IES20090473A2

IES20090473A2 - A sewer cleaning nozzle

Info

Publication number: IES20090473A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Aidan Francis Mullane; Brian Joseph Mcnulty
Original assignee: Aidan Francis Mullane; Brian Joseph Mcnulty
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2009-06-18
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: EP2278082A1

Abstract

A nozzle (1) for cleaning an interior wall (2) of a sewer pipe (3). The nozzle comprises a base member (6) adapted to receive water to an inlet (9) thereof; a nose cone (14) having a back end (16) mountable on the base member (6) and a front jet orifice (18) at a front end (20) for emitting a jet of water (22) generally axially of the nozzle (1) to dislodge debris in the pipe (20). The nose cone (14) is arranged on the base member (6) to form a rearward jet orifice (26) defined by a gap between the nose cone (14) and the base member (6) which extends around the base member (6) for emitting a jet of water (30) in the form of a hollow conical wall so that the jet (30) impacts against a full inner circumference of the interior wall of the sewer pipe. <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to a nozzle, and more particularly, a nozzle for cleaning the internal walls of sewer pipes.

Background Art Nozzles for cleaning sewer pipes are known to comprise both forwardly and rearwardly directed water discharge jets. The forward jets are adapted to discharge a water jet for punching through built-up debris in the sewer pipe, and thus act to clear a path for the nozzle to move through the pipe. The rear jets are adapted to impact against and scour the pipe walls, whilst at the same time driving the nozzle forward through the pipe. When the nozzle is pulled back through the pipe the rear jets effectively scrape the loosened debris backwards through pipe to an accessible collection point for removal as necessary.

For example, US Patent No. 4,677,997 discloses a nozzle for cleaning a sewer pipe. The nozzle disclosed therein has rearwardly directed jets which are spaced in a circular arrangement around a rotary turbine. This particular nozzle emits multiple high pressure streams of water in a spiral or swirling action so as to clean the inner surfaces of a sewer pipe whilst also propelling the nozzle forward. However, the swirl action of the high pressure water jet in US Patent No. 4,677,997 requires that the nozzle is fitted within a frame and skid so as to steady the nozzle and prevent it wobbling within the pipe. The need for such a skid and frame severely restricts the free and unhindered movement of the nozzle through the sewer pipe and moreover, prevents it from moving around corners. Such swirling action nozzles are also known only to loosen debris and are not suited to effectively scrape the loosened debris backwards through pipe when the nozzle is retracted.

Other known nozzles rely on the use of a circular arrangement of jets to clean the wall of a sewer pipe. However, such a configuration suffers from the disadvantage that the entire inner circumference of the pipe wall is not impacted on by the waterjets and this results in the pipe wall not being fully scoured. Moreover, debris is left behind when retracting the nozzle from the pipe.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle for cleaning the internal walls of sewer pipes which overcomes the above problems and/or which will provide the industry with a useful alternative.

It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions be provided with either an exclusive or inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted explicitly, the term comprise shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it may be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly 10 references, but also other non-specified components. Accordingly, the term ‘comprise’ is to be attributed with as broader interpretation as possible within any given jurisdiction and this rationale should also be used when the terms ‘comprised’ and/or ‘comprising’ are used.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent form the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided a nozzle for cleaning an interior wall of a sewer pipe, the nozzle comprising: a base member adapted to receive water to an inlet thereof; a nose cone having a back end mountable on the base member and a front jet orifice at a front end thereof for emitting a jet of water generally axially of the nozzle to dislodge debris in the pipe, whereby, the nose cone is arranged on the base member to form a rearward jet 30 orifice around a perimeter of the base member for emitting a jet of water having a shape adapted to impact against a full inner circumference of the interior wali of the sewer pipe.

The present invention provides a nozzle for cleaning a sewer pipe which is adapted to 35 emit a spray from its rearward acting jet orifice to impact on the full circumference (360 IE Ο 9 ο 4 7 3 degrees) of the interior of the sewer pipe. Such a provision ensures that the entire inner circumference of the pipe wall is impacted upon and scoured by the jet spray as the nozzle is propelled under the action of the spray through the pipe. Moreover, use of such a jet spray will also ensure that when the nozzle is retracted from the pipe there is no debris left behind 5 in the pipe since the spray impacts against the entire inner pipe circumference to draw all of the debris with it as it is retracted.

