EP0650774A1 - Procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts - Google Patents

Procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0650774A1
EP0650774A1 EP94116191A EP94116191A EP0650774A1 EP 0650774 A1 EP0650774 A1 EP 0650774A1 EP 94116191 A EP94116191 A EP 94116191A EP 94116191 A EP94116191 A EP 94116191A EP 0650774 A1 EP0650774 A1 EP 0650774A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
duct
brushing device
brush
cleaning brush
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94116191A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pietiläinen Reijo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ecatec Automaatio Oy
Original Assignee
Ecatec Automaatio Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ecatec Automaatio Oy filed Critical Ecatec Automaatio Oy
Publication of EP0650774A1 publication Critical patent/EP0650774A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B1/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools
    • B08B1/30—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools by movement of cleaning members over a surface
    • B08B1/32—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools by movement of cleaning members over a surface using rotary cleaning members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/043—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes
    • B08B9/045—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes the cleaning devices being rotated while moved, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a procedure as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 3 for the cleaning of air ducts.
  • the object or the present invention is to correct the drawbacks mentioned above and to achieve a new type of procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts which is cheap and reliable in operation.
  • the procedure of the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterization part of claim 1.
  • the apparatus of the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterization part of claim 3.
  • different embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is said in the characterization parts of the subclaims.
  • the solution or the invention has the advantage that it allows easy cleaning or ducts having a rectangular, square, elliptical or circular cross section. Moreover, the solution of the invention is applicable for the cleaning of ducts of various cross-sectional sizes. Since the brushing device also moves in the widthwise direction, it can be used to clean even ducts having a large width and a rectangular or ellipctical cross-sectional form by making use of an automatic feature for the change of the direction of rotation.
  • a flexible spiral shaft coupler can be fitted between the shaft of the pneumatic motor and the brush fixture. This coupler enhances the sideways movement of the brushing device when required, making it easier for the brushing device to move in the corner areas of the ducts.
  • Fig. 1 depicts the structure of the brushing device in a simplified form and partly sectioned.
  • the device comprises a cylindrical pneumatic motor 1 rotatable in two directions.
  • the motor imparts a rotating motion to a cleaning brush 3, the ends of which are provided with supporting and friction brushes 2 which bear and support the soft cleaning brush.
  • the supporting and friction brushes are narrower and more rigid than the cleaning brush 3 and their diameter is smaller than that of the cleaning brush.
  • the cleaning brush is soft and has a large diameter so as to enable it to be used for the cleaning of ducts of various sizes.
  • the brushes are coupled by means of a rigid coupler 4 or a flexible spiral shaft coupler 5 to the front end of the pneumatic motor.
  • the brushes are attached to the coupler by means of a dome-capped screw 10.
  • the brushes 2, 3 and the coupler 4, 5 are connected together by means of cylindrical pins 11.
  • Spring washers 12 prevent the screw from being loosened due to vibration.
  • a flexible crosspiece Connected to the rear end of the pneumatic motor 1 via a flexible crosspiece is a flexible working arm 6.
  • the crosspiece has inside it a knuckle joint 13 transferring the torque and outside it a spring 7 which provides flexibility and effects a return motion.
  • the pressure air delivery pipes 8 Connected to this end of the pneumatic motor 1 are also the pressure air delivery pipes 8. These as well as the working arm 6 are placed inside a protective plastic pipe 9.
  • Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the brushing device in a rectangular duct.
  • the figure visualizes the sideways motion of the brushes 2, 3 in a wide air duct.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the motion of the brushing device in a rectangular duct as seen from the direction of the rear end of the pneumatic motor 1.
  • the supporting and friction brushes 2 act as friction increasing elements to produce a sideways motion and, placed on either side of the cleaning brush 3, they support the brushing device as it is brushing the duct.
  • the use a brush oversized with respect to the height of the duct makes it possible far the brush to reach even the corners of a rectangular or square duct.
  • Reversing the direction of rotation allows both edges of a wide duct to be reached while the intermediate area is also brushed as the brushing device moves alternately from side to side.
  • the brushing device always moves in the direction of rotation due to the friction generated by the brushes.
  • Fig. 4 shows a diagram of the pneumatic control of a reversal of direction of rotation of the pneumatic motor 1.
  • Valve 14 is a reversing valve controlled by an auxiliary valve 15.
  • Valves 18 and 19 are manual valves used in manual control mode, and valves 16 and 17 are timer valves regulating the duration of the working period in each direction of rotation.
  • the pressure is supplied to the auxiliary valve via a pressure regulator 20, ensuring that variations in the pressure of the supplying pneumatic network will not affect the time settings of the timer valves.
  • manual valve 18 is open and manual valve 19 closed, the motor rotates in the clockwise direction, and when these valves are set vice versa, the motor rotates in the anticlockwise direction.
  • Timer valve 17 is used to adjust the duration of clockwise rotation and timer valve 16 to adjust the duration of anticlockwise rotation. Both valves have a knurled-head screw for adjustment of the period.
  • the brushing device is moved by pushing or pulling it by the flexible working arm in the direction of the shaft of the pneumatic motor. Transverse movement is produced by reversing the direction or rotation of the motor via the pneumatic control system.
  • the soft cleaning brush 3, supported by the supporting and friction brushes 2 moves in the air duct.
  • the brushing device moves in the transverse direction in the duct according to the direction of rotation of the brushes, always moving towards the direction of rotation, while the cleaning device brushes the duct.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a procedure and an apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts. The brushing device of the invention, supported by supporting and friction brushes (2), is moved in an air duct in the transverse direction of the duct. The direction of rotation of the drive motor (1) of the apparatus is reversed by means of a pneumatic control system, enabling the brush to move back and forth in the duct so as to produce an efficient brushing result.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a procedure as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus as defined in the preamble of claim 3 for the cleaning of air ducts.
