EP0623396A1 - Apparatus for cleaning sewers or pipelines - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for cleaning lines (2), for example ducts, pipes or sewer ducts, which has an end-side inlet or a shaft or access location arranged laterally with respect to its line of progression, has a flushing head (3) and a feed line (4) to said flushing head (3), it being possible to introduce cleaning fluid or cleaning water at high pressure into the line to be cleaned, to be precise expediently from that side of the flushing head which is connected to the feed line (4) thereof. The apparatus (1) further exhibits a suction pipe (5) which is fixed in the pipe or duct to be cleaned and takes in the fluid, discharged by the flushing head (3), and the particles of dirt received therefrom and delivers them to a cleaning vehicle. In order, in this arrangement, to prevent flushing water or freed gases and vapours from being able to pass through between suction pipe and wall of the line (2) to be cleaned, the suction pipe (5) has an exterior seal (7) which can be pressed against the wall of the line (2) and can preferably be widened in order to carry out this press-on action. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for cleaning pipes, channels, in particular sewers, or similar lines, which have at least one shaft or the like, in particular arranged laterally to their course, with a flushing head and a feed line to the flushing head, which in particular contains a cleaning liquid or cleaning water enters the line to be cleaned at high pressure, the flushing head and its feed line being introduced through the access and the feed line running through the access during the cleaning process and the advancement and retraction of the flushing head, the device further comprising a suction pipe, which in the line to be cleaned is arranged and takes up the dirt particles loosened and washed up by the rinsing head and the used cleaning liquid and, for example, transports them into a cleaning vehicle.

Such cleaning devices are known and are mainly used in the cleaning of sewers. As a rule, the flushing head releases the cleaning water at high pressure against its direction of insertion, i.e. the flushing head can initially push this water away from the suction pipe and then gradually counteract it again due to tensile forces on the feed line of the flushing head or another pulling element the suction head is withdrawn, which is to suck off the washed-up water with the dirt it has taken up. The problem here is that more water can be introduced into the line to be cleaned by flushing at high pressure than the suction pipe at the entrance, that is to say at the foot of the sewer shaft, can accommodate. In this way, a considerable percentage of the cleaning water can be lost and the water supply of a cleaning vehicle can be used up relatively quickly. This leads to interruptions in order to fill up new cleaning water, for example via a hydrant. In addition, water loss as such is also uneconomical. Furthermore, a part of the loosened dirt parts also goes along with the water conveyed past the suction pipe, so that these are not removed from the sewer, so the entire cleaning is inadequate.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device of the type mentioned at the outset with which cleaning fluid is saved and cleaning becomes more effective.

To achieve this object, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the inlet end of the suction pipe to be installed in the line to be cleaned can be detachably fixed in the line by means of a seal on the outside of the line at its free end which can be pressed against the wall of the line, whereby the opposite area of the suction pipe leads into the access or to the cleaning vehicle, and that the supply line carrying the flushing head runs over a sliding seat from the outside through the wall of the suction pipe or a bend belonging to it to the free inlet end of the suction pipe and through this free end of the Suction tube is slidable.

In this way, it is possible to close the entire section of a line or a channel with the inlet or receiving end of the suction pipe, because on the outside there is a seal which can be pressed from the inside against the wall of the line to be cleaned. Thus, no medium and no dirt can be flushed past this inlet end of the suction tube when flushing with the flushing head and suctioning off with the suction tube. This results in a significantly better utilization of the cleaning liquid, which can be freed of dirt and used again for rinsing, for example in the cleaning vehicle, and moreover results in a more effective cleaning because the dirt is also practically completely absorbed and not at the inlet opening of the Intake pipe can be transported past. It is to be seen as a very considerable advantage that vapors, gases and aerosols released by such cleaning, which are often toxic, cannot escape past the suction pipe through the access or cleaning shaft and can endanger the operating personnel or passers-by and also do not pollute the environment . Such vapors, gases and aerosols can also be sucked up and disposed of in the cleaning vehicle.

The arrangement can be made so that the intake pipe with its elbow leads from the line to be cleaned into the access or shaft. This ensures that only that part of the suction pipe which has the inlet opening or suction mouth comes to rest in the line to be cleaned, where the outer seal then also becomes effective, but that no area of the line section to be cleaned is otherwise occupied by this suction pipe, so that the Line can be cleaned up to its entrance or shaft.

