GB2064057A - Rotary jet cleaner nozzle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly provides two sets of nozzles, namely oblique ones 41 to cause rotary motion of the rotary jet ring 5 radially directed ones (39, Fig. 2, not shown). The ring is supported on annular bearing surfaces 29, 33 of body parts by complementary bearing surfaces 27, 31 on the ring. The bearing surfaces, under the bias from a set of spring washers 9, form a seal closing the rotary jet nozzles until the liquid pressure reaches a prescribed level when the bearing surfaces of the body parts and the ring respectively are forced apart against the bias to pass liquid to the rotary jet nozzles and form a liquid bearing on which the ring rotates. A second embodiment is also described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary jet cleaner nozzle assembly The present invention relates to nozzle assembly for a rotary liquid-jet cleaner, and to such a cleaner using the nozzle assembly.

Such cleaners are used for cleaning, for instance, the inside of pipes and comprise a supply conduit entered axially into the pipe bearing at the end so entered into the pipe a nozzle assembly.

The assembly comprises a ring bearing one or more nozzles in the form of a bore arranged, for instance, tangentially, so that when liquid is issued from the or each nozzle a rotary motion is imparted to the ring. In order to maintain bearing surfaces in contact with one another and to maintain seals in place, the nozzle assembly is biased in the direction contrary to the liquid pressure by a plurality of spring washers mounted on a shank extending from the nozzle assembly on the side thereof remote from the conduit and held on the shank by a nut screwed on the end thereof.

A difficulty which has arisen in the use of the devices is that the bearings tend to be short lived because of the considerable speed of rotation of the nozzle ring. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a nozzle assembly for a rotary jet cleaner, in which the nozzle ring is supported on a liquid bearing, the liquid being that employed as the cleaning liquid.

In the present invention, the jet nozzles provided in the rotary ring are arranged radially, and further nozzles are provided arranged other than radially so that when the liquid is forced through the further nozzles the jets from the latter cause rotation of the ring. The ring also provides at each axial end thereof a bearing surface to act on a complementary bearing surface provided on a body member of the nozzle assembly, to act as an annular seal when the liquid pressure is below a prescribed level, but then, under the effect of the liquid pressure on the relative disposition of the nozzle ring and the body parts, to permit passage of liquid through the seal to the further nozzles and causes the liquid to issue therefrom so as to case rotation of the ring. In doing this, the liquid then forms a liquid bearing for the rotary ring.For this purpose, the ring may be of a composite structure and comprise a cleaning-jet ring and a pair of rotary-jet rings fixed and supported on each axial end of the cleaning-jet ring, with the bearing surfaces of the ring being provided by the cleaning-jet ring to lie substantially radially inwardly of the rotary-jet nozzles formed- in the respective rotary-jet rings.

Preferably, the bearing surfaces on the body members are flared outwardly towards the rotary ring assembly with the respective bearings surfaces of the rotary ring being formed by surfaces thereof tapered to lie parallel with and radially inwardly of the bearing surfaces of the body members; and the seal between each two bearing surfaces may be provided by a part thereof in the form of an annular lip or bead formed on one of the two bearing surfaces concerned.

Because the body members and the cleaningjet ring are biased together by means of the spring washers, the respective seals provided by the bearing surfaces will contain the liquid pressure until it reaches the pressure required to effect the cleaning operation. At this pressure, the bearing surfaces are forced apart to break the seal and, as a result, liquid under pressure then passes through the nozzles in the rotary-jet ring and causes rotation of both the rotary-jet rings and of the cleaning-jet ring. It also forms a liquid bearing between the bearing surfaces of the body member and the bearing surfaces of the ring assembly.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a nozzle assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section of a cleaning jet ring employed in the nozzle assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the component shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a bearing ring of the nozzle assembly of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an end elevation of a rotary-jet ring employed in the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an exploded view of body parts of the assembly of Figure 1 and of an end cup employed therewith; and Figure 7 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a further nozzle assembly according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the nozzle assembly generally comprises a fixed body member 1 which, in use, is secured to the liquid supply conduit (not shown), a movable body member 3, a cleaning jet ring 5, a pair of rotary jet rings 7, a set of dished spring washers 9 an end cup 11 and a securing nut 13. The fixed body member 1 comprises a screw-threaded shank 1 5 by which it is screwed into the liquid supply conduit, a boss 17, the function of which will be described below, a bearing ring support portion 1 9 and extending from the portion 1 9 at the side thereof remote from the boss 17, a shank 21 screw threaded along a terminal portion 23 thereof.The portion 1 9 receives thereon a bearing ring 25 (Fig. 4); and the cleaning jet ring with the two rotary jet rings mounted and fixed on a respective axial end, is mounted on the bearing ring. The movable body member 3 is then mounted on the shank 21 and is urged into engagement with the respective face of the cleaning jet ring by the washers 9 held in place on the shank by the end cap 11 and the nut 13; the degree of compression of the washers being adjustable by rotation of the nut 1 3.

