EP3053662B1 - Jet device and method for internal cleaning of a tank or container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spray device, in particular for the low-pressure internal cleaning of containers, a container, in particular a tank, in particular for food and/or luxury goods, chemicals and/or lubricants and/or fuels, with the spray device, a mobile cleaning arrangement with the Spraying device and a method for cleaning the interior of a container, in particular tanks, in particular for food and/or luxury goods, chemicals and/or lubricants and/or fuels.

From in-house practice, spray devices are known having a spherical, hollow spray head with a plurality of spray orifices, an interface attached to a fluid fitting, and a one-piece, rigid connecting tube rigidly connecting the spray head to the interface.

As a result of the spray head being stationary relative to the interface or the container, jets from the spray openings essentially always hit the same points of a container to be cleaned on the inside, so that the latter is flooded unevenly.

Therefore, from internal practice, spray devices are also known in which the spray head is (rotatably) movably mounted by means of a rigid body joint, for example a hinge or ball joint, in which joint surfaces, for example shaft and pin of a hinge joint or cap and ball of a ball joint, sliding on each other.

From the DE-U1-8812568 a cleaning device for containers with a spray lance is known, at the front end of which a spray head is provided, with an elastic, freely swinging intermediate piece being provided between the spray head and the spray lance.

The DE-A1-2436432 describes an installation device for cleaning spray heads in tanks with a on the spray head itself or the supply or holding pipe of the Spray head fixed ring-shaped sealing claw, which can be clamped against the inner surface of the tank wall.

The object of the present invention is to improve a spraying device and/or the interior cleaning of containers.

This object is achieved by a spray device having the features of claim 1. Claims 11-13 protect a container with a spray device described here, a mobile cleaning arrangement with a spray device described here or a method for cleaning the interior of a or the container with a spray device or cleaning arrangement described here. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a spray device includes a hollow spray head having a plurality of spray orifices, an interface for attachment to a fluid fitting, and a connecting tube connecting the spray head to the interface. In one embodiment, the connecting tube has one or more elastic joint sections, through which the spray head can be elastically moved (mounted) relative to the interface. Additionally or alternatively, one or more perturbation bodies are movably accommodated in the hollow spray head.

Surprisingly, it has been found that by elastic mobility or mounting of the spray head opposite or relative to the interface by at least one elastic joint section of the connecting tube on the one hand and by at least one movable perturbation body in the spray head on the other hand, an advantageous insult can be realized in each case can, in particular by the elastically movable or mounted spray head or the perturbation body or bodies in the spray head being stimulated to move through the liquid flowing through the spray device.

In one embodiment, the spray head is spherical. In one embodiment, spray openings are arranged in a half facing away from the interface and/or in a half facing the interface. In one execution point Spray openings have, at least essentially, a circular or slot-like or slot-like cross-section.

In one embodiment, the interface is or becomes a positive fit, in particular by one or more cotter pins and/or a bayonet lock, a friction fit, in particular by one or more clamps and/or an internal or external thread of the interface, and/or a material bond, in particular by welding , Soldering and/or gluing, can be fastened to the liquid connection, in particular fastened, or is set up for this purpose, in particular by means of appropriate fits, bores or the like.

In one embodiment, no (rigid body) joint with joint surfaces sliding on one another is arranged between the spray head and the interface, in particular no hinge joint or ball joint. Since the mobility of the spray head in relation to the interface is brought about exclusively by the elastic joint section(s) in this embodiment, contamination of the liquid flowing through the spray device and/or the interior of the container through abrasion and/or lubricants from rigid-body joint surfaces and/or contamination, in particular bacterial infestation, of such joint surfaces can advantageously be avoided.

In another embodiment, one or more (rigid body) joints with joint surfaces sliding on one another are arranged between the spray head and the interface, in particular one or more hinge or ball joints. As a result, greater mobility of the spray head relative to the interface can advantageously, in particular optionally, be made available. In a further development, one or more (rigid-body) joints arranged between the spray head and the interface can be locked, so that when the (rigid-body) joint(s) is/are locked, the mobility of the spray head in relation to the interface is in turn controlled exclusively by the elastic joint section(s). (e) is effected.

