AU682631B2 - Treatment device - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2 So 6 6 *6 *s

AUSTRALIA

*s 6 Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Original Application No: SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT CLEAN-AIR (AUST.) PTY LTD Alan Alexander Lake

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level D, 308 Edward Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) "Treatment Device" Australian Patent Application No. 664777 filed 11 November 1993.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1 I_ THIS INVENTION relates to a device for inspecting the interior of an air conditioning ducting, particularly suited to a treatment device for the treatment of surfaces and in particular but not limited to a steerable device for inspecting internal walls of ventilation ducts, air-conditioning ducts or the like.

It has been proposed to clean surfaces to remove accumulated deposits by using blasting techniques. In other circumstances, surfaces are treated using paints, disinfectants and so forth. There are situations where surfaces that may S: need treating are inaccessible. One such environment is in the case of ventilation or air-conditioning ducting and it has been proposed to treat the interior of air- ••co conditioning ducting in a cleaning process using compressed air to blast surface "'°deposits away from walls of the ducting and then draw those deposits off using

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a vacuum. A nozzle located at the end of a hose is fed into the ducting, the nozzle being propelled by compressed air which, as well as providing propulsion, @o is also used to dislodge deposits on the walls of the ducting. A similar technique is used for cleaning drainage pipes but in this case, water is used as the propellent and blasting agent. These techniques are generally inefficient.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least to some degree the aforementioned problems associated with the prior art or at least to provide the public with a useful alternative.

In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a device for inspecting the interior of an air conditioning ducting, wherein the device comprises a video camera means for providing an image of the ducting interior to an operator at a position outside the ducting, the device also has a holder Smeans onto which the camera means is held. The holder mrneans is controllably i i e Is positionable and steerable within the ducting.

Preferably the device includes a system employing a treatment device for treating ducting having an interior defined by a peripheral internal wall, the treatment device being adapted to travel through the ducting and having a treatment media outlet member for delivering treatment media into the interior of the ducting and a treatment media outlet member positioning means holding said treatment media outlet member in predetermined operative relationship some •g0g o•relative to the internal wall of the ducting.

s ee The device preferably employs a video camera for inspection of the ducting prior to or during cleaning. The video camera can be carried by the ""treatment device or held on a separate carriage or other holder.

5S° The duct treatment device can be any device which enables control to be o..

exercised over positioning of the delivery of the treatment media into the ducting.

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This control can be by pre-positioning the treatment media outlet member before D s the treatment device enters the ducting or the duct treatment device carn be under remote control or a combination of pre-positioning and remote control can be used. Typically, the duct treatment device comprises a travelling carriage which carries the outlet member and the outlet member positioning means and includes an outlet member to carriage connecting assembly defining the relative position of the outlet member to the carriage and thereby to the internal wall of the ducting. The carriage preferably operates using a remote control and is typically steerable. The carriage can be arranged to travel on the internal wall of the ducting or can be suspended within the ducting, for example, using air lift effect A from a source of air flow through or generated in the carriage. The treatment sdevice preferably includes a treatment media supply means communicating with the outlet member and which can be on board or communicating with a remote source of treatment media. Typically, the treatment device comprises the outlet member and positioning means at or adjacent a distal end of a treatment media supply line through which ,he treatment media can be delivered to the outlet member.

The device can be driven, towed, pushed or otherwise propelled along the 0**0 *o ducting. Typically, the device includes a drive means so that the device is selfpropelled. Where the ducting permits, the drive typically includes a plurality of 0000 4 oo wheels, tracks or other means by which the device can gain traction on a lower 00 wall portion of the ducting. Where a carriage is employed, in one embodiment traction can be improved by using an auxiliary air outlet providing downward thrust on the carriage.

00 In use, the device typically generates within the ducting spent treatment media, and in some circumstances, it is desirable to remove the spend media, to this end, it is preferable that the device include a spent media removal means.

The spent media removal means can communicate with the interior of the ducting to draw spent treatment me iia ,rom he ducting for discharge or collection.

Where a carriage is employed, the spent media removal means preferably travels with the carriage, particulaniy where it is desirable to collect the spent media soon after the treatment media been delivered into the ducting through the outlet member. Alternatively, the spent media removal means can be tixed relative to the outlet member or the positioning means or both so the spent media is Oremoved from the ducting independent of the relative position of the outlet

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member in the ducting.