The cleaning jet ring provides an annular bearing surface 27 which acts on a complementary annular bearing surface 29 provided on the respective face of boss 1 7. The cleaning jet ring also provides a like annular bearing surface 31 again to act against a complementary annular bearing surface 33 provided on the movable body member 3. The bearing surfaces 27 and 29 and 31 and 33 respectively are engaged with one another under the axial force produced by compression of the washers 9.

The fixed body member also comprises a central axial bore 35 passing in from the free end of the boss 1 5 and extending to midway of the axial length of the portion 19 of the fixed body member where the central axial bore then gives rise to four equiangularly spaced radial bores 37 extending from the central axial bore to the surface of the portion 19 of the fixed body member.

In use of the nozzle assembly, liquid is passed into the central axial bore of the fixed body member and makes its way through the radial bores 37 thereof, then through the bearing ring 25 and through the radial jet nozzles 39 of the cleaning jet ring. When the pressure under which the cleaning fluid is delivered reaches a predetermined level, the axial forces applied by the cleaning liquid cause the movable body member slightly to move axially against the bias of the washers 9 and the cleaning liquid forces itself between the bearing surface 27 and 29 and the bearing surfaces 31 and 33 respectively then to pass also through the jet nozzles 41 of the rotary jet ring.The line of the nozzles of the rotary jet rings are arranged chordally with the result that the cleaning liquid emerging from the nozzles causes rotation of the rotary rings and consequently also of the cleaning jet ring on the bearing ring 25. When this happens, the cleaning jet ring is supported on a liquid bearing. In this connection, it is pointed out that the bearing ring 25 is suitably cut out to provide the minimum of obstruction during rotation of the cleaning ring to the passage of liquid from the radial bores of the fixed body member to the nozzles of the cleaning jet ring and of the rotary jet rings.Further, it is pointed out that the nozzles in the cleaning jet ring are inserts of a hand metal such as stellite; the nozzles being inserted through bores 43 which lie diametrically opposite the location of the nozzle and are closed by grub screws (not shown) in use of the ring.

As intimated above, the pressure at which the bearing surfaces of the respective parts are forced apart may be varied by varying the compression of the washers 9, but a typical pressure would be 6,000 Ibs per square inch.

The embodiment of Figure 7 is generally similar to that of Figures 1 to 6 and the like parts of the two embodiments are indicated by like reference numerals. However, in the embodiment of Figure 7, the bearing surfaces 27, 31 and 29 and 33 are of frusto-conical form with the bearing surfaces 29 and 33 respectively of the fixed and movable members being formed as surfaces flaring outwardly, that is in the direction towards the cleaning ring, and with the bearing surface 27 and 31 being formed as tapered surfaces to lie parallel with and radially inwardly of the respective bearing surfaces of the fixed body member and the movable body member. In this case, the actual point of contact between the respective pairs of bearing surfaces may be provided by an annular bead or lip formed on one or the other of the complementary surfaces.The bearing surfaces concerned may, of course, be arranged in the opposite sense, that is, to have the surfaces 29 and 33 tapered inwardly towards the axis of the fixed body member and the bearing surfaces of the cleaning jet ring flared outwardly although the first arrangement is preferred. In either of these arrangements, the bearing ring 25 is eliminated.

In a further modification of the described embodiment, the rotary jet rings and the cleaning jet rings are integrally formed.

Although reference has been made above to the use of dished spring washers i.e. the so called "Bellville" washers, possibly laminated stacks of alternate steel washers and flexible washers e.g.

rubber or plastics, would be suitable.

It is also pointed out that although a typical cleaning liquid supply pressure presently used is some 6,000 Ibs per square inch, a nozzle assembly in accordance with the present invention by a suitable increase in the diameter of the fixed body member will readily accommodate very much higher operating pressures for instance 12,000 to 14,000 Ibs per square inch.

