribution of a cleaning fluid. The nozzle insert has two nozzle insert parts, in mutual abutment in the first position and spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the axial direction in the second position to form a gap between adjacent nozzle insert parts, the apertures being exposed in the gap.
Claims
1. A nozzle for cleaning-in-place of a vessel, comprising a nozzle body adapted to be connected to a wall of the vessel and defining an opening, and a nozzle insert contained within the nozzle body, the nozzle insert having an axial direction and being adapted to assume at least two distinct positions relative to the nozzle body, of which in a first position, the nozzle insert is retracted into the nozzle body and a front end of the nozzle insert is substantially flush with a front end of the nozzle body, and in a second position, the nozzle insert is advanced in said axial direction relative to the nozzle body and is adapted to protrude into the vessel, a plurality of apertures being exposed in said second position to allow distribution of a cleaning fluid, characterized in that said nozzle insert comprises at least two nozzle insert parts, and that said nozzle insert parts are in mutual abutment in the first position and spaced from each other in a direction transverse to said axial direction in the second position to form at least one gap between adjacent nozzle insert parts, said apertures being exposed in said gap.
2. A nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the nozzle insert has a substantially circular cross-section and corresponds in substance to the opening in the nozzle body, the front end of each nozzle insert part having a cross-section corresponding to a circular segment.
3. A nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle insert comprises two nozzle insert parts, the front end of each nozzle insert part having substantially the cross-section of a semicircle, which combined corresponds substantially to the opening in the nozzle body.
4. A nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the diameter of the nozzle insert increases in the axial direction from a back end to the front end, providing the nozzle insert with a substantially conical shape.
5. A nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle insert is provided with engagement means at the back end adapted to engage with corresponding engagement means of the nozzle body in said second position.
6. A nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the engagement means of the nozzle insert is formed as ring-shaped portion at the back end of each nozzle insert part, said ring-shaped portion including a track adapted to engage with a circular upstanding rib in the nozzle body, each track having a shape such that the track fits on the circular upstanding rib in the second position.
7. A nozzle according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures is provided in a section integral with at least one nozzle insert part, and wherein the adjacent nozzle insert part has a recess for accommodating the section in the first position of the nozzle.
8. A nozzle according to claim 7, wherein the section provided with apertures extends over substantially the entire edge of the nozzle insert part.
9. A nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle insert is rotatable relative to the nozzle body.
10. A cleaning device including at least one nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that each nozzle is connected to an actuator capable of at least linear movement.
11. A cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein said actuator is capable of linear and rotational movement.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle of the prior art;
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of a detail of the prior art nozzle of FIG. 1;
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a nozzle in an embodiment of the present invention in a first position;
(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view the nozzle of FIG. 3 in a second position;
(5) FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, of the nozzle seen from another angle;
(6) FIG. 6 is a partially sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4;
(7) FIG. 7 shows, on a larger scale, a perspective view of a detail of a nozzle in an embodiment of the invention, in the second position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;
(8) FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, of the detail of the nozzle in the first position shown in FIG. 3;
(9) FIGS. 9 and 10 are plan views of a detail of a nozzle in an embodiment of the invention, in two distinct positions;
(10) FIGS. 11 to 14 show details of embodiments of the nozzle according to the invention; and
(11) FIGS. 15 to 17 are schematic presentations of spray patterns of the nozzles in the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, respectively.
(12) Like elements have the same reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(13) A prior art nozzle and a detail thereof are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The nozzle is a commercially available nozzle traded by GEA Niro. The nozzle generally designated 101 is designed for cleaning-in-place of a component, such as a vessel of a plant (neither the vessel nor other parts of the plant being shown in the drawing), and comprises a nozzle body 102. The nozzle body 102 defines an opening 103 in a flange 104 adapted to be connected to a wall of the vessel in question, for instance by welding, and a nozzle insert 110 contained within the nozzle body 102 and having a front end 110a generally corresponding to the opening 103 of the nozzle body 102. The nozzle insert 110 has an axial direction coinciding with the general longitudinal direction of the nozzle 101 and is adapted to assume two distinct positions relative to the nozzle body 102.
