JPH04225874A - Method and device for jet water cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a highly pressurized jet water spraying device to give dense and uniform cleaning spray in a device removing paint accumulating on a dolly for painting a vehicle by high pressurized jet water stream. CONSTITUTION: Surrounding a support 158, axes A rotatable each independently are mounted, and a spraying nozzle 152 is mounted on each axis A. While an axis C is rotated by a driver 160, the support is rotated (revoluted) and at the same time, the axes A are each rotated (rotation around each own axis) by gears 184 independently on the support. By movements of the revolution and the rotation around each own axis, the spraying nozzle 152 sprays uniform and dense jet water stream.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Related application] This application was filed on January 1, 1986 in the name of the applicant.
U.S. Patent Application No. 824,155, filed on May 30th.
No. (“Method for jet water cleaning”)
This is a partial continuation application.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning using high pressure water jets.

0003

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION High-pressure water cleaning has many applications for removing unwanted particles and surface layers from the surface of objects. For example, high-pressure water cleaning is used to remove rust from metal surfaces, to remove paint or paint build-up from various surfaces, or to strip a layer of surface concrete from underlying aggregate. Ru.

[0004] High-pressure water jet, that is, water pressure is 10,
Various industrial devices have been developed for cleaning parts using jets of 0.000 PSI or higher. One important application of this is the removal of paint from car body dollies so that the paint does not build up to the point where it flakes off and contaminates the painted car surface. That is what it is. There has been a need in the automobile industry to clean the dolly that supports the car body so that the surface becomes dirty in this way, which can be a significant expense. Previously, this type of cleaning had to be done by workers inspecting the dollies with high-pressure jet guns and manually scraping off any build-up of paint. Naturally, doing this would require labor, and therefore a need arose to perform this work automatically.

Although experimental results have shown that automatic paint removal using a high-pressure water jet is possible, the area that the jet hits must be adjusted to ensure that all of the intended surfaces of the dolly are removed. It has proven difficult to achieve control. After considerable experimentation it has been discovered that certain parameters in the design of the device are essential for the automatic removal operation to be carried out satisfactorily, and to the best of the knowledge of the applicant, this has not been done in the past. Nothing like this has ever been suggested as necessary for such cleaning operations.

[0006] In addition, dollies that are continuously moved throughout a car body painting operation have only been cleaned by removing them from the system for manual work. This has the potential to destroy the system and an improved configuration has been needed. Conventional high-pressure water cleaning devices use a number of high-pressure water nozzles radially spaced about a common rotational axis. These nozzles typically rotate about a common axis to create a circular jet of water. This common axis is moved relative to the surface to be cleaned so that the circular pattern that the jet strikes sweeps across the surface.
). If the movement of this common axis (the axis around which the nozzle rotates) is slow enough relative to the surface being swept, the jet will hit essentially all parts of this surface, completely cleaning the entire surface. can do. However, since the movement of this common shaft is very slow, the cleaning efficiency is so low that it cannot be used in a production line environment, such as cleaning a dolly for supporting an automobile body on a car body painting line.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for jet water cleaning which provides a uniform and dense water cleaning spray for cleaning all types of objects. The goal is to provide the following. Specifically, this equipment is computer-controlled and placed in a paint cleaning station to prevent paint from building up until it flakes off and contaminates the painted surface of the car painted on the dolly.
Programmed to strip paint from auto body dollies.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems, Structure Summary and Effects] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an improved device according to the present invention has an inlet end and a blowout end.
It consists of a high pressure nozzle with a charge end). The blowing end of the nozzle is radially displaced from the axis of rotation. The axes of several independent nozzles are radially spaced with respect to the central axis. The support is equipped with a nozzle that rotates about an independent axis and pivots about a central axis. a jet in which the drive means pivots an independent axis about a central axis and rotates a nozzle about an independent axis, whereby the impingement pattern of the jet water stream produces a uniform and dense cleaning pattern; The water flow is provided by the outlet end. The pattern of jet water flow is such that all portions of the surface to which the spray is directed are completely covered, without advancing the common axis of the jets over this entire surface, or during periods of relatively rapid progress, such as 12 feet per minute. Hit to be cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment, each nozzle rotates about its independent axis 2.1 times each time the independent axis pivots about a common axis of rotation. This relative rotational speed can be varied to meet the needs of various applications. Substantially parallel jets of high pressure water are created by rotating the stream about an axis parallel to and disposed between them and tilting the stream from the X and Y axes. It has been found that objects can be completely and automatically cleaned by high pressure water jets by directing them onto the surface to be cleaned. The X and Y axes are arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, which allows the flow to be directed very precisely to preselected areas of the surface to be cleaned. A combined motion of the jet stream is created, which provides precise control of the location of the jet on the object being cleaned. Such devices can be used in cleaning stations used to remove paint from automobile body dollies. Programmable computer controls are provided to control the relative motion and jets of the cleaning dolly, thereby allowing separate portions of the dolly to be cleaned each time the dolly passes through the cleaning station. . This relative motion can be programmed to move generally linearly and perpendicularly to the area struck by the jet to clean an elongated area along the dolly. This jet can be programmably repositioned to clean the entire dolly after a number of successive passes of the dolly through the cleaning station.