The seal located on the outside of the suction pipe can be an inflatable sealing sleeve which has a connection for supplying a pressure medium, preferably compressed air. This represents a particularly simple possibility of expanding a seal located on the outside of the intake pipe mouth and also making it adaptable to unevenness in the inner wall of the line to be cleaned, so that the seal becomes very effective.

For effective sealing, which should also be able to absorb reaction forces occurring in the axial direction of the pipe to be cleaned, it is expedient if the suction pipe has a pipe section extending into the pipe to be cleaned and if the seal extends approximately from the mouth of this pipe section to the bend region of the elbow, that is to say over a greater axial length of the suction pipe or suction nozzle.

It is particularly expedient if the expandable or inflatable seal can be bulged in the radial direction on its outer wall radially facing away from the suction pipe and, in the expanded state, has a total radial thickness in the region of its greatest bulge, which is at least half the pipe radius, in particular approximately half the pipe diameter Suction pipe corresponds. On the one hand, this results in a sufficiently long sealing zone, which, even with irregular surfaces, on the inner wall cleaning line, for example in sewers, ensures sufficient tightness, and in addition, different cross-sectional dimensions of a pipe to be cleaned or another line of the same device can be detected.

The radial expandability of the seal can cover several common cross-sections of pipes or channels, so that the device fits in lines, pipes or channels with a cross-sectional dimension or a diameter of, for example, about 200 mm to about 400 mm. The introduction of such a device into a channel with an outer cross section that is considerably larger than that of the suction pipe has so far been very ineffective because a particularly large amount of cleaning fluid and dirt can then be rinsed past the suction pipe. Accordingly, the dimensions of the cleaning devices have so far been adapted to the common cross sections of lines to be cleaned. The invention now allows the number of cleaning devices required to be reduced, since lines of different dimensions can be effectively cleaned with one and the same cleaning device.

Especially for cleaning pipes or ducts with larger cross-sectional dimensions, it is advantageous if the suction opening of the suction pipe has a change in direction opposite the curvature of the bend, in particular a bevel or further curvature, through which the inlet opening in the use position against the underside or the bottom of a horizontally extending line is directed. So if the sewer to be cleaned has a relatively large cross-section, the sludge that is usually located on the sewer bottom can be sucked up very effectively with the rinsing water. Above all, the then larger distance between the inner wall of the line to be cleaned and the actual inlet opening in the suction pipe is bridged, that is, the suction force is aimed specifically at the bottom of the channel to be cleaned or the like, and it is prevented that, in the case of a relatively large cross section of the line to be cleaned, the flushed-out material jams on the sealing sleeve, which is correspondingly widened in the radial direction, instead of being vacuumed.

The change in direction provided at the suction mouth can be designed to be detachably coupled to the suction pipe, as a bend or as a piece of pipe with a slope, so that this part can be omitted or removed when cleaning pipes with a smaller internal cross section.

The inlet for the feed line for the flushing head into the suction pipe can be arranged on the side of the bend region facing away from the inlet end, and this inlet can be designed as a sliding seal for the feed line, in particular a hose, for example a sleeve. This will facilitate the relative movement between the supply line carrying the flushing head or the flushing nozzles and the suction pipe which remains stationary during the cleaning process. This sliding seal is hardly loaded and there is also no risk of cleaning fluid loaded with dirt at this sliding seal, because the suction effect in this area is strong enough to prevent leakage at this point even if this sliding seal has play . It is even to be expected that in the event of leaks in this passage area, additional air will also be sucked in, thus preventing cleaning liquid and dirt from escaping.

The suction pipe and its elbow can have a coupling at the end of the elbow facing away from the inlet end for releasable connection to a suction line leading, for example, to the cleaning vehicle. This not only facilitates the installation of the suction pipe, which is predominantly designed as a manifold, in the branching area of the access or shaft and the line or duct to be cleaned, but also repairs to the suction pipe and its storage when not in use. Above all, however, suction pipes with bends can be connected to the suction line, which in turn have different dimensions depending on the size of the duct to be cleaned.

A guide for the flushing feed line can be arranged on the outside of the elbow adjacent to the inlet opening for the flushing feed line. As a result, the relative movement between this feed line leading to the flushing head and the suction pipe which is stationary in the position of use is also facilitated on the outside thereof before the feed pipe enters the suction pipe. For example, the guide located on the outside of the elbow of the suction pipe can have at least one, preferably at least two rollers, on which the particularly flexible flushing feed line can rest when it is displaced.

