FR3061862A1 - DEVICE FOR CLEANING WITH GAS OR MIXED GAS-LIQUID SPRAY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device with a gas and / or a gas-liquid spray mixture, comprising a body (2) provided with at least one inlet (5) for a liquid under pressure and an inlet (6) for a gas under pressure, the body (2) being provided with an outlet nozzle (7) connected to the liquid (5) and gas (6) inlets respectively by liquid (8) and gas (9) circuits which open into a sealed chamber (30) for splitting the liquid into droplets opening outwardly through the outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle (7) has a passage section at least 10% greater than the passage section of the gas circuit taken at its arrival in the fragmentation chamber.

Description

Holder (s):

ZELUP Simplified joint-stock company.

O Extension request (s):

® Agent (s): CABINET BEAU DE LOMENIE Civil society.

® DEVICE FOR CLEANING WITH GAS OR A GAS-LIQUID SPRAY MIXTURE.

FR 3,061,862 - A1 (57) The invention relates to a cleaning with a gas and / or a sprayed gas-liquid mixture, comprising a body (2) provided with at least one inlet (5) for a pressurized liquid. and an inlet (6) for a pressurized gas, the body (2) being provided with an outlet nozzle (7) connected to the liquid (5) and gas (6) inlets respectively by liquid circuits (8) and gases (9) which open into a sealed chamber (30) for fragmenting the liquid into droplets opening towards the outside through the outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle (7) has a passage section at least 10% greater than the passage section of the gas circuit taken at its arrival in the fragmentation chamber.

The present invention relates to the technical field of cleaning a surface in the general sense using a sprayed liquid.

The object of the invention finds many applications for cleaning and / or stripping surfaces of all kinds such as for example walls, walls, floors, posts, vehicles and / or parts of vehicles, equipment. for sport (trolley wheels, golf clubs or shoes for example), cycles, horse hooves, kitchen utensils, etc.

In the state of the art, there are many solutions for producing a cleaning installation using a sprayed liquid. For example, there is known a cleaning installation comprising a pump for pressurizing a liquid such as water, connected to a cleaning hose provided with a nozzle for spraying a water jet. Such an installation makes it possible to clean different surfaces using the spray sprayed on this surface. A major drawback of such an installation concerns the flow of water necessary for cleaning or pickling a surface. In many applications, the need arises to treat the water laden with residues from the cleaning operation. Given the large amount of water required to ensure proper cleaning of a surface, there follows a major difficulty in treating the effluents resulting from such a cleaning operation.

In an attempt to reduce water consumption, it is known to use a cleaning gun with an air-water mixture in order to improve the impact force with reduced water consumption. This solution is not satisfactory in practice insofar as the quantity of water still used is large and leads to wetting the environment more or less close to the surface cleaned by this mixture. Thus, the cleaned surface and the environment are tempered, which presents a major drawback for certain cleaning applications.

Patent application FR 2 996 150 proposes a cleaning gun using a sprayed liquid designed to limit the consumption of the sprayed liquid while not soaking the cleaned surface and the environment of this surface. The cleaning gun described in this document comprises a body provided with an inlet for a pressurized liquid and an inlet for pressurized air. The body is also provided with an outlet nozzle connected to the liquid and air inlets respectively by liquid and air circuits opening into a chamber for fragmenting the liquid into droplets and opening towards the outside by the outlet nozzle. This gun comprises a mechanism for selecting the operating mode of the gun, interposed on the air and liquid circuits as well as a control controlling the selection mechanism and capable of occupying a first position for which the air exits only through the outlet nozzle or a second position for which the air charged with droplets exits through the outlet nozzle. If such a gun is satisfactory in most applications with regard to its ability not to wet the environment of the surface to be cleaned, it has been found that such a gun does not make it possible to obtain under certain conditions use, satisfactory quality for cleaning and / or stripping surfaces.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device for cleaning with a gas and / or a sprayed gas-liquid mixture, designed not to soak the cleaned surface and the environment of this surface while ensuring effective cleaning of this surface.