Control of the nozzle by computer commands results in complete and accurate jet coverage. For example, a dolly supporting an automobile body within a painting system may be diverted to a cleaning station during its travel through the painting system, with each dolly passing through a cleaning station such that the dolly Preselected areas of the dolly can be cleaned before returning to the painting system. On the next pass through the cleaning station, another preselected area of the dolly is cleaned, and in each successive pass through this station, a different area of the dolly is cleaned in a similar manner to the entire selected area. can be cleaned until paint build-up is removed. As a result, the dolly is not completely cleaned in one operation, as was previously done manually. However, it can be partially cleaned and eventually completely cleaned by successive passes. Of course, programmed cleaning can be focused on areas on the dolly where paint builds up fastest.

Objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, which is set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

0012

[Example] The present invention was applied to an automatic dolly cleaning station 10 installed in an automobile assembly facility, etc.
Illustrated in relation to A dolly 12 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is propelled through the station by a conveyor mechanism, not shown, and is movable in the direction of arrow 14. In the preferred configuration, cleaning station 12 is simply another station along the processing line into which the dolly enters and exits as it passes through the system. In one configuration, the dolly returns to station 10 shortly after the car body it is carrying leaves station 10 and just before another car body approaches it to move through the painting system. to go into.

When the dolly 12 enters the station, its presence is detected by means not shown and signals the station to begin cleaning. A number of nozzle assemblies, shown as 16, 18, and 20, are then activated to create a high pressure stream or jet of water against the dolly to remove paint build-up from the dolly. Each nozzle assembly is controlled by a controller to precisely control the area hit by the jet. This is important because the surface of the dolly being cleaned often has internal corners and crevices, and these areas will not be cleaned unless the jet is directed accurately.

Due to the use of high pressures and the need to periodically change the position of the nozzle assembly to accommodate changes in the dolly design, particularly model changes over time, The station must be provided with a strong and solid framework 22. Preferably,
This consists of four vertical parallel tubes 24 on one side,
26, 28, 30 and corresponding tubes with the same numbers on the other side but with an alpha suffix. On either side of this are four parallel horizontal tubes 32, 34, 36,
They are connected to each other by 38. The lower end of the vertical tube is fixed to the floor in a suitable manner. Preferably, these tubes are welded together where they contact.

Since the nozzle assemblies attached to frame 22 are of similar construction, a description of assembly 16 will suffice. This nozzle assembly consists of a split collar 40 whose end is attached, preferably by welding.
Four crossing members 32, 34, 36,
38 on the frame 22. A split collar surrounds the tube and is adjustable and secured with bolts 42 to determine the position of the cross member and when necessary to adjust the location of each nozzle assembly along the vertical and horizontal tubes. can change this position. Mounted on the cross members are carriers 44 and 46 to which a split collar 48, similar to collar 40, is welded and which likewise adjust the nozzle assembly longitudinally (along the path of travel of dolly 12). It has been fixed so that it can be done.

