FR2849791A1 - WASHING DEVICE FOR WASHING THE INTERIOR OF A TANK, ESPECIALLY OF A TRUCK TANK, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SUCH A DEVICE AND TANK PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing device (1) for washing the inside of a tank (2), and in particular of a substantially cylindrical truck tank, of the type comprising at least one inlet mouth ( 3) located outside the tank (2), a delivery pipe (4) and at least one spray head (5) located inside the tank (2), characterized in that the pipe conveyor (4) is located, at least partially, inside said tank (2). The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a washing device (1) and a tank (2) comprising a washing device (1).

Description

WASHING DEVICE FOR WASHING THE INTERIOR OF A

  The present invention relates to the field of internal washing of tanks.

  The present invention relates more particularly to a washing device for washing the inside of a tank, and in particular of a substantially cylindrical tank of a truck for transporting fluids, of the type comprising at least one inlet located outside the tank, generally at the bottom, at the rear, a conveying pipe running along the length of the tank and at least one projection head located inside the tank, in order to allow the cleaning liquid introduced by the inlet mouth and conveyed by the delivery pipe to be sprayed inside the tank.

  The prior art already knows washing devices for washing the inside of tanks comprising at least one inlet mouth (3) located outside the tank (2), a conveying pipe (4) 25 and at least one projection head (5) located inside the tank (2). A riser pipe (6) is sometimes provided between the inlet mouth (3) and the delivery pipe (4) and one or more down pipe (s) (7) is or are sometimes provided (s) ) between the routing pipe (4) and each projection head (5).

  In a first variant of the prior art, illustrated in FIG. 1, the conveying pipe (4) is positioned outside the body of the tank (2), that is to say above the wall outside (23) of the tank.

  The major drawback of this first variant is that the conveying pipe is not protected from external elements. Thus, when the tank is a truck tank, the delivery pipe can be damaged by flying stones or by improper handling by the truck driver. In addition, in this version, the delivery pipe is not protected from heat loss.

  In a second variant of the prior art, illustrated in FIG. 2, the conveying pipe (4) is positioned inside the wall of the body of the tank (2), in order to protect it from external elements and is positioned more precisely in an insulating layer (20) formed between the inner wall (21) and the outer wall (23) of the tank.

  The major drawback of this second variant is that if sealing problems arise in the washing device, in particular at the connection between the conveying pipe (4) and the downpipes (7), the fluid escapes inside the insulation layer (20) and can degrade it. In addition, repairs to such problems generate significant costs for dismantling the structure of the tank. The present invention intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing that the conveying pipe is both protected from external elements, well insulated and easier to access. To do this, the present invention is of the type described above and it is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that the conveying pipe is located, at least partially, inside said tank. .

  Said conveying pipe preferably consists of a main tube cut longitudinally and positioned against the inner wall of said tank, said inner wall closing said cut tube.

  Said conveying pipe preferably has a partially circular section, but it is also possible to produce a conveying pipe with rectangular or oval section, etc. Furthermore, this section may not be constant over the entire length 10 of the routing pipe.

  The longitudinal edges of said main tube are preferably welded to said inner wall.

  Said conveying pipe is preferably positioned at the upper end of said inner wall of the tank.

  The washing device according to the invention preferably comprises a protective tube consisting of a secondary tube cut longitudinally, having a section greater than the section of the conveying pipe and positioned substantially around said conveying pipe.

  Said protection tube preferably has a partially circular section, but it is also possible to produce a conveying pipe 25 with a rectangular or oval section, etc. In addition, this section may not be constant over the entire length the routing pipe.

  The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a washing device according to the invention, remarkable in that said conveying pipe and / or said protective tube is or are made up of, respectively a main tube cut longitudinally or a secondary tube cut longitudinally, said tube (s) being produced by bending a longitudinal profile.

