US3922991A

US3922991A - Apparatus for cleaning metallic surfaces

Info

Publication number: US3922991A
Application number: US373492A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Woods
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-25
Filing date: 1973-06-25
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for cleaning relatively large, flat, ferro-metallic surfaces of corrosion, scale, paint and undesirable marine growths, said apparatus having high pressure fluid blasting assembly, magnetic attachment device, driving motor, and a signal generating and receiving system for guiding the apparatus along the surface to be cleaned.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Woods 1 1 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METALLIC SURFACES {76] Inventor: John W. Woods, 2108 Country Club Road, Duncan, Okla. 73533 [22] Filed: June 25, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 373,492

[52] U.S. C1. ll4/222; 134/172 [51 Int. C1. B608 3/02 [58] Field of Search 114/222, 51; l5/l.7; 134/172, 198; 239/287, 550

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,466,315 8/1923 Thorsen 114/222 2.605.852 8/1952 Rhoads ISO/6.7 3.088.429 5/1963 Jahannessen 114/222 3.324.492 6/1967 Myers 15/1.7 3.337.889 8/1967 West... 15/1.7 3,367,299 2/1968 Sayre 114/51 1 1 Dec. 2, 1975 3.439.368 4/1969 Myers 15/1.7 3.609.612 9/1971 Tibbling r 114/222 3.609.916 10/1971 Hammelmann... 114/222 3,627,562 12/1971 Hammclmann... 114/222 X 3,638,600 2/1972 Modrey .r 114/222 3,682,265 8/1972 Hiraoka.. [14/222 3.709.436 1/1971 Foster 239/287 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. OConnor Attorney, Agent, or FirmBruce E. Burdick; Michael J. Caddell [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus is disclosed for cleaning relatively large, flat, ferro-metallic surfaces of corrosion, scale, paint and undesirable marine growths. said apparatus having high pressure fluid blasting assembly, magnetic attachment device, driving motor. and a signal generating and receiving system for guiding the apparatus along the surface to be cleaned.

18 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Shet 1 of5 3,922,991

Sheet 3 of 5 US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 FIG. 5

FIG.5a

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet4 ofS 3,922,991

sheet 5 ofs 3,922,991

FIG. 9

FIG. IO

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING METALLIC SURFACES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the normal operation of metallic-hulled waterborne vessels, both in fresh water and salt water, the hulls of the vessels, particularly below the waterline, inevitably accumulate thick encrustations of several substances. These primarily include corrosion prod- 19 ucts, scale, organic growths such as barnacles, and old paint.

Most of the above described products adhere very tenaciously to the ships hulls, and due to their rough nature, induce a large amount of hydraulic friction or drag between the hull and the body of water. The large amount of drag greatly hinders the ships movements and reduces the ships efficiency.

Thus it becomes desirable and even imperative to restore the ships hull to a clean smooth surface which will contribute to efficient operation of the vessel.

Another problem encountered below a ships waterline involves the weakening of the hull through the destructive mechanism of corrosion, and particularly the form of corrosion known as pitting. Just above the only effective way to impede the normally accelerated rate of ship hull corrosion below the waterline is to remove the scale, corrosion, growths, and old paint down to clean metal and apply a fresh coat of tough marine paint to the clean metal.

The methods of removing such undesirable adherents from a ships hull can be very expensive and time consuming, even involving lifting the ship from the water and placing it in dry dock. Due to the size and weight of many ships, removing them from their berths for drydock cleaning is prohibitively expensive. Thus, devices have been developed to remove undesirable products from ships hulls without removing the ships from the water. These devices generally utilize rotating brushes and/or scraping blades for removing the scale and growths. Unfortunately these prior art devices are usually efficient in removing only one type of undesirable adherent while leaving the majority of the other types of adherents remaining on the hull.

The present invedntion provides a highly effective hydrojet blasting and mechanical cleaning apparatus which is fully automated and capable of cleaning a ships hull to clean metal with one pass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus in operation.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial isometric view illustrating the current flow about the apparatus while in operation.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the device showing the relationship between the cowling and the internal structure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus illustrating the internal working structure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the structure with the cowling removed.

FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of a flexible pad used in the structure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the relationship between each of the nozzles and the manifold.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail illustration of one of the Spray nozzles utilized by the apparatus, showing the use of abrasive injection means with the nozzles.

FIG. 7a is a rotated side view, partially in crosssection, of the spray nozzle and manifold illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of detecting means on the apparatus.

FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of the spray header and nozzle assembly as seen from the bottom;

FIG. 10 is an axial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 in which like numbers signify identical elements of the structure, the cleaning apparatus 1 utilizes a rigid cowling 2 made of a planar structural material such as metal or reinforced plastic, and is preferably a nonmagnetic material such as stainless steel or fiberglass.

The cowling has a flexible elastomeric sealing element 3 passing circumfe rentially around the lower edge for providing fluid-tight sealing contact between the cowling 2 and the surface to be cleaned 4.

Electronic or

magnetic detector elements

5 and 6 are located at the front and rear of the cowling structure in a position to detect cleaned and uncleaned metallic surfaces and to distinguish therebetween.

The cowling is equipped with lifting lugs 7 at various locations thereon to allow physical lifting of the apparatus when moving to and from the job location. Also located in a sealed relationship passing through the cowling 4 is the swivel connector 8 which is capable of receiving hydraulic and/or electric power supply conduit 8a and conducting them into the interior of the device.

Located below but not attached to the cowling is the hydroblasting assembly 9 which projects slightly outward from the cowling and in close proximity to the surface to be cleaned.

FIG. 2 illustrates the expected flow of fluid currents about the cowling as the apparatus moves along an underwater surface being cleaned. The view of FIG. 2 is taken from the rear of the apparatus and shows how fluid expelled from the hydroblasting assembly 9 at the front of apparatus sets up currents as indicated by the flow arrows around the cowling. The fluid carries the blasted material from the front of the apparatus and propels the smaller more abrasive particles through intake ports 10 to be redirected against the surface in an increased cleaning action.

In FIG. 3 the apparatus is shown in cross-sectional elevation in which the cowling 2 contains the front and

rear detector beams

5 and 6 supported by arms 11 and 12. Inside the cowling are front drive wheels 13 and rear drive wheels 14. Located behind the rear drive wheels are

rotary brush elements

15 and 16 with motor 17 located axially on brush element 15 to provide rotary motion to brush 15. The axles of

drive wheels

13 and 14 and the rotary brush elements are transverse of the cowling and generally parallel to the surface to be cleaned.

Support for the drive wheels and rotary brush elements is provided by frame member 18 structurally attached thereto and adapted to accept the cowling structure in fixed but removable attachment.

FIG. 4 is a view of the apparatus looking up at it from the bottom and illustrating the drive wheels which are on the left side and drive wheels 13b on the right side. Each set of

wheels

13a and 13b is rotatably connected via axles to

power cases

19 and 20 containing power actuating means such as electric or hydraulic drive motors. Each set of

drive wheels

13a and 13b are driven independently of the other set and can be driven in the same direction to propel the apparatus or in opposite directions to turn the apparatus.

Rear drive wheels

14a and 14b likewise are attached to independent drive means contained in

cases

21 and 22 to provide propelling or turning movement for the apparatus in conjunction with the action of

wheels

13a and 13b.

Brushes

16a and 16b are rotary brush elements driven individually by

drive motors

23 and 24. It is clear the drive motors for

wheels

13 and 14 and brushes 15 and 16 may be either electrically or hydraulically actuated.

The outer shells of the

power cases

19, 20, 21, and 22 are preferably made from some nonmagnetic, structurally strong material such as aluminum, brass, bronze or fiberglass. Located in the lower plane of each

case

19, 20, 21, and 22 are magnetic fastening means 25 integrally attached to the cases for providing tractive forces between the cleaning apparatus 1 and the surface being cleaned 4. The magnetic fastening means 25 may be either permanent magnets or electromagnets, but are preferably of the electromagnetic type for versatility in movement when placing and removing the apparatus on the metallic surface.