Additionally, and keeping in mind the extremely harsh conditions and amount of debris in a sewer pipe, the present invention also alleviates problems associated with blockage of jets. 10 Prior art nozzles will typically have an arrangement of separate jets, each of which is very small and prone to being blocked, especially when recycled water is being used as a jetting fluid. The present invention does not have small exposed jets but instead utilises a relatively large single jet orifice which extends around the entire perimeter of the base member of the nozzle. Such a configuration is significantly less prone to blockages of the type 15 experienced by multiple orifice nozzles and the disadvantages thereof.

Furthermore, a nozzle comprising of a coupling between a nose cone and base member will also render an arrangement which is easy to disassemble for cleaning purposes.

Preferably, the jet of water emitted from the rearward jet orifice defines a truncated substantially cone shaped spray. The emitting of a cone shaped spray will ensure that the full inner circumference of the pipe wall is impacted against at all times.

Preferably, the base member comprises at least one fluid passageway for the 25 transmission of fluid from the inlet to the rearward jet orifice and at least one fluid passageway for the transmission of fluid to the nose cone.

Preferably, the nose cone comprises a fluid passageway for the transmission of water to the front jet orifice.

In another embodiment of the invention, the nose cone mounts a conduit in a central chamber thereof, the conduit interposed between the base member and the fluid passageway of the nose cone. The conduit effectively splits the water received at the inlet of the base member between the fluid passageway of the front jet and the fluid 35 passageways leading to rearward jet orifice. The conduit also maintains the velocity of IE Ο 9 ο 4 7 3 the fluid in the nozzle whilst also reducing turbulence.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base member comprises a plurality of fluid passageways for the transmission of fluid to the rearward jet orifice. For example, the 5 base member may comprise two, three, four, five, six or more such fluid passageways.

Preferably, the nozzle comprises means to block the passage of water to the fluid passageway of the front jet orifice so as to channel all water entering the base member inlet to the rearward jet orifice.

In another embodiment of the invention, the base member is releasably coupled to the nose cone.

In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling between the base member and the 15 nose cone is of a screw thread type.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 20 to 140 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Alternatively, the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 40 to 120 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Alternatively, the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 60 to 100 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Alternatively, the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 70 to 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Preferably, the nozzle comprises means to alter the size of the rearward jet orifice so that 30 the cone angle of the conical spray oscillates within the range.

Preferably, the nozzle comprises means to dynamically alter the size of the rearward jet orifice so that the angularity of the conical spray oscillates within the range.

Preferably, the inlet of the base member comprises coupling means for connection to a IE Ο 9 0473 hose for delivering water to the nozzle.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a nozzle according to die invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1 showing exemplary spray patterns; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a nozzle shown in Fig. 1 according to further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the nozzles in Figs, 1 to 4 shown in a sewer pipe, and Fig. 6 is a stylised illustration of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 to 4 coupled to a water supply.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 5, there is shown a nozzle, indicated 25 generally by the reference numeral 1, for cleaning debris 4 from an interior wall 2 of a sewer pipe 3.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the nozzle 1 comprises a base member 6 adapted to receive water 8 to an inlet 9 thereof. In practice, the inlet 9 is coupled to a hose pipe 10 (see Fig. 6) which is in turn coupled to a supply of water, shown as a water tanker or truck 12.

Also shown is a nose cone 14 having a back end 16 mountable on the base member 6 and a front jet orifice 18 at a front end 20 thereof for emitting a jet of water 22 generally axially of the nozzle 1 to dislodge debris 4 in the pipe 3. The nose cone 14 comprises a IE Ο 9 0 4 7 3 fluid passageway 24 for the transmission of water 8 to the front jet orifice 18. The base member 6 is releasably coupled to the nose cone 14 via a screw thread coupling 27, 29 between the nose cone 14 and base member 6. The nozzle 1 thus provides an arrangement which is very easy to disassemble for cleaning purposes. It will however be 5 understood that the coupling between the nose cone 14 and base member 6 may be of any suitable type as required or as desired. It may for example be a snap lock type connection system or a latching mechanism. Accordingly, reference to a screw thread mechanism only should not be seen as limiting.

The nose cone 14 is arranged on the base member 6 to form a rearward jet orifice, indicated generally by the reference numeral 26 around a perimeter 28 of the base member 6 for emitting a jet of water 30 having a shape adapted to impact against a full inner circumference of the interior wall 2 of the sewer pipe 3. The rearward jet orifice 26 is thus a single opening formed by a gap between the nose cone 14 and the base member 15 6 which extends around the base member 6 and emits a single truncated substantially cone shaped spray pattern in the pipe 3. Such a cone shaped spray pattern will effectively propel the nozzle 1 through the pipe 3 and ensure that the entire inner circumference of the pipe wall is impacted upon and scoured. When the nozzle 1 is retracted back through the pipe 3 it will effectively scrape all of the debris 4 released from the pipe wall 20 3 back to an appropriate collection point.

