GB2177291A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning the floor 11 of a tank e.g. a sludge settling tank comprises a suction/jet unit 13 connected to a suction pump 22 via pipes 15, 16, 19 and catch-pot 20, the jets being derived by flow of liquid through nozzles 26 when the suction pump is operated. Ponds and silos many also be cleaned by such apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning apparatus This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and methods and in particular to apparatus for cleaning the floors of containers, for example for removing sludge and debris from ponds, silos and sludge settling tanks.

According to this invention cleaning apparatus comprises means cooperable with a container floor to define a space, means for removing material from the space, means for creating a flow of liquid in the space to assist in removing material from the space.

The flow may be created by liquid jets.

The flow may be created by paddles or propellers driven by suitable means.

The cooperable means may have a top, and a peripheral wall engageable with the floor, and apertures in the top so that when under the level of liquid in the container the liquid enters the space through the apertures to form said jets.

The nozzles may be built into the tank permanently or may be lowered in when required.

The jets may be disposed to produce a vortex flow of said liquid.

The material may be removed from the space by suction or mechanical grab.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of cleaning apparatus in a tank; and Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of a jet unit.

Referring to Fig. 1, a tank 10 containing for example water to a depth of 7 metres, has a flat floor 11 and a circular or rectangular wall 12. A suction/jet unit 13 has a top 14 from which upstands a pipe 15 having a side outlet 16. The unit 13 has an upright circular peripheral wall 17 resting on the floor 11 and an outer resilient circular peripheral wall 18 which seals against the floor 11. A flexible conduit 19 connects the outlet 16 via a catch pot 20, having a lid 21 releasably sealingly clamped, to a suction pump 22 discharging to drain via pipe 23. The catch-pot 20 serves to protect the pump from heavy items of debris. The underface of the top 14 is formed with a plurality of nozzles 26 such that when suction is created by the pump in the space 27 bounded by the wall 17 and the top 14, water from the tank 10 enters the space 27 as jets 28.

These jets may be directed downwards and serve to stir up the sludge and debris which is sucked out with water by the pump.

As seen in Fig. 2, the nozzles 26 may be angularly spaced diametrical pairs at different radial distances from a central pipe 15.

The jets 27 may produce a circulating flow of water producing a radial pressure gradient to give a vortex effect and an acceleration force towards the centre 1-5.

There is also a radial component of flow from the boundary wall 17.

The relative positions, orientations, size and number of the nozzles can be varied to suit requirements.

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising means cooperable with a container floor to define a space, means for removing material from the space, and aperture means in said cooperable means to permit flow of liquid into said space through the cooperable means to assist in removing material from the space.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said aperture means comprises a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of nozzles respectively associated with said apertures for directing liquid flow into said space.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the cooperable means has a top, and a peripheral wall engageable with the floor, said apertures being in the top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which flow through the aperture means is arranged to produce a vortex flow of liquid in the space.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means for removing comprises section means operative inward from a peripheral region of said space.

6. Cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cleaning apparatus This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and methods and in particular to apparatus for cleaning the floors of containers, for example for removing sludge and debris from ponds, silos and sludge settling tanks. According to this invention cleaning apparatus comprises means cooperable with a container floor to define a space, means for removing material from the space, means for creating a flow of liquid in the space to assist in removing material from the space. The flow may be created by liquid jets. The flow may be created by paddles or propellers driven by suitable means. The cooperable means may have a top, and a peripheral wall engageable with the floor, and apertures in the top so that when under the level of liquid in the container the liquid enters the space through the apertures to form said jets. The nozzles may be built into the tank permanently or may be lowered in when required. The jets may be disposed to produce a vortex flow of said liquid. The material may be removed from the space by suction or mechanical grab. The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of cleaning apparatus in a tank; and Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of a jet unit. Referring to Fig. 1, a tank 10 containing for example water to a depth of 7 metres, has a flat floor 11 and a circular or rectangular wall 12. A suction/jet unit 13 has a top 14 from which upstands a pipe 15 having a side outlet 16. The unit 13 has an upright circular peripheral wall 17 resting on the floor 11 and an outer resilient circular peripheral wall 18 which seals against the floor 11. A flexible conduit 19 connects the outlet 16 via a catch pot 20, having a lid 21 releasably sealingly clamped, to a suction pump 22 discharging to drain via pipe 23. The catch-pot 20 serves to protect the pump from heavy items of debris. The underface of the top 14 is formed with a plurality of nozzles 26 such that when suction is created by the pump in the space 27 bounded by the wall 17 and the top 14, water from the tank 10 enters the space 27 as jets 28. These jets may be directed downwards and serve to stir up the sludge and debris which is sucked out with water by the pump. As seen in Fig. 2, the nozzles 26 may be angularly spaced diametrical pairs at different radial distances from a central pipe 15. The jets 27 may produce a circulating flow of water producing a radial pressure gradient to give a vortex effect and an acceleration force towards the centre 1-5. There is also a radial component of flow from the boundary wall 17. The relative positions, orientations, size and number of the nozzles can be varied to suit requirements. CLAIMS

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising means cooperable with a container floor to define a space, means for removing material from the space, and aperture means in said cooperable means to permit flow of liquid into said space through the cooperable means to assist in removing material from the space.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said aperture means comprises a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of nozzles respectively associated with said apertures for directing liquid flow into said space.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the cooperable means has a top, and a peripheral wall engageable with the floor, said apertures being in the top.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which flow through the aperture means is arranged to produce a vortex flow of liquid in the space.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means for removing comprises section means operative inward from a peripheral region of said space.

6. Cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.