JP2024504579A - Automatic cleaning system for sludge cleaning built into a 2-stroke crosshead engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a rotating flexible spiral auger fixed within the cavity (3, 4) of the engine (1) and mounted in such a way that the fluid within the cavity is transported along the outer diameter of the auger (2). (2) Regarding an engine (1) with an automatic cleaning system. The auger (2) is centerless and the sludge and oil also flow through the center of the auger (7)

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning system with a rotating flexible spiral auger that can be used in two-stroke crosshead engines, and in particular for integration into the engine flushing air belt (also referred to as the "scavenge space" or "underpiston space"). Are suitable. The invention is also suitable for installation in the "scavenge receiver" of the engine flushing air tank. Furthermore, it is also suitable for installation in a piping system branching from the above area.

The present invention can be used as a retrofit to existing engines and equipment, or installed in new engines and equipment. The invention can also be used in pressure-set or non-pressure (open) systems.

In two-stroke crosshead engines, it is known that a layer of "sludge" accumulates on the engine's flushing air belt. This phenomenon occurs depending on the composition of the medium. The medium consists of cylinder lubricating oil, mixed with solid particles in the form of unburned particles (sludge). These solid or sludge components tend to settle/settle and accumulate relatively quickly in layers on surfaces with little slope, building up relatively large amounts of solid sludge under engine operation. This sediment is compacted like hard trodden soil. This phenomenon occurs because the flowing part of the medium (oil) cannot sufficiently move the solid/sludge components and flows away. There are known instances in which an unacceptable amount of solid sludge has accumulated after only three weeks of operation since the last cleaning. Currently, this problem is primarily solved by manual cleaning using small shovels, creators, spatulas, and other known cleaning/excavation tools. However, this results in a relatively long working time. Additionally, this manual work requires the engine to be shut down for several hours.

In known examples, more than 1200 labor hours are spent annually manually cleaning purge air belts, purge air tanks, and associated drains. Additionally, the work is often performed in awkward positions and often involves the use of toxic and potentially harmful chemicals and diesel oil, making it a nuisance for everyone involved. There are also growing concerns that the harmful components contained in the sludge will have a long-term impact on the employees involved. It is also common for workers to have unavoidable skin contact with sludge during tedious manual digging/cleaning. Additionally, these relatively small spaces often become very hot. This is mixed with air containing potentially harmful fumes and mists, so it is desirable to avoid manual excavation and cleaning altogether.

Cleanliness of the above areas and associated piping is critical to engine operation. If the sludge buildup is too large, it can create serious operational and safety concerns for engine operation.

It is an object of the present invention to automatically prevent unacceptable build-up of solid sludge/thick liquid sludge during continued operation of the engine by means of adapted rotation of a flexible centerless helical auger.

The present invention provides trouble-free operation of such two-stroke engines and is meant to significantly reduce the number of manual cleaning steps. Additionally, the present invention can lead to significant savings in terms of cleaning chemicals and diesel oil consumption associated with manual cleaning of designated areas within the engine. Additionally, the present invention assists engine operators in significantly saving cylinder lubricant consumption.

The problem is solved by the claimed system, which includes a rotating flexible motor fixed within the engine cavity such that fluid within the cavity is transported along the outer diameter of the auger. This includes installing an engine with an automatic cleaning system with a spiral auger.

The auger may be centerless so that sludge and oil flow further into the center of the auger.

The auger has sufficient flexibility and can extend straight or slightly curved, so that it can adapt to the shape of the cavity.

The auger can be positioned so that sludge can be scraped out of the engine toward the exit opening.

In one embodiment, the auger is located within the engine cavity, which is the scavenge space or under-piston space.

The bottom of the cavity is sloped toward the bottom of the auger, so both sludge and oil slide or run down toward the bottom of the auger.

In one embodiment, the auger is placed within the engine cavity that is the scavenge air receiver.

The auger is held in place by a longitudinal guide plate.

A drive unit may be attached to the end of the auger.

The auger can be placed in an integrated pipe that drains the engine.