The base member 6 comprises a number of fluid passageways, indicated generally by the reference numerals 36, for the transmission of water 8 received at the inlet 9 to the rearward jet orifice 26. In practice the base member may comprise one, two, three, four, 25 five, six or more fluid passageways 36 leading to the rearward jet orifice 26.

The nose cone 14 mounts a conduit 38 in a central chamber, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. As shown, the conduit 38 is Interposed between the base member 6 and the fluid passageway 24 of the nose cone 14. The conduit 38 effectively splits the 30 water received at the inlet 9 of the nozzle 1 and allows a flow of water through passageway 34 into the nose cone 14 for delivery under pressure to the front jet orifice 18 and the fluid passageways 36 leading to rearward jet orifice 26. The nozzle 1 may optional comprise means to block the passage of fluid to the fluid passageway of the front jet orifice 18 so as to channel all water entering the base member inlet 9 to the rearward 35 jet orifice 26.

Fig, 3 shows exemplary spray patterns, indicated generally by the letters A and B, achievable by the rearward jet orifice 26 of the nozzle 1. In the instance shown, the nozzle 1 is adaptable to emit a cone shaped spray 30 having a cone angle in the range of 5 about 20 degrees (indicated by the letter B) to 140 degrees (indicated by the letter B) to a longitudinal axis (indicated by the letter C) of the nozzle 1. It will however be understood that the spray patterns achievable by the rearward jet orifice 26 may be set as required in ranges of about 40 to 120 degrees, 60 to 100 degrees, 70 to 90 or any other range as required or as desired in order to achieve the object of impacting on the full inner 10 circumference of the pipe wall whilst at the same time propelling the nozzle 1 through the pipe 3. Accordingly, reference to the spray patterns shown in Fig. 3 are given by way of example only.

With reference to Fig. 4, the rearward jet orifice 26 may optionally comprise strengthening 15 inserts 42, which may be made of ceramics or other hard material to minimise the wear of the orifice 26.

The nozzle 1 also comprises means (not shown) to alter the size of the rearward jet orifice 26 so that the cone angle of the conical spray 30 oscillates between a defined cone angle 20 range. Such means may be adapted to dynamically alter the size of the rearward jet orifice 26 so that the angularity of the conical spray automatically oscillates within the defined range. In this configuration the nozzle 1 has the ability to alter or adjust the shape of the cone spray 30 to provide an optimal spray pattern to scour the pipe walls 3 according to determined or sensed contours and debris 4 build up in the pipe 3.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciate that additions and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A nozzle for cleaning an interior wall of a sewer pipe, the nozzle comprising: a base member adapted to receive water to an inlet thereof; 5 a nose cone having a back end mountable on the base member and a front jet orifice at a front end thereof for emitting a jet of water generally axially of the nozzle to dislodge debris in the pipe, wherein, the nose cone is arranged on the base member to form a rearward jet orifice around a perimeter of the base member for emitting a jet of water having a shape adapted 10 to impact against a full inner circumference of the interior wall of the sewer pipe.

2. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rearward jet orifice is a relatively large single jet orifice formed by a gap between the nose cone and the base member and which extends around the base member and emits a single truncated substantially cone shaped 15 spray pattern in the pipe.

3. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the nozzle comprises a coupling between a nose cone and base member. 20

4. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base member comprises at least one fluid passageway for the transmission of fluid from the inlet to the rearward jet orifice and at least one fluid passageway for the transmission of fluid to the nose cone; optionally, wherein the nose cone mounts a conduit in a central chamber thereof, the conduit being interposed between the base member and the fluid passageway of the nose 25 cone, wherein the conduit effectively splits the water received at the inlet of the base member between the fluid passageway of the front jet and the fluid passageways leading to rearward jet orifice.

5. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in 30 the range of about 20 to 140 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle; optionally, wherein the cone shaped spray has a cone angle In the range of about 40 to 120 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle; optionally, wherein the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 60 to 100 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle; 35 optionally, wherein the cone shaped spray has a cone angle in the range of about 70 tE Ο 9 ο 4 7 j s to 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle; and optionally, wherein the nozzle comprises means to dynamically alter the size of the rearward jet orifice so that the angularity of the conical spray oscillates within the range. 5

6. A nozzle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.