JP2004358291A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple container cleaning device which can easily correspond to variation in the diameter of the container. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning device (2) for cleaning the inside of the container 18 has a flexible hose 14, a hose holder 11 holding the base end side of the hose 14 rotatably around the axis to make the hose 14 pendant, and a wiping member 15 which is arranged on the tip side of the hose 14 and wipes off substances 21 adherent to the inner surface of the container 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning device, and more particularly to a container cleaning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In Japan, which relies heavily on grain imports from abroad, grain transported by ships is stored in ports for the time being and transported by truck from there. Grains unloaded at this port are stored in grain silos (hereinafter referred to as silos). This silo is, for example, a huge one having a diameter of about 7 m and a height of about 30 m. Usually, about 20 silos of this kind are installed as one unit.
[0003]
In actual use of such a silo, dew condensation occurs on the inner wall of the silo due to changes in the outside air temperature, breathing of the grains in the silo, and the like, and as a result, the grains adhere to the inner wall of the silo and stick over time. Such sticking of the grain and the like to the inner wall of the silo is an undesirable phenomenon from the viewpoint of using the silo for a plurality of types of grains, controlling the quality of the silo, and further effectively using the internal volume of the silo. Cleaning is required.
[0004]
However, silos are huge, and the inside is extremely poor and dangerous for human work, such as being filled with fine cereal dust, danger of lack of oxygen, and poor scaffolding. Therefore, development of a cleaning system that automates the cleaning of the silo inner wall as much as possible is desired.
[0005]
As a conventional cleaning device for automatically cleaning the inside of such a large container, for example, there is a tank cleaning device.
[0006]
In this tank cleaning device, a plurality of flow dividing pipes are radially arranged in the horizontal direction at the lower end of the pressurized liquid introducing pipe extending in the vertical direction, and a wiping member urged outward is provided at the tip of the dividing pipe. It is arranged. In the cleaning device configured as described above, by supplying the pressurized liquid to the base end of the pressurized liquid introduction pipe, the pressurized liquid is ejected from the distal end of the split pipe, and the split pipe rotates, whereby the wiping member is rotated. Slides on the inner surface of the tank to remove dirt (see Patent Document 1).
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-3-105988 (FIGS. 1 to 4)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this conventional tank cleaning device, since the branch pipe is provided radially at the tip of the pressurized liquid introduction pipe extending in the vertical direction, it is necessary to change the length of the branch pipe according to the diameter of the tank. Also, it is necessary to absorb a change in the radius of rotation due to the eccentricity of the position of the pressurized liquid introduction pipe with respect to the center axis of the tank. Therefore, the branch pipe is configured to be able to expand and contract to some extent.
[0009]
However, since there is a limit to the expansion and contraction of the flow dividing pipe, the same cleaning device cannot be used for tanks having greatly different diameters, and the diameter is not constant, such as a silo having a lower part formed in an inverted conical shape. Cannot be used for containers. That is, it is difficult to cope with a change in the diameter of the container.
[0010]
Further, the structure is complicated because the flow dividing pipe is configured to be expandable and contractable, and the flow dividing pipe is radially provided to cancel the reaction force from the tank, and the installation at the cleaning site is not easy.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a simple cleaning device that can easily cope with a change in the diameter of a container.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cleaning device according to the present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning the inside of a container, wherein a flexible hose and a base end side of the hose are pivoted such that the hose hangs down. A hose holding body rotatably held around, and a wiping member disposed on the distal end side of the hose for wiping off the deposits on the inner surface of the container are provided (claim 1). With this configuration, when the cleaning device is inserted into the container and an appropriate flow rate of the pressurized fluid is supplied to the base end of the hose, the distal end of the hose is caused by the reaction force of the pressurized fluid ejected from the end of the hose. The container rotates while being in contact with the inner surface of the container, whereby the wiping member scrapes off the adhered substance on the inner surface of the container. Therefore, the inside of the container can be easily cleaned. In addition, by adjusting the flow rate of the pressurized fluid, the radius of rotation of the hose tip can be changed, so that it is possible to easily cope with a change in the diameter of the container.
[0013]
A nozzle may be provided at the tip of the hose (claim 2). With such a configuration, the pressurized fluid can be vigorously ejected, so that the rotational force of the hose tip and the pressing force against the inner surface of the container can be increased.
[0014]
A weight may be provided on a portion of the hose above the portion on which the wiping member is provided (claim 3). With such a configuration, the movement of the hose tip can be stabilized.
[0015]
The apparatus may further include an elevating means for elevating the hose holder (claim 4). With such a configuration, the inner surface of the container can be cleaned over a wide range in the axial direction.