Rotating flexible spiral or helical augers are known from flexible augers used, for example, for transporting feed and granules in agriculture. In these applications, the auger rotates at relatively high speeds and the auger's primary function is the transport of dry feed or granules through pipes or ducts (auger running).

The rotating flexible helical auger is further characterized in that it is flexible and can function by following the soft bends of any flow path or conduit.

In automatic cleaning systems with rotating flexible spiral augers, the auger's main function is to prevent solids (sludge) buildup. This is accomplished with a relatively slow rotation that produces a scraping effect on the substrate.

The primary media transport is by flow through the hollow diameter of the spiral auger and along the outer diameter of the auger.

Flow is caused by gravity due to the tilt of the substrate, or by the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the auger. In some systems, flow is generated by a combination of gravity and pressure differences.

"Substrate" refers to the cross section on which the auger is placed. The auger can thus be placed in pipes and/or ducts in combination with closed and possibly fully/partially open stretches. Augers can also be placed in closed pipes and ducts.

A variety of rotating pipe and drain cleaners are known. These feature a wire that is pushed like a cleaning tape through the opening of a tube or pipe. Typically hand-held, access is required to the orifice of the tube and is used to punch a possible hole in a clogged stopper when the tube is completely or partially clogged. This device is not intended for fixed/permanent installation or continuous protective operation.

Prior publication GB 468813 A discloses an automatic cleaning system comprising a rotating flexible spiral auger fixed to a tubing system. The transport of solids is carried out by a scraping effect on the bottom of the tube, while the system allows the flow of liquid through the hollow diameter of the spiral auger and along the space appearing between the outer diameter of the spiral auger and the inner diameter of the tube. allows the flow of liquid.

This publication describes inventions and techniques intended to transport ash and slag downwards through pipes that are constantly filled/overflowing with standing water, a technique used primarily in various combustion boilers. It is characterized by transporting/forcing solids below the surface of the earth through standing water in pipes at all times. The purpose of this technology is to effectively extinguish cinders and fires in the ash/slag before it is transported for storage.

This effect is diametrically opposed to that obtained by the present invention, whose main objective is to keep the substrate of the tube or pipe clean from undesirable substrates. Blockages can cause sudden leaks of oil, fuel, and cooling water; for safety reasons, such leaks should be immediately diverted through clean, empty ducts and drains or pipes. This is extremely important, for example for large two-stoke engines. The present invention further differs from this technology by being incorporated into, for example, a two-stroke engine of the crosshead type. The invention further differs from this technology by being incorporated into a two-stroke engine, for example of the crosshead type.

The rotational speed of the spiral auger can be adjusted to maintain a relatively clean substrate/channel/pipe by preventing settling and/or accumulation of solids and/or slag. The rotational speed of the auger can be adjusted to prevent settling and accumulation of solids and/or poorly flowing liquid materials to maintain a relatively clean substrate/channel/pipe. The rotational speed of the auger can be adjusted to a low speed to avoid unnecessary friction between the auger and the substrate. This avoids unnecessary wear and temperature rise of the rotating auger.

The rotational movement of the spiral auger may be at a constant rotational speed or at a varying rotational speed. The invention can also be implemented with intermittent (start/stop) rotational movements.

The invention is further characterized by a drive unit attached to the end of the auger. The scraping/cleaning movement of the spiral auger can be performed either away from the drive or towards the drive. The drive unit generates the rotational movement of the spiral auger. The rotational movement of the drive can be effected by an electric motor/actuator, a hydraulic motor/actuator, a pneumatic motor/actuator, a mechanical actuator, or by manual operation.