Also in FIG. 4 can be seen the control and

power conduits

26, 27, 28, and 29 leading from swivel connection 8 toward the power cases and motor driven brush elements. These conduits carry motive power to the drive motors and also carry pressurized fluid to the hydroblast assembly 9 which provides the high-pressure jet-cleaning of the surface. One embodiment of the apparatus utilizes hydraulically powered drive motors which means that the only motive supply source conduits 26 through 29 will be required to convey will be high pressure fluid since the high pressure fluid serves to both drive the motors and also to function in the hydro-blast assembly as the blast cleaning medium.

In a second embodiment envisioned by this apparatus, the conduit sections 26 through 29 may be compartmentalized or arranged in coaxial arrangement to provide insulated electrical leads to the drive motors and separate hydraulic fluid supply conduits to the hydro-blast assembly. Also included in these conduit sections in both embodiments are separate and insulated signal leads going to and from the front signal bars 5 and 6 providing thereto a signal source and also a signal return source.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic top view of the inner assembly with the cowling removed is shown wherein crossframe members 18b through 1811 are fixedly attached to longitudinal

main frame members

18a and 18b and respectively mount drive motor and

wheels

13a, 13b, 14a and 14b and

brush elements

15, 16a and 16b. Also FIG. 5 and the accompanying FIG. 5a illustrate the method of attaching the drive and brush elements to the frame members 18. This involves the use of flexible pads 30 placed between the individual systems mentioned above and the

frame members

18a and 18b to which they are flexibly attached. The flexible pads 30 may contain an elastomeric material, a foam material, or be inflated with compressed gas. The pads provide the connective relationship between the elements 13, l4, l5, and 16 and the

frames

18a and 18b. The use of pads 30 allows limited multi-directional movement of these elements about the rigid structural frame to allow the apparatus to traverse contours and discontinuities in the surface being cleaned while continuing to provide maximum cleaning of the surface.

FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional elevation view of one of the embodiments of flexible pads utilizing the compressed gas construction.

Elastomeric plates

31 and 32 are placed at the top and the bottom of the flexible pad with flexible elastomeric sidewalls 33 containing the compressed gas in area 34. Typically, plate 31 would be fixedly attached to a frame member and plate 32 would be permanently affixed to a drive case or brush drive motor.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the type of hydroblasting mechanisms which may be readily used with this apparatus. Referring to FIGS. 1, 6, and 4, the hydroblast assembly comprises the high pressure fluid manifold 35 containing a plurality of spray-blast nozzles or jets 36 which fluidically communicate with manifold 35 to receive high pressure fluids therefrom and emit them in a flat, cutting spray as shown at 37. Each of the jets 36 preferably comprises a generally cylindrical section 38 which is threadedly attached to manifold 35 and which has a small diameter orifice 39 therethrough. To the threaded section of the spray jet is attached a fantail portion 40 which flattens the small stream of fluid from the orifice and directs it outward at an angle. This provides a thin but widespread spray pattern 37 to cover as much area as possible yet maintain a highly efficient material removal rate due to the high pressure cutting action.

As an alternative to a one piece tubular manifold 35 along the front of the apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible to make the spray system as shown in FIG. 4 in two

discrete systems

35a and 35b in order to allow the flexing of the hydro-blast assembly as the cleaning apparatus travels across bumps, ridges, and other discontinuities on the surface being cleaned.

This allows flexing or independent movement of one part of the hydro-blast system with respect to the other in case the surface is concave, convex, or has an angled configuration.

The angle of spray pattern 37 may vary from 10 up to about but the preferable angle was found to be about 30. Also the angle 0 illustrated in FIG. 7a, between the jet spray and the surface being cleaned may vary from about 5 to about but the preferable angle was found to be around 50 for maximum cleaning. Also it is noted that a slight staggering of the spray jets 36 along the manifold 35 to obtain a slight overlap between the paths of adjacent spray patterns is conducive to better cleaning since the energy level of the fluid at the outer edges of the spray pattern 37 tends to be much lower than at the center and the overlapped spray area compensates for this energy level loss.

