US2116935A - Apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like - Google Patents

Description

y o, 1938. c. HARD ET A]. 2,116,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 10, 1952 5 shets-sheei 1 -CLAPE RI HARD HAROi'D M. P0711 ATTORNEY 7 May 10, 1938.. c. RICHARD ET AL 2,115,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1932 s Sheets-Shem 2 INVENTOPS tlAmrpmwwv Waa M A'ITORNEY May 10, 1938. c. RICHARD ET AL 2,116,935

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS C LAQE lP/CHAQD HAleoLoMPu'ru ill/M MM May in, 1938 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Clare Richard, Los Angeles, and Harold M. Ruth, Huntington Park, Calii., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to The Pyrate Gorporation of Nevada, a corporation of Nevada Application October 10, 1932, Serial No. 637,028

11 Claims.

This invention has to do in a general way with devices for washing the interior of tanks, and is more particularly related to devices of the class described which are especially adapted for use in washing the interior of tank cars.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that it is necessary to clean tank cars periodically, and there are various features connected with the washing of the interior of these tanks which requires special equipment. In the first place the tanks may have contained gasoline or some other liquid, the vapors of which are inflammable and toxic. It is, therefore, necessary that the apparatus employed be such that it does not require an operator at a point where he is exposed to the fumes or vapors driven from the tank while the washing apparatus is in operation.

In recent practice attempts have been made to wash tank cars by means of a spray or nozzle which is lowered into the car through the manhole, the supporting means for the nozzle being constructed so that it may be moved for directing the spray into various positions in the car. One such type of apparatus is constructed so as to be manually operated from above the car. Such a device is most unsatisfactory, due to the fact that the operator is continuously exposed to the vapors and fumes coming from the car during the washing process, and further due to the fact that the device will not systematically and thoroughly wash every part of the tank. The use of a motor for turning the spray is unsatisfactory due to the limited space in which the device must be installed and operated. It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to produce a device of the class described in which the washing stream or spray is projected into' the car from a rotatable nozzle, such nozzle being adapted to rotate in a substantially vertical plane and associated with means for turning the nozzle bodily during its rotation about a vertical axis, such turning ovement being automatically eflected by the rotation of the nozzle.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that the tank on a tank car is provided with a dome having a manhole, and it is through this manhole that the apparatus, contemplated, by this invention, is lowered and supported in the tank. In view of the fact that the tanks may vary in diameter and the domes may vary in height, it becomes a further object of this invention to produce a nozzle support which is vertically adjustable and may be locked in various positions of vertical adjustment.

As was pointed out above, the nozzle unit, contemplated by this invention, rotates in a vertical plane and turns about a vertical axis, and further that the unit is suspended through the dome. In view of this construction it will be seen that the periphery of the dome itself may not receive a thorough washing action, and since this surface is the only surface in the car which is not directly exposed to the spray in the device of our invention, it is a further object of this invention to provide the device with a deflecting member arranged so as to direct a portion of the vertically directed stream angularly into the dome and against the interior surface thereof.

The device of this invention is provided with a cover plate for the manhole which has clamping means adapted for use on manholes of various diameter and with manhole flanges of various widths.

The cover plate also has an opening to provide a vent for the escape for the vapors and fumes, such opening being associated with baiile means to prevent the throwing of the washing liquid from the tank as the nozzles traverse their vertical positions.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision of visible means for indieating, at a point above the tank, the rotation of the nozzle about its axis and the rotation of the nozzle unit about the vertical axis.

The general construction of the device contemplated by this invention comprises a cover plate adapted to fit over the manhole of the tank, such cover plate being provided with an opening and means therein for supporting a vertical conduit or pipe. This pipe or conduit is provided with a thrust bearing which supports, what we may term, a sleeve, the lower end of which has an angular nozzle feed pipe which feeds liquid to and acts as a bearing for a rotatable nozzle unit. The nozzle unit is associated with means for holding same upon its bearing.

It is a further feature of this invention that the thrust bearing is positioned inside of the tank so that the tank receives any liquid which may leak through the bearing.