A cross-sectional implementation of the engine 1 in which the auger 2 (or snail or spiral screw) is attached to both the engine flushing air belt 3 (referred to as the "scavenge space" or "underpiston space") and the engine flushing air tank 4 Indicates the form. The auger 2 is covered with a longitudinal guide plate 5. Figure 2 is a side view of the engine 1 with the auger 2 positioned within the engine flushing air tank 4 and with a portion of the auger extending into a pipe or channel 9 with an outlet opening 6; 2 is a side view of the engine with the auger 2 positioned within the engine flushing air belt 3 and with a portion of the auger extending into a pipe or channel 9 with an outlet opening 6; FIG. An embodiment is shown in which the auger 2 is attached to the engine flushing air belt 3 and to the integrated pipe 10 exiting the engine 1. The auger 2 is shown placed within the auger tube 13. The auger 2 and drive device 8 are shown. The auger 2 is shown positioned opposite a surface 24 which is inclined towards the auger 2. The auger 2 is shown positioned opposite a surface 24 with a vertical surface. The auger 2 is shown positioned against the surface 24 being positioned in a recess 25 in the surface 24, according to one embodiment. According to another embodiment with respect to FIG. 9, the auger 2 is shown placed against the surface 24 being placed in a recess 25 in the surface 24. The auger 2 is shown arranged opposite the circular surface 24 and provided with a longitudinal guide plate 5 .

The detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only.

Figure 1 shows that the auger 2 (or snail or sporal screw) is connected to both the engine flushing air belt 3 (referred to as the "scavenge air space" or the "underpiston space") and the engine flushing air tank 4 (also referred to as the "scavenge air receiver"). 1 shows an embodiment in cross section of an engine 1 installed. In the illustrated embodiment, the auger 2 is held in position by a longitudinal guide plate 5. The auger 2 can extend straight or slightly curved. The bottom of the engine flushing air belt 3 is suitably sloped towards the bottom of the auger 2 so that both sludge and oil slide down towards the bottom of the auger 2. The auger 2 can thus scrape sludge from the engine 1 towards the outlet opening 6 of the auger 2 (see FIG. 3). The oil can flow not only along the outer diameter of the auger 2, but also into the cavity 7 in the center of the auger 2 (see FIG. 4).

2 and 3 show an embodiment of the engine 1 seen from the side. The spiral auger 2 of the embodiment extends along all cylinders of the engine 1. The cleaning system can be divided as required. The figure shows a drive unit 8 attached to the end of the auger 2 and an outlet opening 6 arranged in relation to the shape of a pipe or channel 9 towards which the auger 2 extends. ing. The outlet opening 6 can be connected to a tank via a pressure-tight pipe for recovering oil and sludge.

In the illustrated form, the longitudinal direction of the screw is mainly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the engine 1.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the auger 2 is attached to the engine flushing air belt 3, as well as the integrated pipe 10 that drains the engine 1. In this embodiment, a valve 11 (for example a ball valve) is arranged at the inlet of the integrated pipe 10. It may be advantageous that the integrated pipe 10 is common to all cylinders of the engine 1 and that the valves 11 can be used to close off the outlets from the individual cylinders. In the figure, a cross-mounted auger 2 scrapes sludge and oil from an engine flushing air belt 3 towards a drive unit 8. The sludge and oil mixture then flows/slides down into the integrated pipe 10. The auger 2a scrapes out the sludge liquid away from the engine 1 in the longitudinal direction of the engine 1. The oil may flow not only along the outer diameter of the auger (2), but also into the central part 7 of the auger (2).

In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the auger 2 is mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the engine 1, while the longitudinal direction of the auger 2a incorporated in the integrated pipe 10 is mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the engine 1. It is.

Therefore, the automatic cleaning system can be installed at any practical angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the engine 1 and relative to the horizontal plane of the engine 1. However, it is advantageous for the augers 2, 2a to be inclined towards the outlet opening 6.

The outlet openings 6 of the augers 2, 2a from the engine 1 may be designed as circular pipes, machined or cast channels, or other pressure-tight ducts or passages that allow free rotation and movement of the augers 2. I can do it.

5 and 6 show an embodiment of a drive unit 8 intended for a pressurized system (flushing from the flushing air belt 3 and flushing air tank 4 of the engine). The illustrated auger 2 is blunt (which may apply to all disclosed embodiments) and the embodiment relates to a conventional axle seal 12 for the pressure present within the auger tube 13 (flushing air pressure). do. Axle 14 (or shaft) transmits the low speed rotational motion of gear motor 16 to rotate auger 2 helically. Housing 15 serves as the base and end flange for auger tube 13. The bearing housing 17 absorbs the axial and radial forces of the shaft, for example via ball bearings.