The inner cross section of the suction pipe can exceed the outer cross section of the flushing head, preferably have a diameter which is at least twice as large. As a result, the absorption capacity of the suction pipe is large enough to be able to completely absorb the cleaning liquid which is dispensed by the flushing head and preferably sprayed against the inlet opening of the suction pipe, together with the loosened dirt components.

Overall, there is a device that can work more effectively and more safely for the cleaning staff due to the sealing of the channel during cleaning against aerosols, and that makes better use of the cleaning water.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, bei welcher ein Saugrohr mit seinem Eintrittsbereich in einen zu reinigenden Kanal eingreift und eine an seiner Außenseite befindliche Dichtung so aufgeweitet ist, daß die Vorrichtung in axialer Richtung festgelegt und gegen die Kanalwandung abgedichtet ist,

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 bei entspannter oder entleerter Dichtung,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch die Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 2, wobei der Spülkopf im Bereich der Eintrittsöffnung des Saugrohres angeordnet ist, von wo aus er in axialer Richtung vorschiebbar und wohin er während des Reinigungsvorganges auch wieder zurückziehbar ist, sowie

Fig. 4

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform, bei welcher das Saugrohr an seinem seiner Eintritts-Öffnung entgegengesetzten Ende einen koaxialen Anschlußstutzen, also nicht einen bei dem Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 3 vorhandenen Krümmer hat, wobei an diesem Stutzen ein Krümmer oder dergleichen Anschluß lösbar kuppelbar ist.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a partially schematic representation:

Fig. 1

2 shows a side view of a device according to the invention, in which a suction pipe engages with its inlet area in a channel to be cleaned and a seal located on the outside is widened so that the device is fixed in the axial direction and sealed against the channel wall,

Fig. 2

1 with the seal relaxed or empty,

Fig. 3

3 shows a longitudinal section through the device according to FIG. 2, the flushing head being arranged in the region of the inlet opening of the suction pipe, from where it can be pushed in the axial direction and from where it can also be withdrawn again during the cleaning process, and

Fig. 4

a modified embodiment, in which the suction pipe at its end opposite its inlet opening has a coaxial connection piece, that is, not an elbow present in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein an elbow or similar connection can be detachably coupled to this socket.

In the following, matching parts of the different exemplary embodiments receive the same reference numerals and numbers, even with different designs but with the same function.

A device designated as a whole by 1 is used to clean lines 2, such as pipes or ducts, in particular sewage ducts, in which heavy contamination and heavy sludge deposits must be expected. Such lines 2 and, above all, sewers generally have accesses arranged laterally to their course, for example shafts, through which the device 1 can be inserted at greater distances.

The device 1 includes a rinsing head 3 and a feed line 4 to this rinsing head 3, with which a cleaning liquid, as a rule cleaning water with high pressure, can be introduced into the line 2 to be cleaned, so that it often flows out at the rear of the rinsing head 3 Recoil caused by liquid jets moves the flushing head 3 forward in the line and can also be withdrawn again via its feed line 4, so that an effective removal of dirt located in such a line 2 is possible.

The flushing head 3 and its feed line 4 can be introduced through the side access or shaft and the feed line 4 can run through this access during the cleaning process and the feed as well as the withdrawal of the flushing head 3. The device 1 also includes a suction pipe 5, which is arranged in the line 2 to be cleaned - compare FIG. 1 - and the rinsing head 3 and the cleaning liquid dispensed by it detached and washed-up dirt parts and the used cleaning liquid are sucked up and transported, for example, to a cleaning vehicle. There, the cleaning liquid is to be freed of the dirt in order to be available for further cleaning.

So that the cleaning liquid emerging from the flushing head 3 under high pressure, which is usually directed and sprayed against the inlet end 6 (cf. FIG. 3) of the suction pipe 5, cannot partially pass between the suction pipe 5 and the inner wall of the line 2 to be cleaned, So is not received by the suction pipe 5, the inlet end 6 of the suction pipe 5 to be installed in the pipe 2 to be cleaned is in the pipe by means of a seal 7 on the outside at its free end 6 located in the pipe 2, which can be pressed against the wall of the pipe 2 2 releasably fixable. The seal 7, which can be pressed on the inside, thus has a double function, in that it fixes the suction pipe 5 and its inlet end 6 inside the pipe 2 to be cleaned and secures it against axial displacement, and on the other hand prevents cleaning liquid and dirt from passing the suction pipe 5 into an area the line 2 can be rinsed where it is not detected by the suction pipe 5.