The details in the construction of a preferred form of our invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be best understood from the following description of the ac-- companying drawings which are chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a tank car showing a preferred form of our invention mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with parts broken away illustrating the details in the construction of a preferred form of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevation which may be considered as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken in a plane represented by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken in a plane represented by the line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

' Fig 7 is a fragmentary elevation which may be considered as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fi 2:

Fig. 8 is a plan section taken in the plane represented by the line 8--8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-9 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary inverted plan view taken in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line il-l I in Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing a modified form of our invention;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away which may be considered as having been taken in the direction of the arrow l3 in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view taken in a plane represented by the line I4-l4 in Fig. 13.

More particularly describing the invention as herein illustrated, reference letter A indicates a tank car having a tank B provided with a dome C through the manhole of which a cleaning or washing device D is suspended. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the dome O has a manhole E which is provided with a downwardly extending flange F. In addition to the dome the tank is provided with an opening G through which the wash liquid drains from the tank.

Reference numeral Ii indicates a cover plate or cover member which is mounted over the manhole E, which is provided with the central opening l2, and a peripheral flange I3. The flange -I3 is provided to prevent any liquid which may leak from parts above the cover from running on tothe outer surface of the doom or tank, such liquid being directed into the tank through the opening l2.

Reference numeral l4 indicates web plates which are mounted on the cover plate I l forming through one of the flanges l3 and is threaded into the other.

The lower end portion of the main feed conduit 2| is provided with, what we may term, a bearing flange 25, such flange forming a race for roller bearings 26 which support a collar 21 threaded in the upper end of a bell 23 formed on the upper end of a sleeve member or rotatable conduit section 29.

The section 29 is shown as being formed in two parts threaded together and carries at its lower end a T-member 30. One opening of the T-member 33 receives a nozzle feed pipe 3!. This nozzle feed pipe constitutes a bearing for the hub portion 32 of a nozzle member 33. In this form of our invention, the nozzle member 33 consists of two diametrically disposed nozzles 33a and 3312, such nozzles having tips 34a and 34b arranged so as to eject their streams at an angle for rotating the nozzle member upon the hub in the general direction of the arrow N. The nmzle member is secured upon the nozzle feed pipe by means of a bushing or cap 35, and the feed pipe is provided with a plurality of apertures 36 situated in the plane of rotation of the nozzles, the hub of the nozzle member being provided with an annular channel 31 so that the nozzles are at all times in internal communication with the apertures in the nozzle feed pipe.

From the construction so far described it will be seen that when a washing liquid, such as water under pressure. is delivered into the main -feed pipe 2| through the connection 23 andthe T- member 22, that such liquid will be delivered to the nozzle member 33 and that the ejection of such liquidwill effect a rotation of the nozzle member.

It was pointed out as a primary object of this invention to provide a device of the class described which utilizes the rotation of the nozzle member about a substantially horizontal axis for the purpose of turning the nozzle member as a unit about a vertical axis. In this form of our invention the rotation of the nozzle member as a unit about a vertical axis is effected by turning the sleeve member or rotatable conduit section on the bearings 26.

The means for effecting such turning movement consist of a shaft 40 which extends through a packing nut 4! in one end of the T-member 33 and through the bushing or cap which holds the nozzle hub on the nozzle feed pipe. The end 42 of the shaft which extends through the cap II spmer which supports split 11 member is bent so as to lie in the path of rotation of the l5. The split collar member I5 is provided along its division line with outwardly extending flanges l6, such flanges forming the bearing .for the pin I! which supports a pinion gear l8 and is provided onits extending end with a crank l9.

The pinion gear Ilengages rack teeth 20 on the periphery of a main feed pipe on fixed conduit 2|. This main feed pipe orfixed conduit is provided on its upper end with a T-connection 22 which receives a hose or any other suitable type of' conduit 23 for delivering a wash liquid into the .main feed pipe.

It will be apparent from. the construction so far described that the means of supporting the main feed-conduit in the split collar l5 permits vertical adjustment of the main feed conduit and its associated parts; and for the purpose of clamping the split collar on the main feed conduit for locking the latter in, various fixed positions of adjustment we provide a; bolt or another suitable member indicated at 22' which extends nozzle member. 33, thus during the rotation of the nozzle member 33 the shaft is rotated correspondingly. The end 43 of the shaft 43, which extends through the packing nut 4|, is formed or provided with an eccentric which is received in a collar 45 attached to a pitman rod 46. The upper end of the pitman rod is bent so as to extend through the end 41 of a bell crank 43 which is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 49 formed or mounted on the upper end portion of, the sleeve member or rotatable conduit section 29.