In one embodiment, one, in particular the only one, or more elastic joint sections can each have one or more local diameter increases and/or one or more local diameter decreases. in particular be, in particular a (s) bellows with at least two, in particular at least five, folds. In one embodiment, such local diameter increases and/or diameter reductions, in particular folds, can provide an advantageous elastic mobility and/or an elastic movement of the spray head can be advantageously excited in terms of flow technology.

Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, one, in particular the only, or several elastic joint sections can each have one or more elastic membranes, in particular annular membranes, with an annular membrane of the connecting tube being arranged between a rigid tubular section of the connecting tube and the interface, in particular this connects, and/or an annular membrane of the connecting pipe is arranged between a rigid pipe section of the connecting pipe and the spray head, in particular connecting them and/or an annular membrane is arranged between two rigid pipe sections of the connecting pipe, in particular connecting them to one another. An annular membrane between a rigid tube section of the connecting tube and the interface can cause an elastic movement of the tube section opposite or relative to the interface, an annular membrane between a rigid tube section of the connecting tube and the spray head can cause an elastic movement of the spray head opposite or relative to the pipe section, by means of a membrane between two rigid connecting pipe sections, an elastic movement of these rigid connecting pipe sections against or relative to one another.

Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, one, in particular the only, or several elastic joint sections can each have a, in particular maximum or average, wall thickness of at most 0.9 mm, in particular at most 0.8 mm, in particular at most 0.7 mm. In a development, a bellows has such a wall thickness. Equally, a cylindrical connecting tube, which has a constant cross-section in a development, can have such a wall thickness over its entire axial length or a portion thereof and thus form an elastic articulated section in the sense of the present invention. By such Wall thickness, an advantageous elastic mobility can be made available in one embodiment.

Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, one, in particular the sole, or multiple elastic joint sections can each have a modulus of elasticity of at most 10 GPa, in particular at most 7 GPa. In one embodiment, advantageous elastic mobility can be made available by such a low(er) rigidity.

Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment, one, in particular the only, or several elastic joint sections can each have plastic, in particular elastomer, and/or metal, in particular a steel or light metal alloy, in particular with aluminum and/or titanium, in particular consist of it. In one embodiment, such a material can provide advantageous elastic mobility.

In one embodiment, one, in particular the only one, or more elastic joint sections and the spray head are made from the same material. Additionally or alternatively, one, in particular the only one, or more elastic joint sections and the interface are made of the same material. In another embodiment, one, in particular the only one, or more elastic joint sections and the spray head are made of different materials and/or one, in particular the only one, or more elastic joint sections and the interface are made of different materials.

In one embodiment, the connecting tube and the spray head are or become detachable, in particular with a positive fit, in particular with one or more cotter pins and/or a bayonet lock, and/or with a friction fit, in particular with one or more clamps and/or a thread of the interface, or with a material bond , connected to one another or formed integrally with one another, in particular by welding, in particular laser welding, soldering and/or gluing.

In one embodiment, a joint section, in particular the elastic joint section, extends over at most 90%, in particular at most 75%, of an axial Length of the connecting tube and/or an axial distance between the interface and the spray head. Additionally or alternatively, one, in particular the, elastic joint section extends over at least 10%, in particular at least 25% of the axial length of the connecting tube and/or an axial distance between the interface and the spray head. As explained above, in one embodiment the complete connecting tube can also form one or the elastic articulated section as a whole, in particular as a result of a corresponding wall thickness and/or a corresponding modulus of elasticity, in particular material.

In one embodiment, one or more perturbation bodies have one or more surface depressions and/or one or more flat surface areas, for example notches, (screw) wings or the like. In this way, in one embodiment, the perturbating or (out) flow inhomogenizing effect can be improved. In one embodiment, one, in particular the only one, or several perturbation bodies are of spherical design. In one embodiment, a perturbation body can be a hollow or solid body, in particular made of metal, ceramic, Teflon and/or plastic.

In one embodiment, a maximum outside diameter of a perturbation body is at most 90% of a minimum inside diameter of the connecting tube and/or at most 75%, in particular at most 50%, of a minimum inside diameter of the hollow spray head. In this way, in one embodiment, the perturbating or (out) flow inhomogenizing effect can be improved.