The embodiment of Figure 7 also differs in employing a fixed body member formed with an internally screw-threaded recess 51 into which a connector 53 for the liquid supply conduit is screwed, the connector having an axial bore 35 through which liquid is delivered into the recess; the bore being flared out at each end. The fixed body member instead of having an axial bore is provided with four equiangularly spaced longitudinal bores 57 located on axes lying adjacent the outer periphery of the recess; the bores passing from recess 51 to a further recess 59 formed in the fixed body member at the end thereof adjacent the rotary jet nozzles 41. This has the advantage of avoiding having to provide a bore in a part of the body member of reduced cross section such as the support 1 9 and thus of possibly unduly weakening the fixed body member. Again, in the embodiment of Figure 7, the cleaning jet ring and the rotary jet rings are integrally formed and are indicated generally at 61, and the bearing surfaces are provided by annular inserts 27', 31' and 29' and 33' mounted respectively in the ring 61 and the fixed and movable body members.

Claims (21)

1. A rotary jet cleaner nozzle assembly of the kind comprising a ring bearing a nozzle arranged so that, when liquid is issued from the nozzle, a rotary motion is imparted to the nozzle ring; the nozzle ring being supported on annular bearing surfaces provided on respective body parts disposed at either axial end of the ring by complementary bearing surfaces on the ring, one of the body parts being adapted to be connected to a line delivering liquid under pressure and to duct the liquid to the nozzle, and the ring and the body parts being biassed against one another to resist relative displacement by the liquid pressure; wherein the nozzle ring comprises one or more nozzles arranged radially to provide radially directed jets of cleaning liquid, and one or more further nozzles arranged other than radially to cause rotation of the ring when liquid is forced through the or each further nozzle; the bearing surfaces being arranged so that, when the liquid pressure of the liquid directed through the or each radially arranged nozzle is below a prescribed level, the bearing surfaces act as a seal and prevent liquid passing to the or each further nozzle but then, above that liquid pressure level and under the effect of the liquid pressure on the relative disposition of the nozzle ring and the body parts, permit passage of liquid through the seal to the further nozzles to cause liquid to issue therefrom and effect rotation of the ring, whereby on rotation of the ring a liquid bearing is formed on which the ring rotates.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein for the or each radially arranged nozzle, two further nozzles are provided to lie in planes of the ring flanking that of the radially arranged- nozzle.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ring is an integrally formed structure.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nozzle ring is of a composite but integrally secured structure providing different, component, rings for the or each radially arranged nozzle, and the or each further nozzle respectively, a component ring for a radially arranged nozzle hereinafter being called a cleaning jet nozzle and a component ring for a further jet nozzle hereinafter being called a rotary jet ring.

5. An assembly according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the component rings comprise a cleaning jet ring flanked by two rotary jet rings.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning jet ring has an annular bearing surface at each axial end thereof for mounting a respective one of the rotary jet ring also comprising said complementary bearing surfaces of the ring.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of radially arranged nozzles and a plurality of further nozzles are provided equiangularly spaced around the ring.

8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing surfaces are of frusto-conical form.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bearing surfaces of the body members slope outwardly in the direction from the body member towards the ring, and the complementary bearing surfaces of the ring are of the opposite slope and lie disposed radially inwardly of the bearing surfaces of the body members.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the bearing surfaces of the body members slope inwardly in the direction from the body members towards the ring, and the complementary bearing surfaces are of the opposite slope and lie radially outwardly of the bearing surfaces of the body members.

11. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing surfaces of the body members and the complementary bearing surfaces of the ring are provided on members separately formed from the body members and ring respectively and secured thereto.

12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each bearing surface of the ring or body parts comprises an annular lip or bead acting to provide said seal.

13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one of the body members comprises an axially directed shank on the side thereof, providing the bearing surface of the body member, and the other body member is one which is axially displaceable on the shank.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the shank provides a portion to receive resiliently compressible washers to bear against the axially movable body part on the side thereof remote from the one body member; means being provided to maintain the washers under compression.

1 5. An assembly according to claim 1 3 or 14, wherein the washers comprise spring metal washers.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the spring metal washers are dished steel washers.

17. An assembly according to any of preceding claims 13 to 16, wherein the washers comprise alternate spring metal washers and flexible washers.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein the flexible washers are of rubber or plastics.

1 9. An assembly according to claim 3 or any of preceding claims 4 to 1 8 as dependent thereon, wherein said one of the body members comprises an axial screw threaded bore extending thereinto to a position short of the ring from the end of the body member remote from the ring, to receive a screw-threaded line connection, and longitudinal bores located on axes lying adjacent the periphery of the axial bore and arranged to duct liquid from the line connection to the nozzles of the ring.

20. An assembly according to claim 19, including the line connector, wherein the line connector provides an axial bore flaring outwardly at the end thereof received within the axial bore of the one body member.

21. A rotary jet cleaner nozzle assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.