[0016]
The lifting device includes another hose connected to a base end of the hose and wound to suspend the hose holder, and a driving device for feeding and unwinding the other hose. . With this configuration, the lifting and lowering means of the hose holder can be easily configured.
[0017]
The hose holder may include a rotating nipple extending in a substantially vertical direction and a passage for a pressurized fluid connected to an upper end of the rotating nipple, and a base end of the hose may be connected to a lower end of the rotating nipple ( Claim 6). With this configuration, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the hose is rotatably held by the hose holder.
[0018]
Compressed air may be supplied to a base end of the hose (claim 7). With such a configuration, it is not necessary to collect the pressurized fluid used for cleaning, so that the cleaning system can be simplified. Further, cleaning can be performed in a dry state.
[0019]
The cleaning device may be a silo cleaning device that cleans the inside of a silo as a container (claim 8). With such a configuration, since the lower portion of the silo is formed in an inverted conical shape, the present invention, which can easily cope with a change in the diameter of the container, has a particularly remarkable effect.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cleaning system using the cleaning device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the cleaning device of FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning system includes a cleaning device 1. The cleaning device 1 has a cleaning body 2 that cleans the inner surface of the container and an elevating device 3 that moves the cleaning body 2 up and down. Compressed air generated by the air compressor 7 is supplied to the cleaning body 2 through the air tank 6, the flow meter 5, and the flow control valve 4. The elevating device 3, the flow control valve 4, and the air compressor 7 are controlled by a control device 8 including a computer.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning body 2 has a support arm (hose holding body) 11. The support arm 11 is configured so that the position in the horizontal direction can be adjusted (an adjustment mechanism is not shown). A rotary nipple 12 is attached to the tip of the support arm 11 so that the center axis thereof is oriented vertically. The rotary nipple 12 is configured such that a pair of cylindrical connecting members 12a and 12b are coaxially and rotatably connected to each other, and a compressed air supply pipe 13 is connected to the upper connecting member 12a. I have. The compressed air supply pipe 13 is connected to the flow control valve 4 of FIG. 1 via, for example, a flexible pipe (not shown). The upper end of the flexible hose 14 is connected to the lower connecting member 12a. Therefore, the hose 14 is rotatable around the central axis at the upper end of the hose 14 with respect to the support arm 11. The hose 14 is formed of a flexible tubular member, and here is formed of a rubber hose having a circular cross section. A nozzle 16 is provided at the tip of the hose 14. The nozzle 16 is slightly curved, and has a smaller diameter toward the tip. The degree of this curvature is selected in consideration of the conditions described below. In addition, a wiping member 15 is provided at the tip of the hose 14. The wiping member 15 is formed of a member capable of wiping off extraneous matter on the inner surface of a container 18 (here, a silo) to be cleaned. In this case, the wiping member 15 is formed of a cylindrical brush. The cylindrical wiping member 15 is coaxially attached to the hose 14. Further, a weight 17 is provided on a portion of the hose 14 above a portion where the wiping member 15 is provided. The weight of the weight 17 is selected in consideration of conditions described later.
[0023]
The elevating device 3 (not shown in FIG. 2) is composed of, for example, an air cylinder disposed in a vertical direction, and the support arm 11 is fixed to a piston rod of the air cylinder. In addition, the elevating device 3 is configured by a screw screw and a guide bar extending in the vertical direction, an elevating body screwed and fitted to the screw screw and the guide bar, and a servomotor that rotationally drives the screw screw. The support arm 11 may be fixed to the elevating body.
[0024]
The container 18 to be cleaned is a silo in the present embodiment. The silo 18 has a shape in which a lower portion (hereinafter, referred to as a tapered portion) 18c of a cylinder is formed in an inverted conical shape, and has an upper end surface closed and a central portion of the closed upper end surface for storing grains and the like. An upper opening 18a for taking in an object is provided, a working opening 18d is provided at an appropriate position on an upper end surface thereof, and a lower opening 18b for taking out a stored object is provided at a lower end thereof.
[0025]
Next, the method of use and operation of the cleaning system configured as described above will be described.
[0026]
3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the cleaning device, in which FIG. 3A illustrates a stopped state, and FIG. 3B illustrates an operating state.
[0027]
In FIG. 3A, first, the cleaning body 2 is inserted into the silo 18 from the upper opening 18 a of the silo 18. Reference numeral 21 denotes grains, dusts, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as attached matter) attached to the inner surface of the silo 18. At this time, the position of the support arm 11 in the horizontal direction is adjusted so that the center axis of the upper end portion (specifically, the rotating nipple) of the hose 14 substantially coincides with the center axis of the silo 18. This is to prevent the hose 14 from being eccentric with respect to the inner surface of the silo 18. In this state, the hose 14 hangs down from the rotary nipple 12 due to its own weight, the weight of the weight 17, and the like.