According to one aspect of the present invention, according to claim 11, a tank, in particular for food and / or luxury goods such as beverages, spices, tobacco or the like, chemicals and / or lubricants and / or fuels, a particular muff or hole-like, liquid connection and a spray device described here, the interface of which is attached to the liquid connection or is.

In one embodiment, the interface has, in particular is, a pipe, in particular a pipe (end) area, which in a further development is rigid and/or be formed integrally, in particular homogeneously, with the connecting pipe or can be connected seamlessly and seamlessly to this. In other words, a (rigid and/or end) area of a pipe that in particular overlaps with the liquid connection or is provided for this purpose can form an interface within the meaning of the present invention, and the remaining pipe can form a connecting pipe within the meaning of the present invention. In one embodiment, the interface has, in particular is, an end face of the connecting tube.

In one embodiment, the spray device has a tube with a first and a second end, the first end being attached to the spray head. An end region of the pipe, which in one embodiment extends over at most 25%, in particular at most 10% of an axial length of the pipe between its first and second end face and has the second end face, in particular the second end face, forms the interface in one embodiment, the remaining pipe the connecting pipe.

Equally, in one embodiment, the interface can in particular also be an area, in particular an edge, of an (annular) membrane which has, in particular is, an elastic articulated section of the connecting tube.

According to one aspect of the present invention, according to claim 13, a tank described here is cleaned internally according to claim 11 in that cleaning liquid, in particular at a pressure of at most 5 bar, in particular at most 3 bar, is supplied via the interface, flows through the spray device and out of the spray openings to clean the inside of the container. If the cleaning fluid is supplied at a pressure of at most 3 bar, this is referred to as low-pressure internal cleaning within the meaning of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, according to claim 12, a mobile cleaning arrangement, in particular for the low-pressure internal cleaning of a container, in particular tanks, in particular for food and/or luxury goods such as beverages, spices, tobacco or the like, chemicals and/or lubricants - and/or fuels, a liquid connection and a spray device described here, the interface of which, in particular in terms of form, friction and/or cohesively, can be fastened to the liquid connection, in particular is or is fastened.

The mobile cleaning arrangement can in particular have a passive or non-driven or actuated or driven, in particular motorized, chassis with one or more wheels, caterpillars or the like, on which the liquid connection can be arranged rigidly or movably, in particular articulated. Such a mobile cleaning trolley can in particular be temporarily or permanently arranged in the container and/or moved in it. In a further development, its liquid connection can be or will be connected, in particular connected, to a liquid reservoir, in particular one that is fixed to the chassis or external, in particular by means of a hose.

According to one aspect of the present invention, according to claim 13, a container is cleaned internally by means of the mobile cleaning arrangement according to claim 12, in that cleaning liquid, in particular at a pressure of at most 5 bar, in particular at most 3 bar, is supplied via the interface, flows through the spray device and comes out of the spray openings to clean the inside of the container.

In one embodiment, the spray head of a spray device described here is fluidically connected in parallel or in series with one or more other spray heads, in particular a spray head of one or more other spray devices described here.

In particular, in a development, the spray head of a spray device described here can in turn have at least one, in particular socket-like or hole-like, liquid connection to which a further spray head can be attached, in particular via a connecting pipe, is or is attached. In one embodiment, the spray head of a spray device described here in turn has at least one liquid connection to which an interface of at least one further spray device described here can be fastened, in particular is or is fastened.

Additionally or alternatively, in a further development, the interface of a spray device described here can be fastened, in particular be or become, to a liquid connection, in particular a socket-like or hole-like liquid connection, which a further spray head, in particular a spray head of another of the spray devices described here, has.

Fig. 1:

eine Schnittdarstellung einer Sprühvorrichtung nach einer Ausführung der vorliegenden Erfindung; und

Fig. 2:

eine Teilschnittdarstellung eines Behälters mit einer Sprühvorrichtung nach einer weiteren Ausführung der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Further advantages and features emerge from the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments. This shows, partially schematized:

Figure 1:

a sectional view of a spray device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2:

a partial sectional view of a container with a spray device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

1 shows a sectional view of a spray device for low-pressure internal cleaning of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention with a spherical, hollow spray head 10 with a plurality of spray openings 11, an interface 20 which is attached to a nozzle-like liquid connection 3 of the container by means of a cotter pin (not shown) can be fastened or is fastened, which passes through a corresponding bore 21, and a connecting tube 22 which connects the spray head 10 to the interface 20.