The nozzle assembly includes a circular trunnion plate or base member 50, which also serves in a sense as a shield between the nozzle and the angle adjustment means described below. The trunnion 50 is provided with a pair of locking webs or brackets 52, 54, which include locking and control shafts 56, 5.
8 is firmly connected. This shaft is moved by pillow blocks 60, 62, which are of a type that allow relative bending between the shaft and pads 64, 66 to which the pillow blocks are fixed. The pads 64 and 66 are the guideway 7
It is fixed to sliders 68 and 70 that are attached to perform a sliding movement between the positions 2 and 74.

A pair of hydraulic actuators 76 and 78
has a piston rod connected to pads 64 and 66, and the other end of the actuator is connected to the carry 44.
It is attached to brackets 80 and 82 fixed to. By selectively pressurizing actuators 76 and 78, trunnion plate 50 rotates about the geometric X-axis as shown in FIG. The rotation of the trunnion plate 50 around the Y axis is caused by shafts 56 and 58.
This is possible by rotating the . Control of rotation about the Y-axis is provided by a hydraulic actuator 84 whose piston rod is connected to a crank arm 86 which is rigidly connected to the shaft 56 (and web 52) and which is connected to the actuator. The other end is connected to an L-shaped bracket 88 fixed to the carrier 46.

Shield or trunnion plate 50
On the back of the car is a sign from Butterworth, Inc., Houston La Paz Drive, Texas. (Part number 3
5-10000)).
A swivel 90 is attached, which is driven by a hydraulic motor 92 through a suitable drive train 94. Hydraulic inlet 96 is connected to a high pressure line (FIG. 8) from control valve 100. The swivel and motor 92 serve to direct high pressure water to a conduit 102 that extends through a trunnion plate 50 that is attached to the swivel for rotation. A hub 104 on the conduit supports four nozzle pipes 106, 108, 110, 112 as shown in FIG.
These are arranged radially from this hub at 90 degree angles to each other. The ends of these pipes are bent 90 degrees to provide nozzle attachment ends 114, 116, 118.
, 120, each supporting a high pressure jet water nozzle 122, 124, 126, 128. These nozzles are thus arranged radially about the axis of rotation of conduit 102 and direct a high pressure jet of water or stream along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. This axis of rotation corresponds to the geometrical Z axis in relation to the aforementioned X and Y axes. A general example of this is illustrated in FIG.

A high pressure stream from the nozzle is directed to impinge on preselected areas of the tree 12 and sweeps over such areas to remove any deposited coating of paint. Where the dolly is part of a continuous conveyor system, such as those used in automotive body painting systems, the dolly unloads the vehicle and the body to be painted passes through station 10 before being loaded onto the dolly. The intention is to allow the nozzles within station 10 to direct the flow to preselected areas of the dolly. Thus, each time the dolly passes the station 10 a given area is cleaned, and each successive pass of the dolly cleans a different area such that all areas are cleaned in several passes. The nozzle position will be automatically adjusted. By cleaning only a portion in each pass but cleaning different portions in successive passes, the entirety of the dolly is cleaned without having to pull the dolly out of the system, and this cleaning is run at typical conveyor speeds on the order of 15 to 16 feet per minute. In order to perform a series of cleanings of preselected areas of such a dolly during successive passes through the stations, the nozzle assembly is arranged to change its angle about the X and Y axes, FIG.
A controller 130 is programmed as shown schematically in FIG. This controller is Square
D or any of several types created by Alien Bradley can be used and are memory programmable. Programming generally involves nozzle assemblies 16, 18,
20, by directing the jet to various selected surfaces on each pass of the dolly, testing the jet pattern and effectiveness for each setting, and programming the controller to repeat this setting. To start the dolly movement,
A means (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a dolly within the station is connected to the controller.