To achieve such an objective, the device for cleaning with a gas and / or a sprayed gas-liquid mixture, comprises:

- a body provided with at least one inlet for a pressurized liquid and an inlet for a pressurized gas, the body being provided with an outlet nozzle connected to the liquid and gas inlets respectively by liquid circuits and gases which open into a chamber for fragmenting the liquid into droplets opening towards the outside via the outlet nozzle,

a mechanism for selecting the operating mode of the device, interposed on the gas and liquid circuits, controlled by a command to occupy at least a first position for which the gas leaves only through the outlet nozzle or a second position for which the gas charged with droplets exits through the outlet nozzle. According to the invention, the fragmentation chamber is sealed and the outlet nozzle has a passage section at least 10% greater than the passage section of the gas circuit taken at its arrival in the fragmentation chamber.

The cleaning device according to the invention further comprises one and / or the other of the following additional characteristics:

- The fragmentation chamber is delimited between the body and a removable ring mounted in leaktight manner on the body;

- the removable ring includes the outlet nozzle;

after the removal of the removable ring, the body is equipped with an extension comprising a rigid or flexible sheath in which are mounted a gas supply tube and a liquid supply tube connected respectively with liquid circuits and of gas and opening on the other side, in a distal chamber for fragmenting the liquid into droplets delimited by a removable distal ring mounted in leaktight manner on a support and forming a distal outlet nozzle, this distal outlet nozzle having a passage section at least 10% greater than the cross-section of the gas circuit taken at its arrival in the distal fragmentation chamber;

- the support of the distal outlet nozzle includes a non-return valve mounted on the liquid circuit upstream of the distal fragmentation chamber, this non-return valve opening said circuit under liquid pressure and closing said circuit in the absence of pressure some cash ;

- the removable ring is mounted on the body or the support using a bayonet assembly system comprising a row of ribs arranged on the body or the support next to a passage for a series of grooves arranged on the removable ring and intended to cooperate with the ribs after the connection and a rotation movement;

- the bayonet assembly system includes a mechanism for blocking the rotation between the removable ring and the body or the support;

- the removable ring is provided with a brush;

- the body is provided with a grip stock integrating the control;

- The control controls the selection mechanism and is able to occupy a third position for which neither the gas nor the liquid exit through the outlet nozzle;

the selection mechanism comprises two drawers mounted sliding side by side, inside the body and each provided with a shutter for the gas circuit and the liquid circuit respectively, these drawers being provided as a control with a actuating head extending outside the body, and elastically urged so that the shutters close the gas and liquid circuits in the absence of an actuating force.

The subject of the invention also relates to:

- a device according to the invention;

- a pressurized gas supply circuit connected to the gas inlet;

- at least one pressurized liquid supply circuit connected to the liquid inlet.

Various other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention, produced in the form of a lance.

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing the cleaning device in the open position of the gas circuit.

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing the cleaning device in the closed position of the gas circuit.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along a section plane perpendicular to the section plane of FIG. 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cleaning device, in the closed position of the gas circuit and open the liquid circuit, the outlet nozzle of the device being removed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cleaning device, in the open position of the gas circuit and closed the liquid circuit, the outlet nozzle of the device being removed.

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view showing the bayonet assembly system of a removable ring on the body of a cleaning system according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an extension used with the cleaning device according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of the cleaning head forming part of the extension illustrated in FIG. 8.

As can be seen more precisely from FIGS. i to 4, the object of the invention relates to a cleaning device 1 comprising a body 2 of tubular and elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis X so as to form a cleaning lance in the examples illustrated in the drawings.

The body 2 is provided with an inlet 3 for a pressurized liquid and an inlet 4 for a pressurized gas. The inlets 3, 4 are arranged at the proximal part of the body 2. Typically, the body 2 is provided with connection nozzles on the one hand, to a preferably flexible pipe 5 for supplying a pressurized liquid and d on the other hand, to a pipe 6, preferably flexible, for supplying a gas under pressure. For example, these pipes 5, 6 are assembled on the end pieces using removable fittings and are inserted inside a flexible envelope E.