In the exemplary embodiment, an in 1 upper end area of a tube 20+22, which overlaps the liquid connection 3, the interface 20, the remaining tube formed homogeneously therewith, the connecting tube 22 in the sense of the present invention.

This connecting tube 22 has an elastic articulated section in the form of a bellows with several local increases and decreases in diameter in the form of folds 23, through which the spray head 10 is mounted so that it can move elastically relative to the interface 20.

A ball-like perturbation body 40 is movably accommodated in the hollow spray head 10 .

Between the spray head 10 and the interface 20 there is no rigid body joint with joint surfaces sliding on one another.

The elastic joint section in the form of bellows with several folds 23 has a wall thickness of between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm.

In the exemplary embodiment, the spray head 10 and the connecting pipe 22 are made of a metal, in particular an aluminum alloy, and are connected to one another in a materially bonded manner. In a modification, the spray head 10 and/or the connecting tube 22 can also be made of plastic, in particular integrally with one another, so that the elastic articulated section in the form of the bellows with several folds 23 in one embodiment has a modulus of elasticity of at most 7 GPa .

In the exemplary embodiment, the elastic articulated section in the form of bellows with a plurality of folds 23 extends over at most 75% and at least 25% of an axial length of the connecting tube 22.

The perturbation body has a surface depression with flat surface areas in the form of a notch 41 . Its (maximum) outside diameter is at most 90% of a minimum inside diameter of the connecting tube and/or at most 75%, in particular at most 50%, of a minimum inside diameter of the hollow spray head.

To clean the inside of the container, cleaning liquid is supplied at a pressure of between 1 bar and 2.5 bar via the interface 20, flows through the spray device and emerges from the spray openings 11 in order to clean the inside of the container.

2 Fig. 13 shows a partial sectional view of a container with a spray device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the elastic joint section is designed as an elastic annular membrane 23' made of an elastomer, the edge 20' of which is connected to a hole-like liquid connection 3' of the container in a manner that is only shown schematically thus forms an interface within the meaning of the present invention. On its inner circumference, the ring membrane 23' is connected to a rigid tube 24, which is again shown only schematically, which tube together with the ring membrane 23' forms a connecting tube in the sense of the present invention. At the end facing away from the interface (below in 2 ) is a spray head like that with reference to 1 was explained, materially attached.

The annular membrane 23' is thus arranged between the rigid tube (section) 24 of the connecting tube and the interface 20'. In a modification that is not shown, an annular membrane can be arranged in an analogous manner between the rigid pipe (section) 24 of the connecting pipe and the spray head.

Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the preceding description, it should be pointed out that a large number of modifications are possible. In addition, it should be noted that the exemplary implementations are only examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applications, or construction in any way. Rather, the above description gives the person skilled in the art a guideline for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, with various changes, in particular with regard to the function and arrangement of the components described, being able to be made without departing from the scope of protection as it emerges from the claims and these equivalent combinations of features.

Reference List

10

spray nozzle

11

spray holes

20; 20'

interface

21

drilling

22

connecting tube

23

(Bellows with several) fold(s)

23'

ring membrane

24

pipe (section)

3; 3'

liquid connection

40

perturbation body

41

score

Claims (13)