For example, in one specific preferred embodiment the apparatus utilizes a diverter-lip spray system having a split manifold with a total of 97 diverter-lip spray jets placed one inch apart, with a spray diversion angle, 0, of 50, a spray pattern of 30, and a standoff distance of 2 inches from the cleaned surface. Diverter-lip as used herein refers to the fan-tail portion 40, which serves to bend or divert the spray by an angle 6 from the axis of the bore of a spray blast nozzle, preferrably as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 7a. Diverter-lip spray system as used herein refers to a spray system incorporating a jet having such a diverter-lip, such a jet being called a diverter-lip jet. The standoff distance, or distance from the spray orifice to the surface to be cleaned, can operably vary from one-fourth inch up to about 6 inches, although it is feltthat about 1 to 2 inches is the optimum distance.

In FIG. 7 a further embodiment of the cleaning apparatus isshown for use with particularly fouled metal surfaces when it is desirable to clean them down to bare, clean metal. ln FIG. 7, each individual spray jet or nozzle 36 is provided with an abrasive supply conduit 41 which emits under low pressuresan abrasive stream of material such as sand, into the stream of high pressure fluid emitted from the orifice 39 of nozzle 36. The abrasive material is picked up by the high speed spray stream and blasted against the metal surface thereby providing even further cleaning action than the high pressure knifelike spray pattern.

The abrasive supply tubes 41 may be separately provided to the cleaning apparatus or may be carried coaxially inside the supply conduits along with but separate from the high pressure fluids. The conduits may be placed at the front, the rear, or alongside the spray nozzles as long as the abrasive stream is directed into the jet spray stream.

A further alternative is illustrated in FIG. 8 in which fore and

aft television cameras

42 and 43 and lighting system 44 are mounted atop the cleaning apparatus for fore and aft inspection of the surface being cleaned. Television cable 45 passes from the camera system to the operator at the surface along or inside the power supply conduit 8a. Power can be transmitted to the camera and light system from the same source powering the magnetic attachment means and the electric motor drive means.

The television signal received at the surface by the operator enables him to guide and control the apparatus by manipulating motor drive speed, electromagnetic attractive forces, and/or, adjusting fluid pressure and abrasive feed rate to the hydro-blast system. This allows him to guide the apparatus where desired on the surface, to increase or decrease the propelled speed of the apparatus, or to increase or decrease the cleaning forces evolved from the hydroblast cleaning assembly.

OPERATION In typical operation the apparatus 1 may be placed in the water and supported by lines hooked in lifting lugs 7. When the apparatus is lowered into place at the proper location on the underwater metallic surface it can be swung into contact with the surface and the magnets activated to attract the apparatus to the surface with sufficient force to support the apparatus no matter what the orientation of the apparatus and surface being cleaned.

When the magnetic pads have coupled the apparatus to the metal surface the lifting hooks and cables can be removed from lugs 7 and the apparatus made operational by activating the drive motors to the wheels and brushes as well as supplying high pressure fluid such as water and detergent, or just water alone, to the hydroblast assembly. The signal supply source and signal beams can be activated from the surface through the control conduits 26 through 29 as previously described.

Signal beams

5 and 6 may utilize any means of measuring the cleaned or non-cleaned state of the surface such as resistance, conductance, capacitance, or magnetic flux, which systems are well known in the art and without further need of-explanation here.

These signal systems can be used to provide a guiding system to keep the apparatus moving along the edge of the just-cleaned area without any inefficient overlap thereon. It may also further signal when an area has been cleaned and the apparatus needs to be moved. The signal bar 6 at the rear further may provide a means of measuring the extent to which the metal is being cleaned and allow the operator above the water surface to increase or decrease the fluidic pressure, motor speed, and/or abrasive feed rate.