The gear motor 16 generates rotation of the shaft 14 and the auger 2. The rotational force of the gear motor 16 is transmitted via springs attached through the holes 18a, 18b so that the auger 2 and the gear motor 16 are not overloaded. Plain bearing 19 functions in part to absorb radial forces on shaft 14 and compress conventional shaft sealing 12. This compression effect is achieved by tightening the bolt 20, which pulls the sliding bearing 19 in the direction of the housing 15, achieving a tight effect between the rotating shaft 14 and the fixed housing 15. The spiral auger 2 can be fixed to the shaft 14 by means of a screw 21 (for example a pinole screw) in a recess of the shaft 14. Guard 22 is attached to housing 15 to prevent access to rotating shaft 14. Inductive sensor 23 monitors the desired shaft rotation.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the auger 2 positioned relative to the surface 24. The auger 2 is arranged at the bottom of the curved surface 24, which has a side surface that decreases towards the auger 2. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the sludge and oil towards the bottom of the auger 2.

FIG. 8 shows an auger 2 and a curved surface 24 in another embodiment different from that of FIG. 7, in which one side of the curved surface 24 is vertical. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the sludge and oil towards the bottom of the auger 2.

FIG. 9 shows an auger 2 and a surface 24 in a third embodiment different from the embodiment of FIG. It is located in The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the sludge and oil towards the bottom of the auger 2.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the auger 2 and surface 24, which differs from the embodiment of FIG. , is substantially completely confined within the recess 25. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the sludge and oil towards the bottom of the auger 2.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the auger 2 and surface 24, in which the surface 24 is circular or at least curved. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of the sludge and oil towards the bottom of the auger 2.

The auger 2, which is illustrated in FIG. 11 and which can be implemented in either embodiment, is held in position by a longitudinal guide plate 5. These guide plates are positioned and designed to ensure that sludge and oil slide/flow down to the bottom of the auger 2. and at the same time hold the auger in the desired position relative to the surface 24 and/or the recess 25.

Explanation of the sign

1 - Engine 2, 2a - Auger or Snail 3 - Engine flushing air belt ("scavenge space" or "space below the piston)"
4 – Engine flushing air tank (also called “scavenge air receiver”)
5 - longitudinal guide plate 6 - outlet opening 7 - central part of the auger 8 - drive unit 9 - pipe or channel 10 - integrated tube 11 - valve 12 - axle seal 13 - auger tube 14 - axle or shaft 15 - housing 16 - Gear motor 17 - Bearing housing 18a, 18b - Hole 19 - Sliding bearing 20 - Bolt 21 - Screw 22 - Guard 23 - Induction sensor 24 - Surface 25 - Recess

Claims (10)

An automatic machine comprising a rotating flexible spiral auger (2) fixed in the cavity (3, 4) of the engine (1), in which liquids and solids in the cavity are conveyed along the outer diameter of the auger (2) Engine (1) with cleaning system. Engine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the auger (2) is centerless and the sludge and oil flow within the center (7) of the auger. Engine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the auger (2) has sufficient flexibility to allow it to extend straight or slightly curved. Engine (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the auger (2) is arranged such that it can scrape sludge from the engine (1) towards the outlet opening (6). Engine (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auger (2) is arranged in an engine cavity (3) which is a scavenging space or an under-piston space. Engine (1) according to claim 5, wherein the bottom of the cavity (3) is sloped towards the bottom of the auger (2), and both sludge and oil slide or run down towards the bottom of the auger (2). . Engine (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the auger (2) is arranged in a cavity (3) of the engine which is a scavenge air receiver. Engine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the auger (2) is held in position by a longitudinal guide plate (5). Engine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive unit (8) is attached to the end of the auger (2). Engine (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the auger (2) is arranged in an integrated pipe (10) for evacuation from the engine (1).

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