The body 2 is provided with an outlet nozzle 7 located at the distal part of the body 2 and communicating with the liquid 3 and gas 4 inlets using respectively liquid 8 and gas 9 circuits arranged in the body 2.

The device 1 also includes a mechanism 12 for selecting the operating mode of the device, interposed on the gas 9 and liquid 8 circuits. This mechanism 12 makes it possible to select various operating modes, namely the simultaneous closing of the gas circuits and liquid, the outlet only of the gas, the outlet only of the liquid and the outlet of a gas-liquid mixture, by the outlet nozzle 7.

The device 1 comprises a control 14, 15 controlling the selection mechanism 12 so that the cleaning device is able to occupy a first position for closing the liquid and gas circuits, a second position for which only gas exits through the outlet nozzle 7 (Fig. 6), a third position for which only liquid exits through the outlet nozzle 7 (Fig. 5) and a fourth position for which a gas-liquid mixture exits from the outlet nozzle 7.

According to the preferred variant of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the selection mechanism 12 comprises two drawers 16, 17 mounted to slide side by side, inside respectively of bores 18 arranged in the body 2 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. Each drawer 16, 17 is provided with a shutter 20 for the liquid circuit 8 and the gas circuit 9 respectively (Fig. 4). In the closed position of the liquid and gas circuits, each shutter 20 cooperates sealingly with a seat 21 arranged in each of the circuits 8, 9.

Each drawer 16, 17 is moved in translation by a control 14, 15 which in the example illustrated is produced by a head or an actuation button extending outside the body 2, starting from the drawers 16,

17. The application of a manual pressing force on the actuating button 14, 15 of a drawer results in moving this drawer 16, 17 into a position for which the shutter 20 opens the circuit 8, 9 in which it is inserted. To this end, each bore 18 opens in a well 22 adapted to receive the shutter 20 and open the corresponding circuit 8, 9 (Fig. 2).

Advantageously, each drawer 16, 17 is biased by a spring 24 so that in the absence of a force applied to the control button 14, 15, each of the drawers returns to a closed position of the liquid circuits 8 and gas 9. Each drawer 16, 17 is therefore moved by the control 14, 15 in an opening direction represented by the arrow Fi, so that the shutter 20 occupies from its closed position illustrated in FIG. 3, an open position illustrated in FIG. 2.

According to the variant embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the control 14, 15 can be easily actuated manually when the body produced in the form of a lance is held in one hand. Of course, the body 2 can be provided with a grip stock so that the cleaning device is in the form of a cleaning gun. In this variant embodiment, the stock incorporates the control 14, 15 controlling the selection mechanism 12.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the device 1 comprises a chamber 30 for fragmenting the liquid into droplets, opening towards the outside via the outlet nozzle 7 and into which the liquid circuit 8 and the gas circuit 9 open out. (Fig. 4). Advantageously, the fragmentation chamber 30 is adapted to fractionate or break the liquid into droplets using the gas. The liquid droplets thus obtained are evacuated by the outlet nozzle 7 using gas from the gas circuit

9.

According to an advantageous characteristic of embodiment, the fragmentation chamber 30 is sealed, that is to say that this chamber communicates with the outside only by the outlet nozzle 7. The fragmentation chamber 30 has as gas inlets 9 and liquid 8 and at the outlet only the outlet nozzle 7. As shown in the figures, the liquid circuit 8 and the gas circuit 9 open into the fragmentation chamber through the distal wall 2a of the body 2 which is established substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

Advantageously, the fragmentation chamber 30 is delimited between the body 2 and a removable or removable ring 35 mounted in leaktight manner on the body. This removable ring 35 is provided with the outlet nozzle 7 and extends at a distance from the distal wall 2a of the body 2 to delimit this chamber 30. This removable ring 35 has a transverse wall 35a extending opposite and at a distance from the distal wall 2a from the body 2. The transverse wall 35a has in its central part, an opening with a calibrated passage section delimiting the outlet nozzle

7.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the outlet nozzle 7 has a passage section greater by at least 10% than the passage section of the gas circuit 9 taken at its arrival in the fragmentation chamber 30. The section passage of the gas circuit 9 is taken at the level of the distal wall 2a of the body 2 into which the gas circuit 9 opens.

