GB2315106A

GB2315106A - Jetting nozzle for cleaning surfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2315106A
Application number: GB9714115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grant Andrew Ockleston
Original assignee: Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Current assignee: Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-05
Filing date: 1997-07-03
Publication date: 1998-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-03
Also published as: GB9714115D0; GB2315106B; AU2844597A; GB9614109D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device 1 in the form of a jetting nozzle, which has an outlet 2 for a cleaning fluid such as water under pressure, the outlet 2 having a parallel sided part 3 and a flared part 4. The device is effective in the cleaning of drains, drain pipes and the like. The provision of the flared part reduces the impact stress on the surface. Fig. 1 illustrates a nozzle having a blind inlet bore 6, a coupling seal 8 and flats 9 for a spanner.

Description

A CLEANING DEVICE The invention relates to a cleaning device, particularly a cleaning device which directs a jet of water or other cleaning fluid on to a surface to be cleaned, particularly a sewage pipe.

A relatively high velocity of cleaning water is required to clean a sewage pipe surfacc. This is satisfactory when the pipe is of earthenware or terracotta, but in modern times, such pipes are often made of plastic. In this case, the strength of the jet is such that the pipe can be perforated, which leads to leakage, which is clearly undesirable.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided a device for cleaning a surface, comprising an outlet for a cleaning fluid and means to reduce impact stress on a surface to be cleaned.

Thus, using the invention it is possible to provide a device to clean a pipe made of plastic, or indeed any other such material suitable for use in making pipes,drains or the like.

The impact reducing means may comprise a parallel-sided part and a flared part of the outlet.

Using the invention it is possible to reduce the impact force velocity of fluid such as water impacting on a surface to be cleaned using the device.

The flared part may be flared at about 10 - 30 , for example 6" to the parallel sided part. This provides a required impact reduction, when the outlet is provided to an appropriate length.

The outlet may be developed symmetrically about an axis which axis is inclined to a fluid inlet of a body of the device.

The outlet may be directed in a direction substantially away from the inlet direction.

The outlet may be adjacent a blind end of the body, or may additionally contain an extra outlet of similar configuration to provide cleaning in front, substantially parallel to the internal or axial flow direction.

The parallel-sided part may have a diameter of about 1.5mm and a length of about 2.00mm.

Thus, the flared part may have a length of about 15.00mm, suitably of 25 cone angle. These dimensions vary with flow of pressure.

The outlet may be inclined by the range between 15 - 90" to the horizontal, preferably at substantially 45" to the horizontal.

There may be a plurality of liquid outlets. The liquid outlets may be arranged in a circular array.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for cleaning drains or drain pipes, including a cleaning device as hereinbefore defined.

A cleaning device embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational part longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view on arrow 'A' of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of cleaning device according to the invention; Fig. 3a is a transverse sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is a side elevational longitudinal sectional view of the device of Fig. 3; and Fig. 4a is a transverse sectional view along the line B-B in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a cleaning device 1 in the form of a jetting nozzle for cleaning drains, drain pipes and the like made of plastic or other such suitable materials used for drains. The cleaning device or jetting nozzle 1 has an outlet 2 for a cleaning fluid such as water under pressure, the outlet 2 having a parallel sided (cylindrical in the embodiment) part 3 and a flared part 4. The flared part 4 is downstream of the cylindrical part 3 and terminates at a boundary surface 5 of the nozzle 1, the cylindrical part 3 of the outlet 2 breaking into a blind inlet bore 6 for cleaning liquid. The inlet bore 6 is in the embodiment 13.00mm in diameter, and the cylindrical part 3 of the outlet 2 has a diameter of 1.5mm in the embodiment, and a length of 2.00mm.

The flared part 4 has a length of 15.00mm. The angle of flare is 25 and the outlet 2 is symmetrical about a major axis of revolution, or longitudinal axis 7 which is inclined at 450 to the horizontal in the embodiment.

It will be understood that these parameters can vary according to flow/volume pressure of fluid for example, 13mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 15.00mm, 25 - 45".

The device 1 which may be formed from any suitable material such as metal, has a means in the form of a coupling seat 8 at one end for connection with a hose and hence source of water under pressure. There are flats 9 for a spanner at the opposite end.

Although in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 only one outlet 1 has been shown, it will be understood that there may be a plurality of outlets, suitably arranged as a circular array as illustrated for example in Figs. 3 to 4a. The outlets 1 suitably all point in a direction away from the inlet direction as illustrated, though some could point in other directions, for example directed forwardly, as considered in the direction of flow, that is substantially parallel to the axial flow direction. In the embodiment the flats 9 are located on an intermediate part 10 of the device 1.

In use water say at a velocity of 2.675m/s enters the inlet bore 6, and passes into the outlet 2, which, being of greatly reduced diameter than the inlet 6 induces a high pressure jet to emanate from the outlet, so effecting cleaning of a surface onto which the jet is directed. The nozzle delivers 11.0 gallons per minute (gpm) at 3500 pounds per square inch (psi) and the velocity is normally greater than 200 m/s. The impact force/velocity of the jet is reduced as the water "spreads out" at the flared part 4 and hence on exiting the cleaning device 1, therefore increasing the area of the jet of water and thus increasing its area of impact, so reducing the impact stress (force/area) on the pipe being cleaned, which when plastic is not punctured. This is because the damaging component of the fluid jet is contained within the tapered section of the outlet 4 so as to not contact the surface, for example of a pipe, being cleaned.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a surface, comprising an outlet for a cleaning fluid and means to reduce impact stress on a surface to be cleaned.

2. A cleaning device according to Claim 1, the impact reducing means comprising a parallel-sided part and a flared part of the outlet.

3. A cleaning device according to Claim 2, the flared part being flared at about 10 - 30 to the parallel-sided part.

4. A cleaning device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, the outlet being developed symmetrically about an axis which axis is inclined to a fluid inlet of a body of the device.

5. A cleaning device according to Claim 4, the outlet being directed in a direction substantially away from the inlet direction.

6. A cleaning device according to Claim 4, the outlet comprising a substantially forward facing jet which is substantially parallel to the inlet.

7. A cleaning device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, the outlet being adjacent a blind end of the body.

8. A cleaning device according to any of Claims 2 - 7, comprising a plurality of liquid outlets.

9. A cleaning device according to Claim 8, the outlets being arranged in a circular array.

10. A cleaning device according to any of Claims 2 - 6, the parallel-sided part having a diameter in the range 1.0 to 3.00mm and a length in the range 1.00 - 4mm.

11. A cleaning device according to Claim 10, the flared part having a length in the range 5 - 50mm and a flare of 10 - 30".

12. A cleaning device according to Claim 10, the length being about 15.00 mm and the flare being 25".

13. A cleaning device according to any of Claims 2 - 12, the outlet being inclined at substantially 45" to the horizontal.

14. A cleaning device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for cleaning drains or drain pipes, including a cleaning device according to any preceding claim.