The device preferably includes an optical system for remote viewing of the interior of the ducting. In another embodiment the device includes self-aligning means in order to maintain the outlet member in predetermined relationship to the wall of the ducting as the device travels along the ducting. The self-aligning means can be any suitable means and typically comprises a retractable moveable n..

abutment or a pair of retractable moveable abutments which engage opposite side **aa walls of the ducting in order to maintain alignment of the device as it travels a p along the ducting.

o The treatment media can be any media including mechanical brushes or 0flowable media capable of being dispensed or otherwise discharged into the a-aducting and embraces gases, liquids, pastes and other flowable media. The media a outlet member can be any means by which the media can be delivered into the ducting and is typically selected to suit the nature of the media and the required P. a delivery location. In the case of a rotatable cleaning brush, the media outlet member is an axle with a brush release mechanism so that the brush is removable. The outlet member can be fixed or moveable. In one embodiment, the outlet member comprises a rotary assembly which is typically a tubular rotor having discharge openings adjacent opposed free ends of the rotor. In another embodiment where the media is to be deposited on or discharged against the duct wall, the media outlet member is typically closely spaced from tne duct wall.

Typically, a manifold assembly having a plurality of media discharge openings is employed with the manifold assembly being shaped so as to extend generally parallel to the duct wall and having openings which direct treatment media ~-~oqLI~--qaq qpe directly on to the duct wall. Where a carriage is employed, the manifold assembly typically extends transverse to the direction of carriage travel and can be located in front of or behind the carriage. Advantageously, the position of the outlet member is adjustable relative to the carriage.

The treatment media outlet member positioning means can involve direct, indirect or remote control over the position of the outlet member. The .e positioning means can provide limited movement of the outlet member in a 0 40 9.

defined manner as might be the case with the rotor mentioned above or the outlet member can be fixed relative to say, a carriage, as in the case of the manifold 0:90 assembly. Broadly speaking, where a carriage is employed, the construction of '"the carriage and the position of the outlet on the carriage will define the outlet 9.

member carriage connecting assembly. This assembly will in effect constitute the treatment media outlet member positioning means defining the position of the 99 outlet member relative to the internal wall of the ducting.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention and wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating use of a treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a pictorial view illustrating a treatment device according to the present invention employing a carriage; Figure 3 is a side view of a carriage similar to that of Figure 2 but illustrating a further embodiment; SFigure 4 is a cut-away pictorial view illustrating a further embodiment of II the present invention; Figure 5 is a section illustrating a drive means suitable for the carriage of Figure 2; znd Figures 6A through 10 illustrate various carriage arrangements suitable for implementing the present invention.

S Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1,there is illustrated in use a treatment device 10 according to the present invention showing the device of* treating the interior 11 of ducting 12 to dislodge and remove debris 13 from the .internal wall 14 of the ducting 12. In this case, the treatment media is 6:0* compressed air. In the illustrated embodiment, the treatment device 10 employs :0.

0. a plurality of treatment media outlet members in the form of front and rear rotor assemblies 15 and 16 and a forward lower end manifold assembly 17 to deliver compressed air into the interior of the ducting. The rotor assemblies 15 and 16 and the manifold 17 are held in position by a treatment media outlet member positioning means in the form of a carriage 18 which holds the outlet members in predetermined operative relationship relative to the internal wall 14 of the ducting 12. The outlet members dislodge debris 13 from the internal wall 14 of the ducting, the debris and spent air is drawn off through an opening 19 into a vacuum filter unit 20 downstream of the carriage. The carriage includes a treatment media supply line 21 which communicates with a spool 22 and a compressor 23. Compressed air delivered along the supply line 21 is not only used to treat the internal walls of the ducting but drives an air motor via a flow distributor (not shown) distributing the influent air between the drive mechanism and the outlet members. The carriage 18 is under remote control and carries a

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camera and a light (see Figure 2) so that the interior of the ducting can be viewed by an operator at a remote location on a screen as shown at 24. The carriage in this case is under remote control using a hand-held control unit 25 so that the carriage can be steered through the ducting, likewise the outlet members can be steerable as shown at 15' where the rotor assembly 15 has been moved to a directly forward position in order to speed up clearing of the ducting.

a Referring now to Figure 2, a typical carriage 18 is illustrated in more detail, see$ 0 06 00:, and where appropriate, like numerals have been used to illustrate like features.

4 In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage 18 includes a supply line 21, an S'o.

electrical cable 26 for supply of electrical power to the carriage or communication 4* "from the remote control and in this case, a third air supply line or suction line 27 is employed which communicates with a suction or blower outlet assembly 28 so that debris can be drawn off or air can be blown out to improve traction. In the illustrated embodiment, drive is accomplished using a gearbox at 29 so that •oooo 4 air driving the rotor assembly 15 also drives an adjustable drive shaft 30 to drive the rear wheels 31 of the carriage 18. The front wheels 32 are steerable.