It should be noted that in the example illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the liquid circuit 8 and the gas circuit 9 are provided with threads 36 extending along a limited length from the distal wall 2a. These internal threads 36 allow the fitting of end pieces either pressure reducing or connecting with gas or liquid supply tubes as will be explained in the following description.

For example, the sealed mounting of the removable ring 35 on the body 2 is carried out using an O-ring seal 37 mounted on the distal face 2a and cooperating with the removable ring 35. The removable ring 35 can be temporarily assembled to body 2 using various assembly systems.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the removable ring 35 is mounted on the body using a bayonet assembly system comprising at least one row and in the example illustrated, two rows of ridges or ribs 38 arranged parallel to each other on an angular sector of the periphery of the body 2 from its distal face 2a. More precisely, the body 2 has, from its distal face 2a, a male tubular sleeve whose outer surface is provided with two rows of four ribs 38. The ribs 38 of the same row are separated from one another by grooves 39. Preferably, these two rows of four ribs 38 are arranged diametrically opposite on the tubular sleeve of the body 2. Each row of ribs 38 extends over a limited angular range, for example of the order of 60 °. Thus, these two rows of ribs 38 are separated from one another by passages or corridors 41.

As shown more precisely in FIG. 6, the ribs 38 are intended to cooperate with grooves 42 arranged on the removable ring 35 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The removable ring 35 which constitutes the female element of the assembly comprises a socket or a tubular skirt 35b extending at right angles from the transverse wall 35a. This tubular sleeve 35b has internally at least one and in the example illustrated, two rows of grooves 42. The grooves 42 of the same row which are separated from each other by notches 43 are dimensioned to fit into the grooves 39 of the ribs 38 while these ribs 38 are housed in the notches 43. Preferably, these two rows of grooves 42 are arranged diametrically opposite on the tubular sleeve 35b of the removable ring 35. Each row of grooves 42 extends over a limited angular range for example of the order of 60 °. Thus, these two rows of grooves 42 are separated from one another by passages or passages 44.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, the ribs 38 are made like the thread of a thread cooperating with the grooves 42 made like a thread.

The locking operation of the removable ring 35 on the body 2 consists in ensuring the engagement of the ring 35 on the body by ensuring, by translation, the engagement of each row of grooves 42 in the passages 41 to bring these grooves 42 coinciding with the ends of the grooves 39 delimited between the ribs 38. A relative rotational movement between the ring 35 and the body 2 ensures engagement between the ribs 38 and the grooves 42 to ensure the locking of the ring on the body 2.

According to an advantageous characteristic of embodiment, the bayonet assembly system comprises a mechanism for blocking the rotation between the removable ring 35 and the body 2. Thus, the tubular sleeve of the body 2 is provided with at least one pin. stop 45 on which a stop 46 fitted on the skirt 35b of the ring comes to block, at the end of a relative rotational movement between the ring 35 and the body 2 ensuring engagement between the ribs 38 and the grooves 42.

The removable ring 35 can thus be easily removed so that it can be used as an interchangeable accessory depending on the use of the cleaning device. Thus, the removable ring 35 can be equipped for example with a brush 48 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

According to an advantageous characteristic of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cleaning device 1 can be equipped, after removal of the removable ring 35, with an extension 50 adapted to be connected to the body 2 in place of the removable ring. This extension 50 comprises a rigid or flexible sheath 51 in which are mounted a gas supply tube 52 and a liquid supply tube 53. This sheath 51 is provided on one side with a connection head 55 with the body 2 and on the other side, a cleaning head 56.

