US3246847A

US3246847A - Automatically reciprocable spray head

Info

Publication number: US3246847A
Application number: US425150A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hammelmann Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-01-31
Filing date: 1965-01-13
Publication date: 1966-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-19

Description

United States Patent 3,246,847 AU'IGMATICALLY RECIPROCABLE SPRAY HEAD Paul Hammelmann, 1'7 Zuni Sundern, Oelde, Westphalia, Germany Original application Jan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,061. Divided and this application Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No.

6 Claims. (31. 2a9--1s'7 This application is a division of application Serial No. 86,061, filed January 31, 1961, for Device for Cleaning Pipes, Conduits, Storage Tanks and the like, now abandoned. This invention relates to cleansing devices which are intended for cleansing pipes and ducts, as well as storage and transport containers which are used for the transport and storage of oils and oil products and acids, as well as of milk, beer, fruit juices, and the like.

For this cleansing process, devices are known in which the cleansing fluid is sprayed systematically by cleansing heads with controlled nozzles, under high pressure, over the inner wall or interior of the pipe or container to be cleaned. The present invention, however, employs a spray or jet tube controlled by a high hydraulic pressure instead of employing mechanical drive means.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for cleansing pipes and ducts, storage containers and the like, with a flexible hose connection for the controllable supply of a high-pressure liquid (30 to 80 atm.) into a spray or jet tube.

It is a further feature to reciprocate the spray jet or tube automatically by an auxiliary stream of pressure liquid.

'The deposits in the pipe are attacked from all sides. Cleansing is completed in a shorter time. Control means for'reciprocating the cleanser head can be constructed in different ways, but it is preferred to utilize a hydraulicallycontrolled reciprocating piston to move the spray head.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a sprinkler tube particularly adapted for paper-making machines and FIGURE 2 is a similar view with parts shown in a different relationship.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the left end portion of FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 4 is a similar detail of parts of FIGURE 3 showing elements in a position diiferent from that shown in FIGURE 3. FIG- URE 5 is a further enlarged detail of the construction shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly applicable for small-bore pipes or tubular conduits, for instance, such as are used for cleaning large paper-making machines, in which case jets of Cleansing fluid should be directed both forwards and backwards. In such instances the use of high-pressure-controlled spray pipes has been found to be especially advantageous.

As shown in FIGURES l and 2, a clamping sleeve 202 is fixed on a machine frame (not shown), carrying a movably-supported hydraulic cylinder 201. This cylinder 201 is closed at its left end by a plug or end cap 203 in which the liquid supply end of the hydraulic pipe 204 is rigidly fixed and sealed. The latter is thus also rigidly held on the machine frame concentrically within cylinder 201. The piston 205 moves longitudinally in the hydraulic cylinder 201 and on and over the hydraulic pipe 204. This working piston 205 carries the spray tube 207 which is pressure-sealed at its right end within the hydraulic cylinder 201 by means of packings 208 and a gland nut. Its left end may be coupled to any desired additional length of spray tube by a coupling 210 shown in FIGURE 1.

The end cap or plug 203 contains a port 211 placing the space between the piston 205 and the end plug 203 in communication with the external atmosphere. The openice ing through such port to

passages

214 and 215, which are open to the atmosphere as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, is controlled by a screw-adjustable valve 213 which can be secured in a selected adjusted position by the locknut 212 shown best in FIGURE 3.

The plug or end cap 203 is further fitted with a longitudinally movable rod 216 extending axially through it, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, and terminating behind the piston 205 on a plate 217 longitudinally adjustable in the cylinder 201 by lengthwise adjustment of rod 216 for the purpose of establishing the limiting position of the piston 205 at the retracted end of its stroke. This rod 216 is securable in various adjusted positions by means of the locking thumbscrew 218.

The piston 205 is longitudinally drilled to provide a stepped bore in which a longitudinally movable pushrod valve 219 is received. This valve is urged toward its open position shown in FIGURE 3 by a helical compres sion spring 220 engaged between a shoulder on such valve and the bottom of the enlarged portion of the bore through the piston, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The head of this pushrod valve controls the opening of control port 221 establishing communication between the piston bore in which the pushrod slides and the annular space between the concentric spray tube 207 and the hydraulic cylinder 201.

The spray tube 207 has in it in the usual manner spray holes, as shown in FIGURE 3, or spray slits, spray nozzles or the like, arranged and distributed longitudinally and circumferentially of it according to the intended purpose of the device. 7

In operation the spray tube or pipe 207 will be reciprocated alternately in opposite directions relative to the hydraulic cylinder 201 between the retracted position shown in FIGURE 1 and the projected position shown in FIGURE 2. Assuming that the pushrod valve 219 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4 closing the control port 221 and the spray tube 207 is in a position to the right of that shownin FIGURE 1, cleansing liquid will be discharged from the hydraulic pipe 204 into the space between such pipe and the spray tube 207 and through such spray tube into the annular space between the spray tube and the hydraulic cylinder 201. This liquid under pressure will produce a positive pressure on the right end of piston 205 urging it to the left, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, with a force greater than the force on the closed right end of the spray tube 207 tending to move this tube to the right. The annular chamber between the inner hydraulic pipe 204 and the outer hydraulic pipe 201 to the left of piston 205 will be drained at a faster or slower rate to the atmosphere through

passage

214 and 215, depending upon the lengthwise adjustment of screw valve 213. The adjustment of this valve will determine the rate at which the spray tube 207 is moved to the left toward its retracted position of FIGURE 1.