Reference numeral it indicates a ratchet wheel which is rigidly mounted upon the fixed conduit section or the main feed pipe 2| The ratchet wheel 50 is provided with ratchet teeth SI and such teeth are adapted to be engaged by the upright finger 41' on the bell crank 43. The bell crank 43 is supported on the bracket so as .to have a yieldable outward movement whichis permitted by the coil spring 52.

It will be seen that as the shaft 49 is rotated 2,110,935 by the nozzle member 33 the pitman rod 46 receives a reciprocating motion .which is imparted to the bell crank ll. Since the ratchet wheel 50 is rigid and the bell crank is supported on a structure which is rotatable relative to the ratchet wheel, this swinging movement of the bell crank results in a step by step turning motion being imparted to the sleeve member or rotatable conduit section 29 through bracket 49. This action is indicated by the dotted line positions of the bell crank and the bracket 49 as shown in Figs.

7 and 8.

It was pointed out in the early part of the specification as one of the objects of this invention to provide means forindicating both the rotation of the nozzle member and the turning motion of the sleeve member or rotatable conduit section at a visible point above the tank. Such indication in this form of our invention is obtained by providing the shaft 40 with an eccentric section situated substantially on the axis of the vertical conduit formed of sections 2| and 29. The eccentric portion 55 is received in a collar 56 which is attached to the lower end of the rod 51 which extends upwardly through the vertical conduit and has its upper end projected through a packing gland 58 where it is provided with a needle or other suitable indicator 59.

. As the shaft 40 is rotated directly from the nozzle the rod 51 is reciprocated once for each rotation of the nozzle and inasmuch as the rod is directly connected to the shaft, it will be seen that the rod, in addition to this reciprocating motion, is rotated directly with the sleeve member, thus the speed of the rotation of the upper end of the rod 51 indicates the speed at which the nozzle unit is being turned about a vertical axis and the speed of reciprocation indicates the speed of rotation of the nozzle about the nozzle feed pipe. I

As was pointed out above, means are provided on the device, contemplated by this invention, for automatically governing the speed of operation of the nozzle. Such speed governing means in this form of our invention are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and comprise a sprocket wheel 60 which is mounted on the nozzle hub and which drives a sprocket chain I, which, in turn, drives a sprocket pully 52 mounted on, what we ma term, a governor shaft 63. v

The governor shaft 83 is supported in a bearing 54 which is formed on a collar mounted on the rotatable conduit section 29'. The opposite end of the governor shaft 63 is threadedas indicated at 65'.

Reference numeral 66 indicates a diamond nut mounted on the threaded portion 85' in close proximity to the endof the shaft bearing 64. This nut is adjusted so that a slight rotation thereof in the threaded portion 65' will bring the same into engagement with the face of the bear- 70 diametrically opposite ends of this governor plate 61 are bent inwardly asindicated at 69 and 69' to form bearing ears or flanges which are provided with apertures for the reception of guide pins 10 and 10' formed on the outer ends of weight members II and II respectively which 3 extend through apertures I3 and 13' on opposite ends of the diamond nut I8. Compression springs 15 and II are interposed between the end flanges 69 and 88' and the outer ends of the respective weight members II and. II. It will thus be seen that during the rotation of the governor plate 61 by the sprocket wheel 82, the centrifugal action will throw the weights outwardly against the action oi. the compression springs and when a predetermined speed has been reached the centrifugal force is suflicient to overcome the force of the springs to such an extent that the diamond nut 88 is rotated into engagement with the bearing, thus retarding the movement of the associated parts. As the movement is retarded the springs force the weights toward the center and the -nut is rotated away from the hearing so that the governor provides a simple and accurate means for controlling the speed of the operation of the unit.

Reference numeral 16 indicates a bore hole which may be provided in the bearing and in the conduit section 29' to permit water lubrication of the shaft 83 if so desired.