  • Previously known is e.g. the procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts presented in Finnish patent application 902078. In this known solution, a suction fan is connected to a desired point in the piping and the connections close to the suction fan are temporarily closed. When a cleaning brush is then inserted into the duct at a point at a distance from the fan, the dust and dirt loosened by the brush are carried by the suction into the container of the suction fan. The brushing device used in this solution comprises a motor-driven brush which is supported by wheels running along the duct walls. A drawback with this known solution is that each brushing device can only be fitted for one pipe or duct size. Therefore, in ducts larger than the designed size, the brush moves along the bottom or the duct but leaves the upper part uncleaned.
  • The object or the present invention is to correct the drawbacks mentioned above and to achieve a new type of procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts which is cheap and reliable in operation. The procedure of the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterization part of claim 1. Similarly, the apparatus of the invention is characterized by what is said in the characterization part of claim 3. In addition, different embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is said in the characterization parts of the subclaims.
  • The solution or the invention has the advantage that it allows easy cleaning or ducts having a rectangular, square, elliptical or circular cross section. Moreover, the solution of the invention is applicable for the cleaning of ducts of various cross-sectional sizes. Since the brushing device also moves in the widthwise direction, it can be used to clean even ducts having a large width and a rectangular or ellipctical cross-sectional form by making use of an automatic feature for the change of the direction of rotation. In addition, a flexible spiral shaft coupler can be fitted between the shaft of the pneumatic motor and the brush fixture. This coupler enhances the sideways movement of the brushing device when required, making it easier for the brushing device to move in the corner areas of the ducts.
  • In the following, the invention is described in detail by the aid of an example of its embodiments by referring to the attached drawings, in which
    • Fig. 1
    presents the brushing device in side view and partially sectioned,
    Fig. 2
    presents the brushing device in a rectangular air duct, seen in perspective view from above,
    Fig. 3
    visualizes the effect of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the pneumatic motor on the brushing action in a rectangular duct, showing the brush from behind,
    Fig. 4
    presents a diagram of the pneumatic control of the pneumatic motor.
  • To give an understanding or the procedure, the brushing device and its parts will be described first. Fig. 1 depicts the structure of the brushing device in a simplified form and partly sectioned. The device comprises a cylindrical pneumatic motor 1 rotatable in two directions. The motor imparts a rotating motion to a cleaning brush 3, the ends of which are provided with supporting and friction brushes 2 which bear and support the soft cleaning brush. The supporting and friction brushes are narrower and more rigid than the cleaning brush 3 and their diameter is smaller than that of the cleaning brush. The cleaning brush is soft and has a large diameter so as to enable it to be used for the cleaning of ducts of various sizes. The brushes are coupled by means of a rigid coupler 4 or a flexible spiral shaft coupler 5 to the front end of the pneumatic motor. The brushes are attached to the coupler by means of a dome-capped screw 10. To prevent the screw 10 from being unscrewed as a result of a change of direction of rotation of the brushes, the brushes 2, 3 and the coupler 4, 5 are connected together by means of cylindrical pins 11. Spring washers 12 prevent the screw from being loosened due to vibration. Connected to the rear end of the pneumatic motor 1 via a flexible crosspiece is a flexible working arm 6. The crosspiece has inside it a knuckle joint 13 transferring the torque and outside it a spring 7 which provides flexibility and effects a return motion. Connected to this end of the pneumatic motor 1 are also the pressure air delivery pipes 8. These as well as the working arm 6 are placed inside a protective plastic pipe 9.
  • Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the brushing device in a rectangular duct. The figure visualizes the sideways motion of the brushes 2, 3 in a wide air duct. Fig. 3 illustrates the motion of the brushing device in a rectangular duct as seen from the direction of the rear end of the pneumatic motor 1. The supporting and friction brushes 2 act as friction increasing elements to produce a sideways motion and, placed on either side of the cleaning brush 3, they support the brushing device as it is brushing the duct. The use a brush oversized with respect to the height of the duct makes it possible far the brush to reach even the corners of a rectangular or square duct. Reversing the direction of rotation allows both edges of a wide duct to be reached while the intermediate area is also brushed as the brushing device moves alternately from side to side. When the direction of rotation of the brushes is changed, the brushing device always moves in the direction of rotation due to the friction generated by the brushes.
  • Fig. 4 shows a diagram of the pneumatic control of a reversal of direction of rotation of the pneumatic motor 1. Valve 14 is a reversing valve controlled by an auxiliary valve 15. Valves 18 and 19 are manual valves used in manual control mode, and valves 16 and 17 are timer valves regulating the duration of the working period in each direction of rotation. The pressure is supplied to the auxiliary valve via a pressure regulator 20, ensuring that variations in the pressure of the supplying pneumatic network will not affect the time settings of the timer valves. When manual valve 18 is open and manual valve 19 closed, the motor rotates in the clockwise direction, and when these valves are set vice versa, the motor rotates in the anticlockwise direction. When both manual valves are open, reversal of the direction of rotation is controlled automatically by the timer valves. Timer valve 17 is used to adjust the duration of clockwise rotation and timer valve 16 to adjust the duration of anticlockwise rotation. Both valves have a knurled-head screw for adjustment of the period.
  • The brushing device is moved by pushing or pulling it by the flexible working arm in the direction of the shaft of the pneumatic motor. Transverse movement is produced by reversing the direction or rotation of the motor via the pneumatic control system. The soft cleaning brush 3, supported by the supporting and friction brushes 2, moves in the air duct. The brushing device moves in the transverse direction in the duct according to the direction of rotation of the brushes, always moving towards the direction of rotation, while the cleaning device brushes the duct.
  • It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the example described above, but the invention may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims (4)