(14) In FIG. 1, the nozzle is in its open position, in which the insert 110 is shown advanced in the axial direction relative to the nozzle body 102. In this position, the front end of the nozzle insert protrudes, in the mounted position, into the vessel. The nozzle insert has thus been moved from a first position (not shown), in which the nozzle insert 110 is retracted into the nozzle body 102 and the front end 110a of the nozzle insert is substantially flush with a front end of the nozzle body 102, here the flange 104, at the opening 103 thereof. In order to allow distribution of a cleaning fluid, the nozzle insert 110 is fitted with a spray ring 111 provided with a number of off-center apertures 112 that are exposed in the advanced position. When cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle, the spray ring 111 rotates according to the feed pressure. The translational movement of the insert 110 of the nozzle 101 between its retracted and advanced positions may be carried out by the pressure of the cleaning fluid itself, the nozzle insert 110 being biased towards its retracted position, or the nozzle may be pneumatically operated.
(15) Referring now in particular to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing an embodiment of a nozzle 1 according to the invention, the nozzle 1 comprises, as in the prior art nozzle described in the above, a nozzle body 2 having an opening 3 and a flange 4. The nozzle 1 is furthermore provided with a nozzle insert 10, which in the embodiment shown and described comprises two nozzle insert parts 15 and 25, the function and configuration of which will be described in further detail below. In FIG. 3, the nozzle 1 is in its closed position, and in FIG. 4, the nozzle 1 is open to allow for cleaning fluid to be sprayed into the vessel. The nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 are in mutual abutment in the first position shown in FIG. 3 and spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the axial direction in the second position shown in FIG. 4. By spacing apart the nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 in the transverse direction, a gap 20 between adjacent nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 is formed in the second position. The nozzle insert 10 is movable relative to the nozzle body 2. In the embodiment shown and described, the nozzle insert 10 is not only movable in the axial direction but is also rotatable relative to the nozzle body 2 through an angle of up to 360.
(16) As shown in particular in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9, apertures 12 for spraying cleaning fluid are exposed in the gap 20 between the nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 in the second, advanced position of the nozzle 1.
(17) In the first, retracted position of the nozzle 1, the surface at the front end of the nozzle 1 is substantially unbroken and smooth, as the nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 abut each other tightly, leaving only a minor split between them, just as the transition to the flange 4 of the nozzle body 2 is made substantially flush.
(18) In all of the embodiments shown in the drawings, the front end of the nozzle insert 10 has a substantially circular cross-section and corresponds in substance to the opening 3 in the nozzle body 2. As a consequence, the front end of each nozzle insert part 15, 25 has a cross-section corresponding to a circular segment, namely in the form of a circular sector of substantially 180, i.e. a semicircle. With the embodied configuration, the direction transverse to the axial direction thus corresponds to a radial direction. Other shapes are conceivable as well, just as the number of nozzle insert parts may in principle be more than the two parts shown.
(19) The material of the nozzle insert parts 15 and 25 may be chosen arbitrarily according to the manufacture and operational conditions, but is advantageously of a moulded plastic material.
(20) As shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the nozzle insert has a diameter which increases in the axial direction from a back end to the front end, providing the nozzle insert with a substantially conical shape. During movement of the nozzle insert 10 in the axial direction from the first position, in which the nozzle insert parts 15, 25 abut each other, to the second position, in which the nozzle insert parts 15, 25 are spaced apart in the transverse direction to form the gap 20, the radially outer surfaces of the part-conical nozzle insert parts 15, 25 thus follow the edge of the opening 3 in the stationary nozzle body 2.
(21) Referring now in particular to FIGS. 4, 6, 8 and 10 showing the nozzle 1 in its open position, means are provided for holding the nozzle insert parts 15, 25 in the spaced apart position in the second position of the nozzle 1. Thus, each nozzle insert part 15, 25 is provided with engagement means in the form of a ring-shaped portion 16, 26 at the back end adapted to engage with corresponding engagement means of the nozzle body 2 in the second position. In each ring-shaped portion 16, 26, a track 17, 27 is formed. The tracks 17, 27 have such a shape that they fit onto a circular upstanding rib 5 in the nozzle body 2 in the second position. This is made possible by the fact that the ring-shaped portions 16, 26 and the tracks 17, 27 are formed as circle segments of an angle slightly lower than 180. Thus, in the first position, shown for instance in FIG. 10, the tracks 17, 27 are coherent but do not form a substantially perfect circle, whereas in the second position, shown in FIG. 9, the tracks 17, 27 and the intermediate portions placed in the gap 20 together form a circle matching the circular upstanding rib 5. The engagement means keep the nozzle insert parts 15, 25 in the correct position during cleaning.