, Reference numeral 18 indicates a guard member which is mounted on the rotating member to protect the governor and the pitman bar.

In order that we may provide ample ventilation through the cover plate and at the same time prevent the spray being thrown therefrom as the nozzles traverse their vertical positions, we provide, what may be termed, a baiile plate which is mounted on the collar member in downwardly spaced relation with the opening l2.

Reference numeral 8| indicates nipples which are provided with caps 82 and which may be used for the purpose of delivering steam or other fluid into the tank when the unit is installed.

For the purpose of making the cover member adaptable for various sizes and types of manholes, we provide a novel form of clamping means generally indicated by reference numeral 84, such clamping means comprising a plurality of threaded collars 85 formed on the cover member, such collars receiving threaded pins 86, the lower ends of such pins being provided with tapered wings 81 which are adapted to engage the flange F. The pins are advanced into clamping engagement with the threaded portion by wing nuts indicated at 88. i

Reference numeral 89 indicates a conical deflecting member which is mounted on the fixed conduit section in a position above the path of the nozzle member when it is traversing a vertical plane so that a part of the spray coming from the'nozzle as it is projected upwardly is deflected angularly into the dome C so as to thoroughly wash the inner wall of the dome.

In Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive I show a modified form of construction which is designed to operate in the same general way as the construction just described but in which the means for turning the rotatable pipe section about its axis areslightly different from those described above. In this erence numeral IM.

4 anepas ing liquid. The lower end is provided with a thrust bearing indicated at I which is the same as the bearing shown in Fig. 2 which supports a rotatable pipe section generally indicated by ref- The lower end of the rotatable pipe section carries an angularLv disposed nozzle feed pipe it! upon which a nozzle I00, similar to the nozzle member 33, is rotatably supported.

o The hub portion of the nozzle member ill carrles a beveled gear I01 whichengages a beveled gear I" mounted on the lower end of a pin or shaft III! which is shown as extending axially through the vertical conduit section and through a packing gland III in the T -member III. The shaft i0! is free to rotate relative to the conduit and is supported therein in any suitablemanner such as by meansof a bearing collar I09. The beveled gear I0! is formed with or keyed to a spur gear 2 which engages another spur gear 3 mounted on the lower end of the shaft II which is supported in bearings H5 and iii, such bearings-being supported from the rotatable conduit section I by means of brackets ill and H5. The shaft H4 is provided on its upper end with an eccentric III which carries a pawl member Iii, such pawl member being pressed into yieldable engagement with teeth I20 on a ratchet wheel III by means of a tension spring I22. The

=80 ratchet wheel i2l, like the corresponding wheel II in Fig. 2, is rigidly secured on the fixed conduit section iii. It will be seen from this construction that during the rotation of the nozzle member I", the shaft Ill receives a correspond- .36 ing rotation which, through the eccentric lll, re-

ciprocates the pawl relative to the ratchet wheel and imparts a step by step turning movement to the rotatable conduit section I. The upper end portion of the shaft I09 provides an indicator for indicating the speed of this last mentioned rotative movement.

Reference numeral I25 indicates a governor which is similar in operation to the governor shown and described in connection with Figs. 2, 4,

5, and 6.

. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the device contemplated by this invention is of simple form and construction; it is entirely automatic in its operation; it provides am- .50 ple ventilation for the tank without spillage over the outside of the tank; it is constructed so as to thoroughly cleanse all points on the interior surface of the tank and the tank dome; it may be readily adjusted for speed of operation; and is .55 adapted for use on tanks and domes of various operated by the rotation of said nozzle member for imparting one step of rotation to said conduit about its vertical axis for each rotation of said nozzle member about its horizontal axis.

"2. A device for cleaning tanks and the like 35 embodying: a vertical feed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said pip a horizontally extending nomle feed pipe angularly mounted on said sleeve; a reaction nomle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; means operable by the rotation of said nozzle 5 member for intermittently turning said sleeve member on said vertical pipe.

3. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe; 1 a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve; a bracket on said sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a pawl member on said bracket with one end engaging said ratchet; a nozzle member mounted on said sleeve is for rotation about a horizontal axis; a nozzle on said nozzle member arranged so as to rotate said nozzle member during the passage of a pressure fluid therethrough; and means operated by the rotation of said nozzle member for moving said so pawl member relative to the teeth on said ratchet wheel.

4. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe 26 a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve; a bracket ongsaid sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a bell crank; yieldable means securing said bell crank to said bracket with one arm engaging said ratchet wheel; a T member on the lower end-of said sleeve; a nozzle feed pipe in said T member; a reaction nozzle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; a shaft extending through said Tmember; means for rotating said shaft from. said nozzle; an eccentric on said shaft; and a pitman rod connecting said eccentric with said bell crank.

5. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed .pipe; a sleeve rotatably 40 mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe;

a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve; a bracket on said sleeve below said ratchet wheel; a bell crank; yieldable means securing said bell crank to said bracket 45 with one arm engaging said ratchet wheel; a T member on the lower end ofsaid sleeve; a nozzle feed pipe in said T member; a reaction nozzle member rotatably mounted on saidnozzle feed pipe; a shaft extending through said T member; so means for rotating said shaft from said nozzle; an eccentric on the end of said shaft; a pitman rod connecting said eccentric with said bell crank; another eccentric formed on said shaft on the axis of said sleeve; a collar on said last menll tioned eccentric; and an indicator shaft extending upwardly through said sleeve and said main feed pipe, said indicator shaft having a projecting end exposed above. the top of said main feed pipe.

6. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe;

a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said main feed pipe above said sleeve; bearing brackets on said ll .last mentioned means comprising a pinion on the lower end of said shaft, a reaction nozzle mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis is on the lower end or said sleeve. and gear means driven by said nozzle and engaging the pinion on said shaft.

7. A liquid spray of the class described embodying: a fixed conduit; a rotatable conduit mounted on said fixed conduit in coaxial relation therewith; a nozzle member mounted on said rotatable conduit for rotation about an axis which is normal to the axis of said fixed and rotatable conduits; and means extending into the path of the nozzles and operable by the rotation of said nozzle member for turning said rotatable conduit step by step about its axis, said conduits and said nozzle member all being in internal communication with each other and said nozzle member having tips arranged to propel the same during the passage of liquid therethrough.

8. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a main feed pipe adapted to extend through the manhole of the tank and vertically therebelow; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said pipe; a nozzle feed pipe angu larly mounted on said sleeve; a nozzle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; a nozzle on said nozzle member arranged so as to rotate said nozzle member during the flow of a pressure fluid therethrough; and means including a member engaging said nozzle and adapted to rotate therewith for imparting step by step turning movement to said sleeve from said pipe.

9. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a vertical main feed pipe; a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said main feed pipe; a horizontally extending nozzle feed pipe mounted on said sleeve; a nozzle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe; reaction nozzles on said nozzle member; means operated by said nozzle member for turning said sleeve on said vertical pipe: and a conical ring surrounding said main feed pipe and positioned a substantial distance above said nozzle member for angularly deflecting a part of the liquid stream projected upwardly from said nozzle member.

10. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a conduit; means for rotatably suspending said conduit on a substantially vertical axis; a nozzle member mounted on said conduit in internal communication therewith for rotation about a horizontal axis; means for delivering a pressure liquid into said conduit for projection from said nozzle member; means operated by said pressure liquid for rotating said nozzle member about its horizontal axis; and means operable during the rotation of said nozzle member about its horizontal axis for automatically imparting one step of rotation to said conduit about its vertical axis for each rotation of said nozzle member about its horizontal axis.

11. A device for cleaning tanks and the like embodying: a vertical feed pipe, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the lower end of said feed pipe, a horizontal nozzle feed pipe mounted on said sleeve, a nozzle member rotatably mounted on said nozzle feed pipe, said nozzle being so constructed as to deliver a substantially compact stream, means for continuously rotating said nozzle member, and means operable by the rotative movement of said nozzle member for intermittently turning said sleeve member on said vertical pipe while discharging said stream to sweep the wall of said tank in successive defined paths, said turning movement being in an amount such as to produce overlapping of the paths of said streams upon successive rotative movements of said nozzle.

CLARE RICHARD. HAROLD M. RUTH.

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