  1. Procedure for the cleaning of air ducts, in which procedure a motor-driven brushing device provided with a cleaning brush (3) is moved in the air duct to be cleaned, characterized in that the brushing device is equipped with supporting and friction brushes (2) supporting the cleaning brush (3) and that, during the brushing, the brushing device is driven, if necessary, in the transverse direction of the duct by means of a driving motor (1), the brushing device being supported by the brushes (2, 3),
  2. Procedure for the cleaning of air ducts according to claim 1, characterized in that, by reversing the direction of rotation of the drive motor (1), the brushing device is driven in the duct back and forth in the widthwise direction of the duct during brushing.
  3. Apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts, comprising a pneumatic motor (1), a cleaning brush (3) mounted on a rotatable shaft at its front end and a flexible working arm (6) attached to the rear end of the motor and enabling the brushing device to be moved in the direction of the motor shaft, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with at least one supporting and friction brush (2) fitted to support the soft cleaning brush (3).
  4. Apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts according to claim 3, characterized in that it has on either side of the cleaning brush, directly at each end of the cleaning brush (3), a supporting and friction brush (2) having a diameter smaller than that of the cleaning brush.
EP94116191A 1993-10-13 1994-10-13 Procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts Withdrawn EP0650774A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI934529 1993-10-13
FI934529A FI94221C (en) 1993-10-13 1993-10-13 Method and apparatus for cleaning ventilation ducts

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0650774A1 true EP0650774A1 (en) 1995-05-03

Family

ID=8538773

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94116191A Withdrawn EP0650774A1 (en) 1993-10-13 1994-10-13 Procedure and apparatus for the cleaning of air ducts