The area of the suction pipe 5 opposite the inlet end 6 leads into the access or to the cleaning vehicle, so that cleaning liquid with dirt from the suction pipe 5 and the corresponding conduit reach the cleaning vehicle completely. At the same time, gases and aerosols released during the cleaning process, which can be toxic in some cases, are prevented from escaping into the open and polluting the environment and endangering people.

The supply line 4 carrying the flushing head 3 is via a sliding seat 8 (see FIG. 3) from the outside through the wall 9 of the suction pipe 5 (see FIG. 4) or through the wall 9 of a bend 10 belonging to the suction pipe to the free entry end 6 of the suction pipe 5 out and thus displaceable through this free inlet end 6 of the suction pipe 5. From the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the rinsing head 5 can thus be advanced in a known manner in the axial direction into the line 2 to be cleaned and pulled back again to the suction pipe 5 and, on the one hand, due to the rays of the cleaning medium directed onto the suction pipe 5 the recoil are driven, but on the other hand also convey the dirt to the suction pipe 5.

In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the suction pipe 5 leads with a bend 10 from the line 2 to be cleaned into the access or shaft (not shown).

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the end entry into a line to be cleaned or the connection of a bend to a coupling 11 is provided at the end of the inlet connection 12 of the suction pipe 5. The nozzle 12 has a widening 13 which has the aforementioned sliding seat 8 for the feed line 4 to the flushing head 3.

In all of the exemplary embodiments, it is provided that the seal 7 located on the outside of the suction pipe 5 is an inflatable sealing sleeve which has a connection 14 for supplying a pressure medium, preferably compressed air, with which this sealing sleeve from its relaxed position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 can be expanded or inflated into the sealing position shown in Figure 1. Especially with reference to Figure 3 it is clear that the suction pipe 5 into the line 2 to be cleaned extending, straight pipe section and the seal 7 extends approximately from the mouth 6 of this pipe section to close to the bend region of the elbow 10 or the inlet 8 in the nozzle 13. The seal 7 thus has a relatively large axial extent, which thus also allows a correspondingly strong bulge when expanding or inflating.

Thus, lines 2 of different cross sections can be cleaned with one and the same device 1 of the same dimensions, since the radial expandability of the seal 7 can cover several common cross sections of pipes or channels.

For particularly large cross sections of the lines 2 to be cleaned, a further change in direction in the form of an additional elbow or an inclined pipe guide could also be connected to the mouth 6, so that the actual inlet opening can be directed against the bottom 2 a of the line 2 to be cleaned and bridges the height difference , which results from the widened seal 7 up to the lower edge of the inlet opening 6 of the suction pipe 5. A jam of dirt, in particular on the lower region of the seal 7, can thereby be avoided.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the inlet 8 for the supply line 4 to the flushing head 3 into the suction pipe 5 is arranged on the side of the suction pipe 5 facing away from the inlet end 6 on the nozzle 12 or at the transition into the elbow 10 and this inlet 8 is designed as a sliding seal, for example as a sleeve with a sliding seat. You can even see a clear cross-sectional difference between this inlet 8 and the feed line 4, which is, however, harmless, since during the cleaning process in this area there is no danger of the washing liquid escaping due to the suction pressure and dirt. Rather, additional air can be sucked into the suction pipe 5 from the channel area that is not to be cleaned.

The suction pipe 5 (FIG. 4) or its elbow 10 (FIGS. 1 to 3) have, at the end facing away from the inlet end 6, the aforementioned coupling 11 for releasable connection to a suction line 15 leading, for example, to the cleaning vehicle, so that 15 devices on this suction line 1 different dimensions depending on the cross section of the pipe 2 to be cleaned can be connected.

A smooth relative movement of the feed line 4 with respect to the suction pipe 5 fixed during use is achieved in all the exemplary embodiments in that on the outside of the suction pipe 5 (FIG. 4) or the bend 10 belonging to it, adjacent to the inlet 8 for the flushing feed line 4 Guide for this is arranged, which has at least one (Figure 4) or at least two (Figure 1 to 3) rollers 16, so that even with the curved guide of the feed line 4, this can be easily moved, which is facilitated by its flexible design as a hose . The inner cross-section of the suction pipe 5 considerably exceeds the outer cross-section of the rinsing head 3 in order to be able to completely suck off the cleaning liquid emitted by the rinsing head 3 under high pressure, i.e. in a correspondingly large amount, and the dirt absorbed by it, even if the cleaning head 3 is wholly or partially enters the cross section of the suction pipe 5.