(22) In principle, the aperture or apertures 12 formed within the nozzle insert 10 may be provided in a separate part, which is hidden behind the front ends of the nozzle insert parts 15, 25 in the first position, and which is exposed and possibly advanced in the second position of the nozzle. However, referring to FIGS. 11 to 17 showing a number of preferred embodiments of the nozzle insert parts 15, 25, the plurality of apertures 12 are provided in a section 18 integral with the one nozzle insert part 15. Correspondingly, the adjacent nozzle insert part 25 has a recess 18 for accommodating the section 18 in the first position of the nozzle 1. The section 18 comprising the apertures 12 is kept inside the other nozzle insert part 25 when the nozzle is in its first or retracted position, thus preventing outflow of cleaning fluid and while at the same time, the section moves with the remaining nozzle insert to attain the second or advanced position. In the embodiment shown, the section 18 provided with apertures 12 extends over substantially the entire edge of the nozzle insert part 15.
(23) The number of apertures 12 may vary, and thus the spray angle of each individual nozzle may be designed according to the specific configuration of the cleaning system of the plant. FIGS. 11 to 13 show various configurations of the one nozzle insert part 15 acting as a male part cooperating with a female part in the form of the other nozzle insert part 25 shown in FIG. 14 in that the section 18 is lodged within the recess 28 of the female part 25 in the first, retracted position of the nozzle insert 10.
(24) In the embodiment of FIG. 11, ten apertures 12 are formed in the section 18 providing the spray pattern A shown in FIG. 15, i.e. over a spray angle of about 100 on either side of the axial direction. Correspondingly, the embodiment of the nozzle insert part 15 shown in FIG. 12 has four apertures 12 distributed around the axial direction and providing the spray pattern B shown in FIG. 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, six apertures 12 are formed in the sides of the section 18, thus rendering a spray pattern C as shown in FIG. 17. In principle, it is possible to provide a spray angle of substantially 180 covering the entire area ranging from one side of the nozzle through the axial direction to the other side.
(25) The nozzle according to the invention may form part of a cleaning device. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the nozzle 1 is connected to an actuator 50 capable of at least linear movement. By connecting each nozzle to an actuator, a controlled operation of each individual nozzle is obtained, as the movement of the nozzle insert in the axial direction between the first, retracted and second, advanced positions is carried out independently of the pressure of the cleaning fluid. The actuator 50 may be of any commercially available type and is advantageously capable of linear as well as rotational movement. The actuator 50 is connected to the nozzle 1 in that an actuating rod 51 cooperates with the nozzle insert 10. A clamping device 55 clamps the parts of the nozzle 1 and the actuator 50 together. A cleaning device has thus been provided, including a sanitary retractable nozzle, which by connection to an actuator is able to flush an area up to 180 and 360 around its axis. In the case apertures are provided that are directed towards the wall in which the nozzle is mounted, the angle may be even larger than 180, possibly up to 240.
(26) The provision of such an actuator 50 makes it possible to verify or validate that each individual nozzle 1 has in fact gone through a sequence of steps including advancement, rotation through a predefined number of rotations according to a predefined number of degrees, and retracted to its position of origin. Thus, one example of a manner of operating such a cleaning device comprises the steps of providing a cleaning device with at least one nozzle, connecting an actuator to each said at least one nozzle, connecting each nozzle to a supply of cleaning fluid, defining a cleaning programme involving linear movement of said actuator and thereby of the nozzle insert, and registrating the movement of actuator. The cleaning programme advantageously involves rotational movement of the actuator and thereby of the nozzle insert through a predefined number of rotations, thus securing that the prescribed area of the vessel has been cleaned. The cleaning programme and the registration documentation may be computerized.
(27) The invention should not be regarded as being limited to the embodiments shown and described in the above, but several modifications may be carried out within the scope of the appended claims.