  The present invention also relates to a tank, and in particular a substantially cylindrical tank for a truck, comprising a washing device according to the invention, comprising at least one inlet mouth 5 situated outside the tank, a hose for routing and at least one projection head located inside the tank, said routing pipe being located, at least partially, inside said tank.

  Advantageously, the washing device according to the invention is well protected, while being easy to access if repairs are necessary. In addition, it is simple to mount, directly inside the tank 15 and is more resistant than the devices of the prior art.

  Advantageously also, the heat loss from the washing ramp is lower, since only a small part of the washing device is outside the tank.

  The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description, given below for purely explanatory purposes, of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures: FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view in cross section of a first variant of a cylindrical tank of the prior art; - Figure 2 illustrates a schematic partial view in cross section of a second variant of a cylindrical tank of the prior art; - Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a cylindrical tank according to the invention; - Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged partial view of the rear part of the tank of Figure 3; - Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged partial view of the upper front part of the tank of Figure 3; - Figure 6 illustrates a partial top view of the tank of Figure 3; and - Figure 7 illustrates a rear view of the tank of Figure 3.

  The tank (2) according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 3, is a tank having a substantially cylindrical outer wall (23) called "ferrule", for example made of stainless steel, a longitudinal axis (22) and an internal wall (21 ), also substantially cylindrical, made of stainless steel. The tank is closed at its front and rear ends by concave conical walls, respectively (24, 25).

  The tank (2) according to the invention is preferably intended to make a rolling tank for trucks, for the transport of food liquids; In the present description, the reference to the front and rear positioning is therefore made with respect to the general forward direction of the vehicle.

  The washing device (1) for washing the interior of a tank (2) according to the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 7, is of the type comprising at least one inlet mouth (3) located at the outside of the tank (2), for the suction of a washing liquid, a conveying pipe (4) running along the tank, for the supply of the washing liquid and at least one, and preferably several, projection head (s) (5, 5 ', 5' ') located inside the tank (2), through which the washing liquid flows.

  A riser pipe (6) is additionally provided between the inlet mouth (3) and the delivery pipe (4) and downpipes (7) are provided between the delivery pipe (4) and each projection head (5, 5 ', 5' ').

  The lower end of the projection head (5) is located approximately 50 centimeters below the interior wall (21), while the lower end of the projection head (5 ') is located approximately 10 centimeters below the inner wall (21). The distance along the axis (22) between two projection heads (5) is of the order of 2.4 meters, while the distance along the axis (22) between two projection heads (5 ') or between a projection head (5 ') and a projection head (5 or 5' ') is of the order of 0.8 meters.

  The rear end of the routing pipe (4) can also be provided with a projection head (5 ''), as shown in Figures 4, oriented not vertically like the projection heads (5, 5 '), but at 450 from the vertical.

  The projection heads (5, 5 ', 5' ') can be provided with drilled balls, rotating balls, etc. to distribute the projection of the cleaning liquid inside the tank, against the interior wall .

  The tank (2) comprises, a system for filling the tank, and at the bottom of its rear wall (25), an outlet mouth (26) for emptying the tank by gravity, or even by suction, visible in the figure. 7.

  The tank (2) has an overall length of around 10 meters and an outside diameter of around 2 meters.

  The tank (2) has a capacity of around 29,000 liters.

  The tank (2) is positioned on a trailer chassis (27), equipped with several axles. This 5 frame (27) is made up of longitudinal and transverse beams.

  The slope of the tank (2) relative to the horizontal is of the order of 3.3%, in order to facilitate the flow through the outlet mouth (26).

  The inlet mouth (3) is positioned inside a trunk (30) located at the rear of the tank (2), said trunk being able to be closed using a hatch (32), in order to protect said inlet mouth (3).

  The conveying pipe (4) is located, preferably over its entire length, inside said tank (2), that is to say, under the interior wall (21) of the tank (2 ). Only the inlet mouth (3) and the riser pipe (6) are positioned outside the tank (2), as can be seen in Figure 4. It could also be imagined that the riser (6) is positioned inside the tank (2).