The conduit connection 8 receives a high pressure supply hose (not shown) from the control vessel at the surface, which hose may or may not contain the control signal leads as well as any electromotive leads which may be required to the apparatus. Pumps on the surface vessel are used to provide the high pressure fluid in the range of 200 psi on up to 10,000 psi to the cleaning apparatus. Additional pumps may be utilized to pump abrasives to the hydro-blast assembly in addition to the high pressure fluid. Use of electromagnets in magnetic pads 25 allows the operator at the surface to vary the attractive force between the apparatus and the cleaned surface.

Furthermore, use of electric drive motors in the apparatus rather than fluid driven motors allows an easy method for the operator to maintain individual control over each drive motor to thereby turn and guide the apparatus along the surface in response to the signals being received from it. This also allows the apparatus to be easily turned or rotated when the end of the cleaned surface is reached and the machine must be rotated and then advanced sideways to return along the uncleaned surface.

ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF THE APPARATUS AND ITS OPERATION The apparatus utilizes a combination of brushing action with hydro-blasting action and a possibility of abrasive action to obtain a clean metal surface. It is supported on the surface by magnetic pads which may be variable through the use of electro-magnetic means.

The apparatus is propelled along the surface by drive motors which can be hydraulically or electrically actuated. The motors energy supply sources may be individualized and controlled at the surface to allow the operator there to turn and rotate the apparatus.

The apparatus utilizes electric or magnetic detecting and signaling beams, both fore and aft, to guide the operator at the surface in controlling the apparatus. The apparatus can also utilize visual detection and guidance means involving television cameras and lighting on the device.

Furthermore, through the use of a flexible seal between the cowling of the device and the metal surface it is believed that the fluidic content within the cowling, all of the elements therein being sufficiently waterproofed of course, will be placed in a vacuum because of the generally outwardly directed action of the hydroblast assembly. This outward blasting action serves as a basic eductor and pulls the fluid out from inside the.

hydro-blast streams and serve as a secondary source of abrasive action on the surface being cleaned. Maintaining a partial vacuum within the cowling aids in holding the apparatus against the surface being cleaned.

Thus the combination of rotary brushing, hydroblasting and the option of primary and secondary abrasive blasting provides a multiple cleaning action effective against all types of fouling agents or underwater metallic surfaces.

Although a specific preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the detailed description above, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms or embodiments disclosed herein, since they are to be recognized as illustrative rather than restrictive and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited. For example, while the apparatus is depicted as being rectangular or square in shape it is obvious that any configuration may be used. It is also obvious that reciprocating brush means could be substituted for the rotary brushes. Furthermore, the hydro-blast assembly could be placed at any point along the axis of the apparatus or at the rear of the device. Also it is obvious that one could place signal means and detectors at different locations in the device. The invention is declared to cover all changes and modificationsof the specific example of the invention herein disclosed for purposes of illustration, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning metallic surfaces, comprising:

body means;

motive means within said body means arranged to selectively propel said apparatus; attachment means within said body means arranged to hold said apparatus to a metallic surface;

rotary brush means within said body means and brush drive means attached to said brush means to provide driving force for said brush means;

signal means located on said body means and having a plurality of sensing means adapted to generate and receive signals indicative of electro-magnetic properties of the surface being cleaned, whereby the strength of said received signals is dependent upon the amount of adherents upon the metallic surface; and,

resilient mounting means located between said body means and said motive means, and resilient mounting means between said brush means and said body means, said both resilient mounting means comprising elastomeric airpads adapted to provide the sole means of attachment of said motive means and said brush means to said body means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body means further comprises:

a. frame means adapted to mount said motive means,

and jet-blasting means; and

b. cowling means adapted to cover said frame means and said motive means, attachment means and jetblasting means, and further adapted to be attached to said frame means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said motive means comprises motor drive means, and wheel means attached to said motor drive means; said attachment means comprises magnetic pads, and said jet-blasting means comprises conduit means communicating highpressure fluid to said jet-blasting means; manifold means adapted to receive and distribute fluids under pressure, and a plurality of hydro-jet nozzles fixedly attached to and fluidically communicating with said manifold means and adapted to direct high-pressure fluid sprays downward against said metallic surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said apparatus further comprises electrically actuated motor drive means and said motor drive means comprises a plurality of electric drive motors with at least one said electric motor on each side of said frame means; said electric motors each having an independent source of electric power.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said motor drive means comprises a plurality of hydraulic actuated motors with at least one of said hydraulic motors on each side of said frame means.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising swivel connection means in said cowling means arranged to receive hydraulic and electric supply conduits and transmit through said cowling in sealing engagement therewith, said swivel connection means arranged to provide continuous communication through said cowling while said cowling rotates with respect to said conduits.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising flexible conduit means communicating from said swivel connection means to said drive motor means, said brush means, and said jet-blasting means.

8. Apparatus for cleaning hulls of ships, said hulls of said ships being constructed of ferro-magnetic material, said apparatus adapted to operate underwater, and said apparatus comprising:

a. body means adapted to be placed on a ships hull and further adapted to move along said hull at a controlled rate; said body means having structural frame means and cowling means;

b. seal means on said cowling means for providing sealing contract between said apparatus and said ship hull;

c. magnetic tractive means on said frame means arranged to be placed in close proximity to said ship hull and thereby provide forces sufficient to support said apparatus on said ship hull;

(1. motor driven wheel means comprising a plurality of motors and wheel systems, with at least one said motor on each side of said apparatus; each said side of said motor means having independent power supply sources;

e. hydro-jet fluid blasting means located in said body means and projecting outwardly from said body means and directed toward said ship hull, said fluid blasting means adapted to provide a relatively wide flat spray of high pressure fluid spray; and

f. conduit means passing through said cowling means and communicating with said blasting means, said motors, and said motor drive means; said conduit means having flexible and rotatable means capable of allowing said cowling to rotate and turn, said means further capable of allowing said motors to rotate within said body means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising flexible pads between said frame means and said motors and motor drive means; and said fluid blasting means further comprises a fluid manifold with a plurality of hydro-jet nozzles thereon, each adapted to receive fluid from said manifold and eject it in a wide flat spray against said ship hull.

, Agar 10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising abrasive supply means fixedly attached to said apparatus and arranged to supply abrasive material into said wide flat spray from said fluid blasting means.

1 l. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said fluid blasting means comprises from ten to one-hundred nozzles mounted on a tubular fluid manifold, each said nozzle having a spray-jet orifice opening onto a spray-flattening portion, whereby fluid is sprayed in a flat angular pattern.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said nozzles are mounted on said manifold in staggered arrangement thereby providing staggered, overlapping spray patterns upon the surface being cleaned.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 whereby said sprays circumscribe an angular spray pattern of from about up to about 90, and the angle said spray makes with the surface being cleaned is from 5 to about 100.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said spray nozzles have a standoff distance from the surface being cleaned of from one-fourth inch up to about 6 inches.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said spray pattern angle is about 30, said angle of spray to surface being cleaned is about 50, said standoff distance is about 2 inches, and said nozzles are mounted approximately one inch apart.

10 16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said abrasive supply means further comprises abrasive supply tubes mounted one or more on each spray nozzle and arranged to inject abrasive material directly into the fluid emitted from said nozzle prior to said fluid striking the surface being cleaned.