[0028]
1, 2 and 3 (b), the control device 8 causes the lifting device 3, the air compressor 7, and the flow control valve 4 to operate as follows.
[0029]
First, the cleaning body 3 is raised by the lifting device 3 so that the wiping member 15 is positioned at the upper end of the silo 18.
[0030]
Next, the air compressor 7 is started, and the flow control valve 4 is gradually opened. Then, the compressed air 19 is supplied from the compressed air supply pipe 13 to the hose 14. Then, the supplied compressed air 19 is jetted from the tip of the nozzle 16, and the tip (lower end) of the hose 14 is bent by the reaction force of the jetted compressed air. The amount of deflection increases as the flow control valve 4 is opened and the amount of compressed air jet increases. Then, due to this bending, the wiping member 15 contacts the inner surface of the silo 18 and is pressed against it.
[0031]
Next, the flow control valve 4 is further opened to a predetermined opening to further increase the amount of compressed air to be ejected. Then, the tip of the hose 14 (more precisely, the wiping member A 15) rotates while contacting the inner surface of the silo 18. Here, if the amount of compressed air jet is too large, the tip of the hose 14 makes an unstable motion such as jumping. Further, by changing the degree of curvature of the nozzle 16, the ratio between the pressing force of the tip of the hose 14 against the inner surface of the silo 18 (hereinafter referred to as the silo inner surface pressing force) and the rotational force changes. Accordingly, it is necessary to set the amount of compressed air to be ejected (the opening degree of the flow control valve 4) and the degree of curvature and direction of the nozzle 16 so that the tip of the hose 14 stably rotates along the inner surface of the silo 18. However, these are set by experiments and the like. Also, if the weight of the hose 14 is too light, the hose 14 may move vigorously before reaching the inner surface of the silo, or the tip of the hose 14 may be stable even if the hose 14 reaches the inner surface of the silo 18. Does not rotate. Conversely, if it is too heavy, it will interfere with the rotational movement of the tip of the hose 14 along the inner surface of the silo 18. Therefore, the weight of the weight 17 is determined by an experiment or the like. As described above, the tip 21 of the hose 14 rotates along the inner surface of the silo 18, so that the attached matter 21 attached to the inner surface of the silo 18 is scraped off by the wiping member 15. The abraded matter 21 falls out of the silo from the lower opening 18b of the silo 18.
[0032]
Then, while maintaining this state, the cleaning body 2 is gradually lowered by the lifting device 3. Thereby, the inner surface of the silo 18 is cleaned from the upper side.
[0033]
Then, the cleaning body 2 descends until the wiping member 15 is located at the inverted conical tapered portion 18c formed below the silo 18. Here, since the diameter of the tapered portion 18c gradually decreases downward, the turning radius of the distal end of the hose 14 also decreases accordingly. On the other hand, gravity acts on the distal end of the hose 14 so as to reduce the pressing force against the inner surface of the tapered portion 18c (hereinafter, referred to as a pressing force reducing effect by gravity). It is considered that the diameter increases as the radius of rotation of the hose tip increases, and decreases as the radius of rotation decreases. Accordingly, in the tapered portion 18c, as the cleaning body 2 descends, the radius of rotation of the distal end portion of the hose 14 decreases, and the pressing force reducing effect due to gravity decreases, thereby pressing the hose 14 against the inner surface of the tapered portion 18. The force increases, and the rotation of the tip of the hose 14 becomes unstable. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the tapered portion 18c, the opening of the flow control valve 4 is reduced at a predetermined rate as the cleaning body 2 is lowered. Then, as the cleaning body 2 moves down, the radius of rotation of the hose 14 decreases, but the amount of compressed air ejected also decreases, whereby the pressing force against the inner surface of the silo 18 is maintained within a predetermined range. . As a result, even at the tapered portion 18c, the tip of the hose 14 rotates stably, and the cleaning by the wiping member 15 is suitably performed.
[0034]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pressurized fluid is ejected from the distal end of the flexible hose 14, and the reaction force is applied to the pressing force of the distal end of the hose against the inner surface of the container and along the inner surface of the container. Utilizing the rotation and the pressing force and the rotation, the adhering matter on the inner surface of the container is scraped off using the wiping member provided at the end of the hose. Therefore, the radius of rotation of the wiping member can be freely adjusted, so that it is possible to easily respond to a change in the diameter of the container. Therefore, when the silo 18 whose diameter changes is to be cleaned as in the present embodiment, a particularly remarkable effect is obtained. Further, since the main component of the cleaning device 1 is the flexible hose 14, the configuration is simple and the installation at the use site is easy. Further, the cleaning system is simplified because it is not necessary to collect the pressurized fluid used for cleaning. Further, the inside of the silo can be cleaned in a preferable dry state.