  In a preferred version of the invention, said conveying pipe (4) consists of a main tube cut longitudinally and positioned against the inner wall (21) of said tank (2), at the upper end of said wall interior (21), the longitudinal edges of said main tube being welded to said interior wall (21). Thus, said inner wall (21) closing said cut tube, the conveying pipe (4) is formed in its upper part by the inner wall (21) and in its lower part, the main tube cut longitudinally. The diameter of this tube is around 60 millimeters.

  In the illustrated version, the conveying pipe (4) is positioned at the upper end 5 of said inner wall (21) of the tank (2), but it could be imagined that it is positioned at a lateral end, left or right, from the inner wall (21) of the tank (2). The orientation of the projection heads (5, 5 ', 5' ') would then be modified accordingly.

  To improve the protection of the conveying pipe (4), a protective tube (4 ') consisting of a secondary tube cut longitudinally, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the conveying pipe (4) is positioned against the wall. interior (21) of said tank (2), around said conveying pipe (4), substantially coaxial with said main tube, so as to surround said main tube, the longitudinal edges of said protective tube (4 ') also being welded to said inner wall (21). The diameter of this protective tube is of the order of 90 millimeters.

  In the illustrated version, the conveying pipe (4) and the said protective tube (4 ') each have a partially circular section, but it is possible to produce a conveying pipe (4) and / or a tube protection (4 ') rectangular or oval section, ... In addition, this section may not be constant over the entire length of the conveying pipe (4) or the protective tube (4').

  According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said conveying pipe (4) or said protective tube (4 ′), and preferably both, is or are produced by bending a profile, or a plate, longitudinal. This folding can be substantially circular or with longitudinal folding angles.

  To feed the cleaning liquid into the delivery pipe (4), the front end of the delivery pipe (4) is provided with a suction system (8) comprising a suction pump. This suction pump is preferably that which is used to aspirate the fluid stored inside the tank (2). Thus, the cleaning liquid is sucked into the conveying pipe (4), via the inlet mouth (3) and possibly the rising pipe (6) when there is one, and is discharged into the heads. projection (5, 5 ', 5' ') via possibly the downpipes (7). The cleaning liquid is then discharged through the outlet mouth (26).

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different variants of the invention without going beyond the scope of the patent, in particular for producing a fixed tank which is not intended to allow the transport of fluids, or again, to make a tank which is not cylindrical. 25

Claims (9)

  1. Washing device (1) for washing the interior of a tank (2), and in particular of a substantially cylindrical tank of a truck, of the type comprising at least one inlet mouth (3) located at the exterior of the tank (2), a delivery pipe (4) and at least one projection head (5) located inside the tank (2), characterized in that the delivery pipe (4) is located, at least partially, inside said tank (2).   2. Washing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveying pipe (4) consists of a main tube cut longitudinally and positioned against the inner wall (21) of said tank (2) , said inner wall (21) closing said cut tube.   3. Washing device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said conveying pipe (4) has a partially circular section.   4. Washing device (1) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal edges of said main tube are welded to said inner wall (21).   5. Washing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conveying pipe (4) is positioned at the upper end of said inner wall (21) of the tank (2 ).   6. Washing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a protective tube (4 ') consisting of a secondary tube cut longitudinally, having a section greater than the section of the conveying pipe (4) and positioned substantially around said conveying pipe (4).   7. Washing device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said protective tube (4 ') has a partially circular section.   8. A method of manufacturing a washing device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said conveying pipe (4) and / or said protective tube (4 ') is or are constituted (s), respectively of a main tube cut longitudinally or of a secondary tube cut longitudinally, said tube (s) being produced by folding a longitudinal profile.   9. Tank (2), and in particular substantially cylindrical tank for a truck, comprising a washing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one inlet mouth (3) located outside. of the tank (2), a delivery pipe (4) and at least one projection head (5) located inside the tank (2), said delivery pipe (4) being located at at least partially, inside said tank (2).