When the spray tube 207 has reached its desired retracted position as established by the adjusted position of the annular plate 217 effected by the longitudinal adjustment of rod 216. The left end of the pushrod valve 219 will be pressed against plate 217 so that with the assistance of spring 220 the valve will be moved from its position of FIGURE 4 closing the control port 221 into the open position of FIGURE 3. With the valve in this position, liquid from the annular chamber between spray tube 207 and hydraulic pipe 201 at the right of piston 205 will fi-ow through the control port 221 and the piston bore to the left side of the piston. The liquid thus flowing through the piston will tend to equalize the hydraulic pressure on its opposite sides so that the pressure of the cleansing liquid on the closed right end of the spray tube will force such tube toward the right into the projected position of FIGURE 2.

When the spray tube reaches the extreme right position indicated in FTGURE 2, the head of the pushrod valve 219 will engage the right end of the hydraulic cylinder Ziil and such pushrod will be pushed from the position of FIGURE 3 to that of FIGURE 4 against the force of compression spring 220 so as to seal the control port 221 t the piston bore. The cleansing liquid dis charged through the apertures oi the spray tube into the annular space between such tube and the hydraulic pipe 201 will therefore again produce a pressure on the right side of piston 205 which will move the piston to the left in opposition to the pressure of the cleansing liquid on the right end of the spray tube 207. The pressure on the left side of piston 205 will be relieved by discharge of liquid through the port 211 and ports 2'14 and 215 in the end plug 203 past the screw valve 213, as previously explained. Consequently, the spray tube will continue its travel to the left, as seen in FIGURE 1, until it reaches the plate 217, which again reverses the position of the pushrod valve 219.

It will be evident that the hydraulic cylinder 2% may be made of any desired length, depending upon the desired stroke of the spray tube 207, and the location of the limits between which such travel occurs can be altered by shifting the position of hydraulic cylinder 201 in the supporting clamping sleeve 202. The speed of reciprocation of the spray tube will depend upon the pressure of the cleansing fluid, the adjusted position of screw valve 213 and the annular area of piston 205, as compared to the cross-sectional area of spray tube 297. To effect reciprocation of the spray tube 207 in the manner described requires about one percent of the volume of the pressure fluid or cleansing liquid supplied.

I claim as my invention:

1. Spray cleaning mechanism comprising a lengthwisereciprocable apertured spray tube, a cylinder encircling a portion of said spray tube, an annular piston connected to said spray tube and received in said cylinder for reciprocation therein to effect reciprocation of said spray tube, a cleaning fluid supply pipe extending concentrical- 1y through said annular piston and into the interior of said spray tube, sealing means sealing said cylinder relative to said spray tube, and means controlling discharge from said cylinder of fluid under pressure supplied there to through said spray tube for effecting reciprocation of said piston and spray tube relative thereto.

2. The spray cleaning mechanism defined in claim 1, and discharge means bypassing the spray tube for disi change from the cylinder therethrough of fluid under pressure which has passed through the spray tube.

3. The spray cleaning mechanism defined in claim 2, and regulating means for the discharge means operable to regulate the rate of discharge of fluid under pressure therethrough and, consequently, the speed of reciprocation of the piston and spray tube elfected by fluid under pressure in the cylinder.

4. The spray cleaning mechanism defined in claim 1, in which the annular piston is connected to one end of the spray tube, additional sealing means providing a seal between the cleaning fluid supply pipe and the cylinder at the side of the piston remote from the spray tube, the piston has a port for passage of fluid under pressure therethrough, and discharge means for the portion of the cylinder at the side of the piston remote from the spray tube for discharge from the cylinder therethrough of fluid under pressure which has passed through the piston port.

5. The spray cleaning mechanism defined in claim 1, and stop means located in the cylinder enga-geab-le by the piston for limiting travel thereof in one direction, and adjusting means projecting from said stop means to the exterior of the cylinder and movable to adjust the position of said stop means along the cylinder.

6. A device for cleaning the interior of pipes, conduits, storage tanks and transport containers, comprising a conduit for supplying fluid under pressure, a discharge tube disposed adjacent to said conduit and reciprocable lengthwise thereof, a cylinder member disposed adjacent to said conduit, and a piston member received in said cylinder member, one of said members being connected to said discharge tube to efiect reciprocation thereof relative to said conduit and the other of said members being connected to said conduit, and said conduit having duct means establishing communication between said conduit and said cylinder member for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder member for effecting relative movement of said piston member and said cylinder member to move said discharge tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,966 8/1915 Burgess 239587 1,215,202 2/ 1917 Schelter 239239 1,867,250 7/1932 Coles et a1. Z39-239 3,175,768 3/1965 Hammelmann 239-239 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

6. A DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF PIPES, CONDUITS, STORAGE TANKS AND TRANSPORT CONTAINERS, COMPRISING A CONDUIT FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, A DISCHARGE TUBE DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID CONDUIT AND RECIPROCABLE LENGTHWISE THEREOF, A CYLINDER MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID CONDUIT, AND A PISTON MEMBER RECEIVED IN SAID CYLINDER MEMBER, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID DISCHARGE TUBE TO EFFECT RECIPROCATION THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID CONDUIT AND THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT, AND SAID CONDUIT HAVING DUCT MEANS ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CONDUIT AND SAID CYLINDER MEMBER FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CYLINDER MEMBER FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON MEMBER AND SAID CYLINDER MEMBER TO MOVE SAID DISCHARGE TUBE.