[0035]
It should be noted that the type of the container to be cleaned is not limited to the silo, and it is clear that the cleaning device of the present invention can be similarly used for other containers such as a tank.
[0036]
Further, the size of the container to be cleaned is not particularly limited, and can be adapted to containers of various sizes by adjusting the size of the cleaning body 2 to the size of the container.
[0037]
Further, for simplification, the nozzle may be omitted.
[0038]
Further, the wiping member may be changed according to the attached matter on the inner surface of the container, and for example, a sponge, a cloth (woven cloth, non-woven cloth) member or the like can be used.
[0039]
As the pressurized fluid, a pressurized liquid can be used in addition to air.
[0040]
When the cleaning device 1 is large, an air compressor may be installed on the support arm 11.
[0041]
Alternatively, the control device 8 may be omitted, and the air compressor 7, the flow control valve 4, and the lifting device 3 may be manually operated.
[0042]
When the weight of the hose 14 is large, the weight 17 may be omitted.
Embodiment 2
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a cleaning device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same or corresponding parts.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the cleaning device 1 of the present embodiment, a winding device (drive) including a drum 31 having a rotating shaft 31a and a motor (not shown) for rotating the drum 31 via the rotating shaft 31a. Device). The hose 14 is wound around the drum 31, and its base end is connected via a ventilation path (not shown), a rotating nipple (not shown), and a pipe (not shown) formed on the rotating shaft of the drum 31. It is connected to the flow control valve 4 of FIG. The rotary nipple 12 is disposed in the middle of the hose 14 (relatively at the distal end), and a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a first portion) 14a located on the distal end side of the portion of the hose 14 where the rotary nipple 12 is disposed. The weight 17, the wiping member 15, and the nozzle 16 are arranged in this order. Then, the rotary nipple 12, the first portion 14a of the hose 14, the weight 17, the wiping member 15, and the nozzle 16 constitute the cleaning body 2, and are closer to the base end than the portion of the hose 14 where the rotary nipple 12 is provided. The located portion (hereinafter, referred to as a second portion (other hose)) 14 b and the winding device constitute the lifting device 3. Other points are the same as the first embodiment.
[0044]
In the cleaning device 1 configured as described above, the winding device rotates the drum 31 forward and reverse by the motor, so that the hose 14 is fed and rewound, and the cleaning body 2 is lowered and raised accordingly. Then, compressed air is supplied from the flow control valve to the cleaning body 2 through the above-described flow path and the second portion 14b of the hose 14. The operation of the cleaning body 2 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted. However, when the first portion 14a of the hose 14 of the cleaning body 2 rotates, the second portion 14b of the hose 14 is slightly twisted by the rotational friction force of the rotary nipple 12, but this does not hinder the cleaning operation. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is implemented in the form as described above, and has an effect of providing a simple container cleaning device that can easily cope with a change in the diameter of the container.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cleaning system using a cleaning device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the cleaning device of FIG.
3A and 3B are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation of the cleaning device, wherein FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a stopped state, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an operating state.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning device 2 Cleaning body 3 Lifting device 4 Flow control valve 5 Flow meter 6 Air tank 7 Air compressor 8 Control device 11 Support arm 12 Rotating nipples 12a, 12b Connecting member 13 Compressed air supply pipe 14 Hose 15 Wiping member 16 Nozzle 17 Weight 18 container (silo)
18a Upper opening 18b Lower opening 18c Tapered portion 18d Working opening 19 Compressed air 31 Drum 31 Rotary shaft

Claims (8)

In a cleaning device that cleans the inside of the container,
A flexible hose,
A hose holder for rotatably holding the base end side of the hose around an axis so that the hose hangs down,
A cleaning device, comprising: a wiping member disposed on a distal end side of the hose for wiping off deposits on the inner surface of the container. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle is provided at a tip of the hose. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a weight is disposed on a portion of the hose above a portion on which the wiping member is disposed. The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating unit that elevates the hose holder. The said raising / lowering means has another hose connected to the base end of the said hose and wound up so that the said hose holder may be suspended, and the drive device which draws out and rewinds this other hose. Cleaning equipment. The hose holder includes a rotary nipple extending in a substantially vertical direction and a pressurized fluid passage connected to an upper end of the rotary nipple, and a base end of the hose is connected to a lower end of the rotary nipple. 2. The cleaning device according to 1. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein compressed air is supplied to a proximal end of the hose. The cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising a silo cleaning device that cleans the inside of the silo as the container.

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