FR2690857A1 - Cleaning fuel and Diesel tanks - by sucking fuel in tank to be cleaned and sludge at bottom then driving back under pressure etc. and sucking out again - Google Patents

Abstract

Process involves sucking the fuel contained in the tank to be cleaned and recovering into an external vessel; sucking the sludge at the bottom of the tank to be cleaned into a different external vessel; driving back under pressure the sludge sucked up in the previous stage to clean the bottom by mixing; and sucking the sludge out again until the tank is completely empty. Device comprises at least two vessels (1, 2,2') for recovering separately the fuel and the sludge; an outlet from the base of these vessels connected to a hose (8) intended to be inserted into the tank to be cleaned; one or more inputs into each vessel to put it under pressure or vacuum; means to put the vessels selectively under pressure or vacuum; and a movable and interchangeable endpiece at the end of the hose to allow the fuel to be sucked up at a distance above the base of the tank to be cleaned. USE - Cleaning of tanks which contain diesel or fuel to allow them to be used without difficulty (caused by the collection of sludge in the tank base).

Description

 DEVICE FOR CLEANING OIL AND GASOLINE TANKS.

 The present invention relates to a method and a device designed to clean the interior of oil and diesel tanks in individuals to allow the extraction of sludge and the cleaning of said tanks.

 At present, the cleaning of the tanks is rarely done because it is not easy to carry out. Indeed, some tanks can be emptied by the drain plug but with only a drain without suction sludge and with the difficulties related to the location of said plug in the case of buried tank.

 The method according to the invention overcomes these disadvantages. In fact, according to a first characteristic, a pipe is immersed in the tank to be cleaned and makes it possible, by means of a pump (FIG 4) to recover the good product which will then be directed into an external enclosure (FIG. The suction will be done by means of an interchangeable tip at the end of the pipe, each nozzle allowing to suck at a determined height above the bottom of the tank to be cleaned.

 Its second characteristic is the suction of the sludge in another external enclosure with discharge in the tank of the customer to allow a mixing of the sludge and the total re-aspiration. In practice, this is always done through the same pump.

 According to another characteristic, the device for carrying out the method comprises: at least two chambers for separately recovering the fuel and the sludge; an outlet at the base of said enclosures connectable to a pipe intended to be immersed in the tank to be cleaned; one or more inlets in each chamber for pressurizing or underpressing; means for selectively putting pressure or depression of the speakers; and a removable and interchangeable tip at the end of the pipe to keep the fuel aspiration at a distance above the bottom of the tank to be cleaned.

 It should be noted that the pump is a vacuum pump that works in one direction (empty) as well as in the other (thrust) because it is provided with a set of valves (Fig. 1).

 According to particular embodiments - the two tanks (sludge and fuel oil) can be grouped into a single two-part tank with a single pump to operate - a filter can be fitted on the oil discharge pipe - 4 support stands can be adapted on the trailer.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
- Figure 1 shows in profile the device according to the invention;
- Figure 2 represents it from behind,
- Figure 3 also shows a tip for the pipe to be plunged into the tank to be cleaned; and,
- Figure 4 shows an operating diagram and a valve position table.

 With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a chamber divided into 3 compartments which allow suction and discharge (FIG 4) whose valves allow according to their position the suction of the sludge and the good product and the discharge of sludge for brewing and re-aspiration.

 FUEL AND MUD CIRCULATION FOLLOWING OPERATIONS.

Valve position table.

<Tb>

<SEP> VALVES
<tb><SEP> FUNCTION <SEP> A <SEP> B <SEP> C <SEP> D <SEP> E <SEP> F <SEP> G <SEP> H <SEP> I <SEP> J
<tb> ASPIR. <SEP> FIOUL <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F
<tb> ASPIR. <SEP> MUD <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> Y <SEP> F <SEP> F
<tb> EVAC. <SEP> OIL <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> - <SEP><SEP> O <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F
<tb> EVAC. <SEP> MUD <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O
<tb> POINT <SEP> DEATH <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> O <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F <SEP> F
<Tb>
F: Closed. O: Open.

 In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the upper part comprises two pipes per compartment (outward and return) with manual control valves, a silencer, a vacuum pump (No. 4), a gasoline engine (No. ) with a power of 6 HP, two suction regulators (3.1) and discharge (3.2).

 The tip (No. 7) of the pipe (No. 8 - Fig. 3) which is immersed in the tank to be cleaned for the extraction of the good product has its free end plugged. It has an opening (n "9) at a certain distance from its plugged end in its side wall.There are several endpieces with the opening (9) at different distances from the plugged end, the tips being changed to that the tank empties allow to maintain the suction of the good product above the level of the sludge.

 In the lower part, there is a compartment divided into 3 parts - two tanks of 500 1 (n 2,2 ') with trap doors (No. 6 - Fig. 1) - a tank of 400 l (n "1) with level indicator (No. 5 - Fig. 1).

 This device is practical, very fast, without splash, without odor: it takes about 1/4 of an hour to clean a tank containing 500 liters of fuel oil. Cleaning means the pumping of the product, the cleaning and refilling of the tank.

Claims (4)

 1. A method of cleaning a fuel cell characterized in that it comprises the following phases - suck and recover in an outer chamber the decanted fuel in the tank to be cleaned - suck in another external chamber sludge at the bottom of the tank to clean - pressurize the sludge sucked in the previous step to clean the bottom by mixing - and suck the sludge again until emptying completely.  2. Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises - at least two enclosures (1, 2, 2 ') for separately recovering fuel and sludge - an output at the base of said speakers (1, 2, 2 ') connectable to a pipe (8) for dipping into the tank to be cleaned - one or more inlets in each chamber (1, 2, 2') for pressurization or depression - means selectively biasing pressure or vacuum of the enclosures (1, 2, 2 ') - and a removable and interchangeable tip at the end of the pipe (8) to keep the fuel aspiration at a distance above the bottom of the tank to clean.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the enclosures (2, 2 ', 1) are the compartments of a single vessel.  4. Device according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for selective setting pressure or depression of the speakers (1, 2, 2 ') comprises a single pump (4) and a set of valves.