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0650774A1 (en)
FI (1) FI94221C (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29603775U1 (en) * 1996-03-01 1996-11-07 Gesa Hygiene & Instandhaltung Vehicle for cleaning sewers
WO1999067033A1 (en) * 1998-06-12 1999-12-29 Loeland Oeyvind Ventilator cleaning device
FR2799727A1 (en) * 1999-10-19 2001-04-20 Entpr De Mecanique Et D Outil Device for distributing tablets into recesses in moving sheet comprises rotating brushes made up of sections mounted on cylindrical shaft with slip rings between them which allow them to rotate with respect to the shaft
CN1302864C (en) * 2003-08-07 2007-03-07 显示器生产服务株式会社 Washing device for flat display panel
US7269874B2 (en) 2005-03-04 2007-09-18 Yoen Hung Cleaning device for cleaning ducts and pipes
JP2011056409A (en) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-24 Azuma Industrial Co Ltd Cleaning tool for drain pipe
KR101225998B1 (en) 2010-12-24 2013-01-24 삼성중공업 주식회사 Apparatus of cleaning duct
US10736412B2 (en) 2015-03-10 2020-08-11 Bierkühl Oy Flexible torsion shaft and an arrangement using it and a cleaning device for air-conditioning ducts

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3290127A1 (en) 2016-09-01 2018-03-07 Bierkühl OY Flexible torsion shaft and an arrangement using it and a cleaning device for air-conditioning ducts
CN111945869A (en) * 2020-09-17 2020-11-17 袁燕静 Water supply and drainage dredging device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU1136861A1 (en) * 1981-05-04 1985-01-30 Предприятие П/Я В-8772 Device for cleaning pipeline internal surface
SU1253604A1 (en) * 1984-12-13 1986-08-30 Musyakin Vyacheslav E Cylindrical brush
DE3539858C1 (en) * 1985-11-09 1987-07-16 Schreiber Klaeranlagen Washing apparatus for cleaning the outlet channels of secondary clarifying tanks
EP0456402A1 (en) * 1990-05-09 1991-11-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho Cleaning brush
US5235718A (en) * 1991-10-24 1993-08-17 Goodway Tools Corporation Tube cleaning apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU1136861A1 (en) * 1981-05-04 1985-01-30 Предприятие П/Я В-8772 Device for cleaning pipeline internal surface
SU1253604A1 (en) * 1984-12-13 1986-08-30 Musyakin Vyacheslav E Cylindrical brush
DE3539858C1 (en) * 1985-11-09 1987-07-16 Schreiber Klaeranlagen Washing apparatus for cleaning the outlet channels of secondary clarifying tanks
EP0456402A1 (en) * 1990-05-09 1991-11-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho Cleaning brush
US5235718A (en) * 1991-10-24 1993-08-17 Goodway Tools Corporation Tube cleaning apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
SOVIET INVENTIONS ILLUSTRATED Section PQ Week 8534, 3 October 1985 Derwent World Patents Index; Class P, Page 43, AN 85-208439/34 *
SOVIET INVENTIONS ILLUSTRATED Section PQ Week 8716, 29 April 1987 Derwent World Patents Index; Class P, Page 24, AN 87-114543/16 *

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29603775U1 (en) * 1996-03-01 1996-11-07 Gesa Hygiene & Instandhaltung Vehicle for cleaning sewers
WO1999067033A1 (en) * 1998-06-12 1999-12-29 Loeland Oeyvind Ventilator cleaning device
FR2799727A1 (en) * 1999-10-19 2001-04-20 Entpr De Mecanique Et D Outil Device for distributing tablets into recesses in moving sheet comprises rotating brushes made up of sections mounted on cylindrical shaft with slip rings between them which allow them to rotate with respect to the shaft
WO2001028860A1 (en) * 1999-10-19 2001-04-26 Entreprise De Mecanique Et D'outillage Device for distributing tablets or equivalents thereof in moving honeycomb-structured sheets in a conditioning plant
CN1302864C (en) * 2003-08-07 2007-03-07 显示器生产服务株式会社 Washing device for flat display panel
US7269874B2 (en) 2005-03-04 2007-09-18 Yoen Hung Cleaning device for cleaning ducts and pipes
JP2011056409A (en) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-24 Azuma Industrial Co Ltd Cleaning tool for drain pipe
KR101225998B1 (en) 2010-12-24 2013-01-24 삼성중공업 주식회사 Apparatus of cleaning duct
US10736412B2 (en) 2015-03-10 2020-08-11 Bierkühl Oy Flexible torsion shaft and an arrangement using it and a cleaning device for air-conditioning ducts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI94221B (en) 1995-04-28
FI94221C (en) 1995-08-10
FI934529A0 (en) 1993-10-13

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