This connection head 55 is intended to be fixed to the body 2 with the aid of a bayonet assembly system, similar to the bayonet assembly system between the removable ring 35 and the body 2. Thus, the connection head 55 comprises a coupling ring 57 provided internally with grooves 42 adapted to cooperate with the ribs 38 arranged on the body 2 making it possible to assemble the extension 50 on the body 2. The extension 50 can thus be easily assembled and disassembled from the body 2.

The connection head 55 also ensures the sealed connection between the gas 9 and liquid 8 circuits arranged in the body 2 and the gas supply tubes 52 and liquid 53 respectively. For this purpose, the gas supply tubes 52 and liquid 53 are fitted at their ends with connection end pieces which cooperate with complementary end pieces screwed into the threads 36 of the gas 9 and liquid 8 circuits, at the level of the distal wall 2a of the body 2.

The gas 52 and liquid 53 supply tubes are connected by end pieces 59, with gas 60 and liquid 62 circuits arranged in a support 63 of the cleaning head 56. The liquid 60 and gas circuits open out into a distal chamber for fragmenting the liquid into droplets 64 delimited by a removable distal ring 65 mounted in leaktight manner on the support 63 and forming distal outlet nozzle 66.

The distal fragmentation chamber 64 is delimited between the support and the removable distal ring 65 mounted in leaktight manner on the support using an O-ring 67 interposed between the support 63 and the removable distal ring 65. This removable distal ring 65 is provided with the distal outlet nozzle 66 and extends at a distance from the distal wall 63a of the support to delimit the distal fragmentation chamber 64. This removable distal ring 65 has a transverse wall 65a extending opposite and spaced from the distal wall 63a of the support 63. The transverse wall 65a has in its central part, an opening with a calibrated passage section delimiting the distal outlet nozzle 66. This distal outlet nozzle has an upper passage section of at least 10% at the passage section of the gas circuit 60 taken at its arrival in the distal fragmentation chamber 64.

It should be understood that this distal fragmentation chamber 64 has the same characteristics as the fragmentation chamber 35. However, the positioning of the distal fragmentation chamber 64 at the distal end of the extension 50 allows all the power to be delivered to the jet delivered via the distal outlet nozzle 66.

According to an advantageous alternative embodiment, the support 63 of the distal outlet nozzle 66 comprises a non-return valve 70 mounted on the liquid circuit 62 upstream of the distal fragmentation chamber 64. This non-return valve 70 opens the liquid circuit 62 under the effect of liquid pressure and conversely, closes said liquid circuit in the absence of liquid pressure. Thus, when an order to close the liquid circuit by the command 14 occurs, it appears almost instantaneously, the stopping of the outlet of the liquid by the distal nozzle 66 insofar as the non-return valve is located near the outlet. of the liquid circuit 62 in the distal fragmentation chamber 64.

It appears from the foregoing description that the device 1 makes it possible to automatically select, by command 14, 15, one and / or the other of the operating modes by pressing one and / or the other of the drawer buttons. . For example, it can be envisaged to press the two buttons 14, 15 to obtain cleaning by a flow of gas and liquid droplets. In this position, the shutters 20 of the gas 9 and liquid 8 circuits are in the open position.

The control 14 of the liquid circuit drawer can then be released to occupy its closed position. During this release, the slide 17 is moved in the closing direction under the action of the return spring, making it possible to place the liquid shutter 20 in the closed position of the liquid circuit 8. Maintaining a pressure on the control 15 of the gas circuit drawer causes the air shutter 20 to be held in the open position allowing the blowing of the gas by the outlet nozzle 7, in order to complete the cleaning by drying, for example.

It should be noted that when the extension 50 is mounted on the body 2, the selection mechanism 12 allows, by command 14, 15, one and / or the other of the operating modes of the device delivering by the distal nozzle of outlet 66, a jet of gas and / or liquid.

The device 1 according to the invention is of course part of a cleaning installation comprising a pressurized gas supply circuit comprising the supply line 6 and a pressurized liquid supply circuit comprising the supply line 5 of the liquid.

