GB1604650A

GB1604650A - Rotating cleaning head

Info

Publication number: GB1604650A
Application number: GB38609/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CP EQUIPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: CP EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 1977-09-15
Filing date: 1977-09-15
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: FR2403116A1; NL7809089A; DE2839403A1; FR2403116B3

Description

(54) ROTATING CLEANING HEAD (71) We, C. P. EQUIPMENT LIM ITED, a British Company, of Mill Green Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4XH, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a rotating cleaning spray head suitable for use in tank cleaning operations using fluid jets.

Rotating cleaning heads are well known for use in cleaning tanks and other similar uses. The rotating heads are usually driven by a motor within the body of the head.

The motor in known constructions is frequently expensive and complicated to produce and therefore the present invention has, as an object, the provision of a motor driven rotating head incorporating a construction which is easy and simple to manufacture.

A rotating cleaning head for use in tank cleaning in accordance with the invention comprises a hollow rotatable head member with jet orifices communicating between the interior and exterior of the head member, the head member being mounted for rotation in the body of the head and connected to a rotor also mounted for rotation in the body about an axis, a central axial duct through the rotor communicating between the fluid inlet into the body and the interior of the head member, an annular track in the rotor including an axially extending wall radially confining an impulse member movable around the track about the axis, an orifice in the body at an angle to the axis directed towards and into the track, the arrangement being such that fluid under pressure is able to flow through the orifices to impinge on the impulse member to cause it to move about the axis, the impulse member engaging means on the rotor to rotate it about the axis.

The engaging means is preferably provided in the annular track. In the example given this means is a protrusion on the surface of the annular track, and is formed by indenting the rotor. The impulse member is conveniently a ball.

The simple construction proposed enables a very cheap rotor construction in an easily formed body.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the draw ings accompanying the Provisional Specifica tion in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a rotat ing cleaning head according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a scrap view of the rotor of the head of Figure 1 taken on the line A-A of Figure 1.

The rotating cleaning head shown in the drawings comprises a body 1 in which is mounted a head member 2 which is con nected by a threaded connection 3 to a rotor member 4. The rotor member 4 has an annu lar track 5 formed therein into the outer side of which a protrusion 6 extends. The protrusion 6 is formed by indenting the outer surface of a sleeve like extension 7 of the rotor member 4 at 8. The protrusion 6 pro trudes into the annular track 5 so as partially to lie in the path of an impulse member 9 formed as a ball which can rotate around the annular track 5.

Jet orifices 10 formed in a central stator member 11 within the body 1 are directed at an angle towards the annular track 5. Only one orifice 10 is shown.

A fluid inlet for the cleaning head is pro vided by a cap 12 which is screwed onto the body 1 by a screw connection 13.

In operation fluid under pressure is supplied to the inlet 14 in the inlet cap 12; part of the fluid flows directly through a central hole 15 and mostly thence through a central hole 16 in the rotor member 4 to the head member 2. The remainder of the fluid passes through a number of orifices 10 (only one of which is shown) in the stator 11 and impinges on the ball 9 which is allowed to rotate in the annular track 5. After impinging on the ball the fluid then enters the central duct 16 in the rotor member 4 to join the fluid passed through the central duct 15 in the central stator.

As the ball 4 rotates around the annular track centrifugal force ensures contact of the ball with the protrusion 6. Reaction of the ball and the protrusion imparts a turning motion to the rotor member which in turn rotates the head member 2.

To enable easy rotation of the rotor member 4 a thrust bearing 17 is provided between the lower face of the rotor 4 and the upper face of the body 1. The axial bearing 18 acts between the head member 2 and the body 1.

A number of holes are formed in the head member 2 as at 19, 20, 21 directed in different directions radially from the centre of the head. Thus, due to the rotation of the cleaning head and the combined angles of the jets issuing from it all parts of the tank to be cleaned are covered by the cleaning fluid.

A very small proportion of fluid passing through the motor is allowed to flow between the body 1 and the stem 22 of the head 2 through bearing 18. This helps to centralise the rotating members within the body and allows lubrication and flushing of thrust bearings. The fluid escaping through the axial bearing 18 carries on down the outside of the stem 22 which helps to keep the stator surfaces of the head clean.

It will be appreciated that the motor for rotating the head is simply constructed by providing a body, a stator member carrying orifices for driving the rotor and a rotor which is a simple turning, a surface of which is intended to provide a protrusion engageable with a simple impulse member formed from a readily available steel ball.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A rotating cleaning head for use in tank cleaning comprising a hollow rotatable head member with jet orifices communicating between the interior and exterior of the head member, the head member being mounted for rotation in the body of the head and connected to a rotor also mounted for rotation in the body about an axis, a central axial duct through the rotor communicating between the fluid inlet into the body and the interior of the head member, an annular track in the rotor including an axially extending wall radially confining an impulse member movable around the track about the axis, an orifice in the body at an angle to the axis directed towards and into the track and communicating with said fluid inlet, the arrangement being such that fluid under pressure is able to flow through the orifices to impinge on the impulse member to cause it to move about the axis, the impulse member engaging means on the rotor to rotate it about the axis.

2. A rotating cleaning head as claimed in Claim 1 in which the engaging means is provided in the annular track.

3. A rotating cleaning head as claimed in Claim 2 in which the means comprises a protrusion on the annular track formed by an indentation in the rotor.

4. A rotating cleaning head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the impulse member is a ball.

5. A rotating cleaning head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ball with the protrusion 6. Reaction of the ball and the protrusion imparts a turning motion to the rotor member which in turn rotates the head member 2. To enable easy rotation of the rotor member 4 a thrust bearing 17 is provided between the lower face of the rotor 4 and the upper face of the body 1. The axial bearing 18 acts between the head member 2 and the body 1. A number of holes are formed in the head member 2 as at 19, 20, 21 directed in different directions radially from the centre of the head. Thus, due to the rotation of the cleaning head and the combined angles of the jets issuing from it all parts of the tank to be cleaned are covered by the cleaning fluid. A very small proportion of fluid passing through the motor is allowed to flow between the body 1 and the stem 22 of the head 2 through bearing 18. This helps to centralise the rotating members within the body and allows lubrication and flushing of thrust bearings. The fluid escaping through the axial bearing 18 carries on down the outside of the stem 22 which helps to keep the stator surfaces of the head clean. It will be appreciated that the motor for rotating the head is simply constructed by providing a body, a stator member carrying orifices for driving the rotor and a rotor which is a simple turning, a surface of which is intended to provide a protrusion engageable with a simple impulse member formed from a readily available steel ball. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A rotating cleaning head for use in tank cleaning comprising a hollow rotatable head member with jet orifices communicating between the interior and exterior of the head member, the head member being mounted for rotation in the body of the head and connected to a rotor also mounted for rotation in the body about an axis, a central axial duct through the rotor communicating between the fluid inlet into the body and the interior of the head member, an annular track in the rotor including an axially extending wall radially confining an impulse member movable around the track about the axis, an orifice in the body at an angle to the axis directed towards and into the track and communicating with said fluid inlet, the arrangement being such that fluid under pressure is able to flow through the orifices to impinge on the impulse member to cause it to move about the axis, the impulse member engaging means on the rotor to rotate it about the axis.