1. A spraying device, in particular for low-pressure cleaning the inside of containers, wherein the spraying device comprises:

   a hollow spray head (10), in particular a spherical hollow spray head (10), having a plurality of spray openings (11);

   an interface (20; 20') for fastening to a liquid connection (3; 3'), in particular for fastening to a liquid connection (3; 3') in a manner that is a positive fit, a friction fit and / or a material-bonded connection; and

   a connecting tube (22; 23' + 24) which connects the spray head to the interface;

   characterised in that

   the connecting tube comprises at least one elastic hinge portion (23; 23') by means of which the spray head is supported such that it can move elastically relative to the interface, and which hinge portion (23; 23') comprises at least one elastic annular diaphragm (23') which connects a rigid tube portion (24) of the connecting tube and the interface (20') or the spray head (10) or another rigid tube portion of the connecting tube with one another; and / or in that

   at least one perturbation body (40), in particular at least one spherical perturbation body (40), is movably accommodated in the hollow spray head.
2. The spraying device according to claim 1, characterised in that no joint, or at least one joint with joint surfaces sliding one on the other, is arranged between the spray head and the interface.
3. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion has at least one local increase in diameter and / or at least one local decrease in diameter, in particular a bellows with at least two folds (23), in particular with at least five folds (23).
4. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion (23) has a wall thickness of at most 0.9 mm, in particular at most 0.8 mm, in particular at most 0.7 mm.
5. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion (23') has a modulus of elasticity of at most 10 GPa, in particular at most 7 GPa.
6. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion (23; 23') comprises plastics material, in particular an elastomer, and / or metal, in particular a steel alloy or a light metal alloy.
7. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion (23; 23') and the spray head and / or the interface are made of the same material or different materials.
8. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic joint portion (23) extends over at most 90%, in particular at most 75%, and / or at least 10%, in particular at least 25%, of an axial length of the connecting tube (22).
9. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a perturbation body (40) has at least one recess (41) in its surface and / or at least one flat surface region (41).
10. The spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a maximum outer diameter of a perturbation body (40) is at most 90% of a minimum inner diameter of the connecting tube and / or at most 75%, in particular at most 50%, of a minimum inner diameter of the hollow spray head.
11. A tank, in particular for foodstuffs and / or goods for human consumption, chemicals and / or lubricants and / or fuels, the tank comprising a liquid connection (3; 3') and a spraying device, the interface (20; 20') of which is fastened to the liquid connection, in particular in a manner that is a positive fit, a friction fit and / or a material-bonded connection, wherein the spraying device is a spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims and/or comprises a hollow spray head (10), in particular a spherical hollow spray head (10), having a plurality of spray openings (11), the spraying device further comprising the interface (20; 20') for fastening to the liquid connection (3; 3'), in particular in a manner that is a positive fit, a friction fit and / or a material-bonded connection, and a connecting tube (22; 23' + 24) which connects the spray head to the interface and which has at least one elastic joint portion (23) with a bellows which has at least two folds (23), in particular at least five folds (23), by means of which at least one elastic joint portion (23) the spray head is supported such that it can move elastically relative to the interface.
12. A mobile cleaning assembly, in particular for low-pressure cleaning the inside of a container, in particular of a tank, in particular for foodstuffs and / or goods for human consumption, chemicals and / or lubricants and / or fuels, wherein the mobile cleaning assembly has a liquid connection and a spraying device, the interface (20; 20') of which can be fastened to the liquid connection, in particular in a manner that is a positive fit, a friction fit and / or a material-bonded connection, wherein the spraying device is a spraying device according to any one of the preceding claims and / or comprises a hollow spray head (10), in particular a spherical hollow spray head (10), having a plurality of spray openings (11), the spraying device further comprising the interface (20; 20') for fastening to the liquid connection (3; 3'), in particular in a manner that is a positive fit, a friction fit and / or a material-bonded connection, and a connecting tube (22; 23' + 24) which connects the spray head to the interface and which has at least one elastic joint portion (23) with a bellows which has at least two folds, in particular at least five folds (23), by means of which at least one elastic joint portion (23) the spray head is supported such that it can move elastically relative to the interface.
13. A method of cleaning the inside of a tank, in particular for foodstuffs and / or goods for human consumption, chemicals and / or lubricants and / or fuels, the tank being in accordance with claim 11, or of a container, in particular for foodstuffs and / or goods for human consumption, chemicals and / or lubricants and / or fuels, by means of a cleaning assembly according to claim 12, wherein a cleaning liquid, in particular at a pressure of at most 5 bar, in particular at most 3 bar, is supplied via the interface (20; 20') and emerges from the spray openings (11) in order to clean the inside of the container or of the tank.

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