The liquid supply circuit is adapted to supply a pressurized liquid such as water, a degreaser or a solvent at a pressure value greater than that of a gas. For example, the gas supply circuit such as air has a flow rate between 100 and 5000 l / min and a pressure between 4 and 35 bar and preferably of the order of 6-10 bar. Similarly, the liquid supply circuit has a constant flow rate between 0.1 and 300 l / h and for example of the order of 8 l / h, with a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and between 0, 1 and bars and for example of the order of 1 bar. According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid supply circuit includes a flow limiter provided with a selector making it possible to choose a flow value from among several selected. For example, the selector allows you to choose the following flow values: 7.2 and 40 l / h.

The installation according to the invention using the device 1 requires very little cleaning liquid. For example, the cleaning installation consumes 7 liters of liquid per hour of operation.

Claims (11)

1 - Device for cleaning with a gas and / or a sprayed gas-liquid mixture, comprising: - a body (2) provided with at least one inlet (5) for a pressurized liquid and an inlet (6) for a pressurized gas, the body (2) being provided with an outlet nozzle (7 ) connected to the liquid (5) and gas (6) inlets respectively by liquid (8) and gas (9) circuits which open into a chamber (30) for fragmenting the liquid into droplets opening towards the outside by the outlet nozzle, - a mechanism (12) for selecting the operating mode of the device, interposed on the gas (9) and liquid (8) circuits, controlled by a control (14, 15) to occupy at least one first position for which the gas comes out only through the outlet nozzle (7) or a second position for which the gas charged with droplets comes out through the outlet nozzle (7) characterized in that the fragmentation chamber (30) is sealed and in that the nozzle outlet (7) has a passage section at least 10% greater than the passage section of the gas circuit (9) taken at its arrival in the fragmentation chamber. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragmentation chamber (30) is delimited between the body (2) and a removable ring (35) mounted in leaktight manner on the body. 3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the removable ring (35) comprises the outlet nozzle (7). 4 - Device according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the body (2) is equipped after the removal of the removable ring (35), an extension (50) comprising a rigid or flexible sheath (51) in which are mounted a gas supply tube and a liquid supply tube connected respectively with liquid (62) and gas (60) circuits and opening on the other side, in a chamber (64) distal of fragmentation liquid in droplets delimited by a removable distal ring (65) sealingly mounted on a support (63) and forming distal outlet nozzle (66), this distal outlet nozzle having an upper passage section of at least 10% to the gas circuit passage section (60) taken at its arrival in the distal fragmentation chamber (64). 5 - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the support (63) of the distal outlet nozzle comprises a non-return valve (70) mounted on the liquid circuit (62) upstream of the distal fragmentation chamber, this valve non-return opening said circuit under liquid pressure and closing said circuit in the absence of liquid pressure. 6 - Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the removable ring (35, 65) is mounted on the body (2) or the support (63) using an assembly system with bayonet comprising a row of ribs (38) arranged on the body or the support next to a passage for a series of grooves (42) arranged on the removable ring and intended to cooperate with the ribs after the connection and a displacement in rotation. 7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the bayonet assembly system comprises a mechanism (45, 46) for blocking the rotation between the removable ring (35, 65) and the body (2) or the support (63). 8 - Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the removable ring (35, 65) is provided with a brush (48). 9 - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) is provided with a grip stock incorporating the control (14, 15). 10 - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (14, 15) controls the selection mechanism (12) and is capable of occupying a third position for which neither the gas nor the liquid leave by the outlet nozzle. 11 - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection mechanism (12) comprises two drawers (16, 17) mounted sliding side by side, inside the body and each provided with a shutter ( 20) for the gas circuit and the liquid circuit respectively, these drawers being provided as a control (14, 15), with an actuating head extending outside the body, and elastically urged so that the shutters close the gas and liquid circuits in the absence of an actuating force. 5 12 - Cleaning installation characterized in that it comprises: - a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11; - a pressurized gas supply circuit connected to the gas inlet (6); - At least one pressurized liquid supply circuit connected to the liquid inlet (5). 1/5