The controller 130 has an output 132 connected to four air pressure control systems 134,
Pneumatic control 134 is connected to hydraulic actuators 76, 78, and 84 in each nozzle assembly, thereby providing a signal from the controller to pressurize the actuators. The high pressure water pump 131 has a control valve 100 operated by air.
, 136, and 138.
These control valves are controlled by the controller 130 through three systems of solenoid air valves 135, 137, and 139. The high pressure water supply lines 98, 140 and 142 are connected to the swivel 90,
It extends to 90a and 90b. motor 92
The pressurized air for , 92a, and 92b is
It is conveyed by lines 144, 144a, 144b connected to the air conveyed to valves 100, 136, 138. Thus, when valves 100, 136, 138 are pressurized to communicate water to the nozzle assembly, air motors 92, 92a, and 92b are activated.

9 through 13, a preferred nozzle arrangement, designated generally at 150, is suitable for the nozzle assembly shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 constructed in accordance with the present invention. There is. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the device 150 has an inlet end and an outlet end 154 and a
It is composed of a plurality of high pressure nozzles 152 having 56. The outlet end 156 of each nozzle is radially displaced and rotatable about an independent axis A. The independent axes A are radially spaced about a central axis C. Support 1 shown here as a multi-hole water distribution head
At 58 a nozzle 152 is arranged for rotation about an independent axis A and an independent axis for pivoting about a central axis C. The drive 160 pivots an independent axis A about a central axis C such that the outlet end 156 provides a substantially parallel jet of high pressure water that impinges on the dolly and causes the computer simulated flow of FIG. Generate a collision pattern as indicated by pattern. As the nozzle 152 rotates and swivels, the jets of water intersect, creating a uniform, dense water impingement pattern that allows for general cleaning of the surface in front of the jets.

In FIG. 14, the jet pattern moves linearly at 12 FPM and the assembly pivots at 100 RPM. Each nozzle 152 has a rotation of 210R around its axis A.
Rotates at a speed of PM. The density of the pattern in Figure 14 indicates that the jet impinges substantially uniformly over the area to be treated. Unlike conventional techniques, the concentrated jets at the edges of the pattern are moved inward and distributed over the area to be treated, but the jet flow remains substantially parallel. There is.

Referring to FIG. 9, a multi-hole water distribution head 1
58 rotate about a common C by a hollow shaft 162. The hollow shaft 162 is shown in FIGS.
The oval transmission gear device 170 can be best seen by looking at 3.
through a variable speed hydraulic drive 168. The oval transmission gear arrangement 170 is defined by two oval gears 172 and 172', the latter of which is a hollow shaft 162 mounted on a high-pressure water swivel 174.
attached to one end of the The other end of shaft 162 is connected to water distribution head 158 by a screw. This water distribution head rests on a needle bearing 178 supported within a stationary gear 180, and as best seen in FIGS. It meshes with 184.

As the head 158 rotates about the central axis C, the drive pinion 184 is pivotally engaged with the stationary gear 180.
rotates about an independent axis A. A suitable high pressure seal is provided at location 186. Another needle bearing and seal, not shown, is located in the gear 17 within the swivel 174.
The opposite side of the shaft 162 is supported and sealed near 2'.

Water distribution head 158 and water swivel 174 are attached to a clevis on base 192.
) support arm 18 rotatably supported at
It is attached by 8. Head 158 is vibrated by a cam 194 attached to the end of hollow shaft 162 in the configuration shown. Cam 194 acts on follower 196 . The cam return cylinder 198 ensures proper meshing of the oval gears 172, 172' when the hydraulic drive 168 operates.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of rotations of nozzle 152 about independent axis A relative to rotations of nozzle 152 about common axis C is generally about 1.8 to 2.
．． The ratio is uneven, ranging from 4 to 1. Generally and most preferably, this ratio range will be in the 2.1 to 1 range. The preferred ratios result in a very dense spray with non-overlapping rotating and swirling jet water patterns.