17. Apparatus for cleaning a metallic surface, which comprises:

a. body means;

b. magnetic surface gripping means, attached to said body means and arranged in close proximity to the metallic surface, for magnetically holding said body means adjacent the metallic surface;

c. a plurality of drive means interposed between said body means and the metallic surface for propelling said body means along said metallic surface; and

d. water jetting means,'attached to said body means,

for emitting a flat, angular high pressure spray of fluid against the metallic surface, wherein said water jetting means includes'at least one diverterlip nozzle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said water jetting means includes a diverter-lip spray system having a multiplicity of additional diverter-lip jets arranged to emit overlapping non-intersecting spray patterns.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning metallic surfaces, comprising: body means; motive means within said body means arranged to selectively propel said apparatus; attachment means within said body means arranged to hold said apparatus to a metallic surface; rotary brush means within said body means and brush drive means attached to said brush means to provide driving force for said brush means; signal means located on said body means and having a plurality of sensing means adapted tO generate and receive signals indicative of electro-magnetic properties of the surface being cleaned, whereby the strength of said received signals is dependent upon the amount of adherents upon the metallic surface; and, resilient mounting means located between said body means and said motive means, and resilient mounting means between said brush means and said body means, said both resilient mounting means comprising elastomeric airpads adapted to provide the sole means of attachment of said motive means and said brush means to said body means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body means further comprises: a. frame means adapted to mount said motive means, and jet-blasting means; and b. cowling means adapted to cover said frame means and said motive means, attachment means and jet-blasting means, and further adapted to be attached to said frame means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said motive means comprises motor drive means, and wheel means attached to said motor drive means; said attachment means comprises magnetic pads, and said jet-blasting means comprises conduit means communicating high-pressure fluid to said jet-blasting means; manifold means adapted to receive and distribute fluids under pressure, and a plurality of hydro-jet nozzles fixedly attached to and fluidically communicating with said manifold means and adapted to direct high-pressure fluid sprays downward against said metallic surface.

8. Apparatus for cleaning hulls of ships, said hulls of said ships being constructed of ferro-magnetic material, said apparatus adapted to operate underwater, and said apparatus comprising: a. body means adapted to be placed on a ship''s hull and further adapted to move along said hull at a controlled rate; said body means having structural frame means and cowling means; b. seal means on said cowling means for providing sealing contract between said apparatus and said ship hull; c. magnetic tractive means on said frame means arranged to be placed in close proximity to said ship hull and thereby provide forces sufficient to support said apparatus on said ship hull; d. motor driven wheel means comprising a plurality of motors and wheel systems, with at least one said motor on each side of said apparatus; each said side of said motor means having independent power supply sources; e. hydro-jet fluid blasting means located in said body means and projecting outwardly from said body means and directed toward said ship hull, said fluid blasting means adapted to provide a relatively wide flat spray of high pressure fluid spray; and f. conduit means passing through said cowling means and communicating with said blasting means, said motors, and said motor drive means; said conduit means having flexible and rotatable means capable of allowing said cowling to rotate and turn, said means further capable of allowing said motors to rotate withIn said body means.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising abrasive supply means fixedly attached to said apparatus and arranged to supply abrasive material into said wide flat spray from said fluid blasting means.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said fluid blasting means comprises from ten to one-hundred nozzles mounted on a tubular fluid manifold, each said nozzle having a spray-jet orifice opening onto a spray-flattening portion, whereby fluid is sprayed in a flat angular pattern.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 whereby said sprays circumscribe an angular spray pattern of from about 10* up to about 90*, and the angle said spray makes with the surface being cleaned is from 5* to about 100*.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said spray pattern angle is about 30*, said angle of spray to surface being cleaned is about 50*, said standoff distance is about 2 inches, and said nozzles are mounted approximately one inch apart.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said abrasive supply means further comprises abrasive supply tubes mounted one or more on each spray nozzle and arranged to inject abrasive material directly into the fluid emitted from said nozzle prior to said fluid striking the surface being cleaned.

17. Apparatus for cleaning a metallic surface, which comprises: a. body means; b. magnetic surface gripping means, attached to said body means and arranged in close proximity to the metallic surface, for magnetically holding said body means adjacent the metallic surface; c. a plurality of drive means interposed between said body means and the metallic surface for propelling said body means along said metallic surface; and d. water jetting means, attached to said body means, for emitting a flat, angular high pressure spray of fluid against the metallic surface, wherein said water jetting means includes at least one diverter-lip nozzle.