The blower and manifold assembly 17 in the illustrated embodiment provides a self-aligning function for the carriage 18 by virtue of the rollers 33 which travel on vertical walls of the ducting, thereby providing retractable movable abutments via the wheels 33. The manifold sections 34 need not be telescopic but can simply be removable sections so that the spacing between the wheels 33 can be adjusted for different width ductings. With this arrangement, the spacing between the wheels 33 on either side of the carriage 18 can be set at say, a preset distance from side walls of the ducting enabling limited transverse

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movement of the carriage as it travels along the ducting. As can also be seen in Figure 2, a light 35 is employed to light the interior of the ducting so that camera 36 can be used to provide a real time image for the display 24 (see Figure 1).

It should be appreciated that while the illustrated embodiment shows rotor assemblies 15 and 16, these can be replaced with fixed outlet members similar to the outlet member 17. In this case, inverted U-shaped blower and manifold so assemblies can be used to place additional outlets closely spaced from side and top walls of the ducting.

"While a drive has been described as an active part of the carriage, drive 5S05 is not essential as the carriage can be towed through the ducting and to this end, so. a tow hitch 37 is illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a rotor assembly and in this case a cylinder assembly 38 is employed and the rotor assembly is mounted 4.

on a telescopic arm 39 so that it can be moved to a position within a range of 6 0 positions between those illustrated in Figure 3 at 15 and Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment, whereby a carriage 18 is equipped with a suction inlet 38 drawn behind the carriage and in this case, the carriage is propelled using rigid pusher rods 39 which carl be simply screwed together as shown to provide propulsion for the carriage. A portable vacuum filter unit 40 is employed in this case to clear the ducting.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is illustrated a typical drive arrangement for the rear wheels 31 of the carriage 18. In this case, a hydraulic motor 41 is /4T R employed to drive gears 42, 43 and 44 to impart motion to the wheels 31.

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Figures 6A and 6B illustrate typical carriage arrangements employing a skid steer arrangement where wheels 45 and 46 are selectively driven by respective motors 47 and 48. The arrangement of Figures 7A and 7B employs a carriage driven by tracks 49 while in Figure 8, the arrangement previously illustrated in Figure 2 is shown, in Figure 9 a three wheel arrangement with a single steerable front wheel is illustrated while in Figure 10, a four wheel drive arrangement is shown.

In similar fashion to the illustrated embodiment, the rotors can include removable brushes so that the ducting walls can be mechanically cleaned.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

**see: 6 0 I II

Claims (10)

1. A device for inspecting the interior of an air conditioning ducting, the device comprises a video camera means for providing an image of the ducting interior to an operator at a position outside the ducting, and a holder means onto which the camera means is held, the holder means being controllably positionable and steerable within the ducting.

3. The device according claim 1 wherein the device incudes a control o means for controlling the steering and the position of the holder means and/or operation of the camera means and the controller means is a localised or a S.remote control. 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the holder means is a carriage or a treatment device for treating the ducting.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the carriage or treatment device is adapted to travel along the interior wall of the ducting. The device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the carriage or a treatment device includes a drive means so that the device is self-propelled.

6. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the remote control is a hand-held control unit.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the device further comprises a lighting means so that the interior of the ducting can be viewed on a display means at a remote location.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the display means is a monitor screen. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the carriage or treatment device has a set of wheels or tracks drivingly controllable for travelling along the interior of the ducting and one or more of the wheels or tracks are steerable. The device according to claim 9 wherein motor means is provided for driving the wheels or tracks.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the motor means has separate motor units for selectively driving respective wheels or tracks.

12. A device for inspecting the interior of an air conditioning ducting 0' substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings. 4 DATED this 17th July, 1997

44. 4 CLEAN-AIR (AUST.) PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys T INTELLPRO

4441. 4 444o 4 ~r' ii -ri ill e"~l~bl I $4 4 II ABSTRACT The treatment device 10 employs a plurality of treatment media outlet members in the form of front and rear rotor assemblies 15 and 16 and a forward lower end manifold assembly 17 to deliver compressed air into the interior of the ducting. The rotor assemblies 15 and 16 and the manifold 17 are held in position by a treatment media outlet member positioning means in the form of a carriage 18 which holds the outlet members in predetermined operative relationship relative to the internal wall 14 of the ducting 12. The outlet members dislodge debris 13 from the internal wall 14 of the ducting, the debris and spent air is drawn off through an opening 19 into a vacuum filter unit 20 downstream of the 4 carriage. *0 *e 0 f «i I I