The device 1 for cleaning lines 2, for example channels, pipes or sewers, which have a front entry or a shaft or access arranged laterally to their course, has a flushing head 3 and a feed line 4 to this flushing head 3, with which Cleaning liquid or cleaning water can be entered at high pressure in the line to be cleaned, and expediently from the side of the flushing head to which its supply line 4 is connected. The device 1 also includes a suction pipe 5 which is fixed in the pipe or channel to be cleaned and which absorbs the liquid discharged from the rinsing head 3 and the dirt particles picked up from it and conveys them to a cleaning vehicle. In order to prevent rinsing water or released gases and vapors from being able to pass between the suction pipe and the wall of the line to be cleaned, the suction pipe 5 has an outer seal 7 which can be pressed against the wall of the line 2 and which can preferably be expanded in order to reduce the pressure cause.

Claims (13)

Device (1) for cleaning pipes, channels, in particular sewers, or similar lines (2), which have access to at least one shaft or the like arranged at the end or laterally, with a flushing head (3) and a feed line (4) the flushing head (3), which enters a cleaning liquid or cleaning water, in particular at high pressure, into the line (2) to be cleaned, the flushing head (3) and its feed line (4) being introduced through the access and the feed line (4) during the Cleaning process and the advancement and retraction of the flushing head (3) runs through this access, the device (1) further comprising a suction pipe (5) which is arranged in the line (2) to be cleaned and which is separated from the flushing head (3) loosened and washed-up dirt particles as well as the used cleaning fluid and for example transported into a cleaning vehicle, characterized in that the S eye tube (5) or its inlet end (6) can be detachably fixed in the line (2) by means of a seal (7) on the outside of its end (6) located on the line (2) and pressed against the wall of the line (2), the opposite area of the suction pipe (5) leads into the access or to the vehicle, and that the feed line (4) carrying the flushing head (3) has an inlet (8) from the outside through the wall (9) of the suction pipe ( 5) or a bend (10) belonging to it extends to the free inlet end (6) of the suction pipe (5) and can be displaced through this free end (6) of the suction pipe (5). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction pipe (5) with a bend (10) or a nozzle (13) leads from the line to be cleaned (2) into the access or shaft. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seal (7) located on the outside of the suction pipe (5) is an inflatable sealing sleeve which has a connection (14) for supplying a pressure medium, preferably compressed air. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the suction pipe (5) has a pipe section which extends into the pipe (2) to be cleaned and that the seal (7) approximately from the mouth (6) of this pipe section the bend region of the elbow (10) or to the nozzle (13). Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the expandable or inflatable seal (7) on its outer wall radially facing away from the suction pipe (5) can be bulged in the radial direction and in the expanded state in the region of its greatest widening or bulging a radial one Has total thickness that corresponds to at least half the pipe radius, in particular half the pipe diameter of the suction pipe. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the radial expandability of the seal (7) covers several common cross sections of lines (2) to be cleaned, so that the device (1) in lines, pipes or channels with a cross-sectional dimension or Diameter from about 200 mm to about 400 mm fits. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the suction opening (6) of the suction pipe (5) has a change in direction opposite the curvature of a bend (10), in particular a bevel or further curvature, through which the inlet opening in the use position against the Underside or the bottom (2a) of an approximately horizontally extending line (2) is directed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the change in direction provided at the suction mouth (6) is designed to be detachably coupled to the suction pipe (5), as a bend or as a pipe section having a slope. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inlet (8) for the feed line (7) to the flushing head (3) into the suction pipe (5) on the side of the suction pipe (5) facing away from the inlet end (6) is arranged and that this inlet (8) is designed as a sliding seal for the supply line (4), which is designed in particular as a hose, for example as a sleeve, in particular with play relative to the supply line (4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the suction pipe (5) and / or its elbow (10) has a coupling (11) at the end facing away from the inlet end (6) for releasable connection with, for example has the suction line (15) leading the cleaning vehicle. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that on the outside of the suction pipe (5) and / or the elbow (10) is arranged adjacent to the inlet (8) a guide for the flushing supply line (4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the guide located on the outside of the elbow (10) or the socket (13) of the suction pipe (5) has at least one, preferably at least two rollers (16) on which the in particular flexible flushing feed line (4) rests when it is moved. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner cross section of the suction pipe (5) considerably exceeds the outer cross section of the flushing head (3), preferably has a diameter which is at least twice as large.

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