Although the independent axes can be asymmetrically spaced radially to provide a more random cleaning pattern, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the independent axes A are as illustrated in FIG. They are radially spaced symmetrically about a common axis C so that The drive pinion 184 shown in FIG. 4 can also be replaced to change the ratio of nozzle 152 rotation to nozzle rotation.

A water swivel 174 of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 provides a connector and water line that allows water to go from a stationary water supply, not shown, to a rotating multi-hole water distribution head 158. Having described in detail the best mode for carrying out the invention, one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will appreciate the foregoing description of how to carry out the invention as defined by the claims. It will be confirmed that there is another method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating a cleaning station that can be placed along a line of movement of a dolly that supports an object;

FIG. 2 is an overall side view of the cleaning station shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial illustration of the nozzle assembly taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the nozzle assembly taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating a configuration that allows movement on the X-axis.

5 is a plan view of the nozzle assembly of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, illustrating a configuration that allows movement on the Y-axis; FIG.

6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating various positions where the nozzle assembly is tilted about the X and Y axes.

8 is a schematic diagram showing the hydraulic pressure and control lines of the device of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 9 is an overall side view of a high-pressure water jet cleaning device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

10 is a general front view taken in the direction of arrow 2 of FIG. 9, illustrating four nozzles circumferentially mounted on a multi-orifice water distribution head; FIG.

11 is a rear view of the whole as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 9, illustrating an oval transmission gear and a cam rotatably attached to the water distribution head; FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9 illustrating a gear arrangement that rotates the nozzles about independent axes and pivots the nozzles about a common axis.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 10 illustrating the path of high pressure water through the water swivel and then through the multi-hole water distribution head.

FIG. 14 is a computer graphic illustration of a representative simulation of a water jet impact pattern resulting from use of the invention disclosed herein;

[Explanation of symbols]

152 High pressure nozzle A
Independent shaft 154 inlet end
C Central shaft 156 Blowing end 158 Support body 160 Driving means

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A high-pressure nozzle having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being rotatably displaced radially from and about an independent axis; are arranged parallel to and radially spaced from a central axis, and include a support for mounting a nozzle that rotates about said independent axis and pivots about said central axis. the outlet end of the nozzle imparting a jet of water parallel to the independent axis and the central axis; moving the independent axis about the central axis and directing the nozzle to supply water thereto; a high-pressure water jet having drive means for independently rotating it about its independent axis and configured such that said outlet end imparts a jet of water producing a dense cleaning spray of water with a uniform impingement pattern; Equipment for cleaning. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of revolutions of said nozzle about said independent axis is related in a non-uniform ratio to the rotation of said nozzle about said central axis. 3. The ratio is generally 1.8 to 2.4 to 1.
3. The apparatus of claim 2. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said ratio is generally in the range of 2.1 to 1. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of high pressure nozzles each radially displaced from said independent axis and spaced apart from said independent axis. 6. There is a plurality of said independent axes radially spaced from said central axis, said independent axes being asymmetrically spaced about said central axis. 6. The apparatus of claim 5. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said independent axes are spaced symmetrically about said central axis. 8. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a support for mounting said nozzle that rotates about said independent axis and pivots about said central axis. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support is a multi-hole water distribution head having a replaceable drive element for varying the ratio of rotation to swirl of the nozzle. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said multi-hole water distribution head includes a water swivel connected to rotate said water swivel relative to said head to provide water connection. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means is variable to variably control the rotation of said nozzle. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drive is hydraulic. 13. Applying a high pressure to each object while rotating the jets around an independent axis, independent of the water supply and radially away from the independent axis, with the axis of the jet parallel to the axis of rotation. directing a jet of water; swirling the jet independently of the water supply, parallel to and radially away from the central axis, while rotating the jet about said independent axis; controlling the rotation about an independent axis relative to the rotation about a central axis to a predetermined ratio giving a predetermined, controlled density impact pattern at the surface of the object; A cleaning method that directs water to an object. 14. The method further comprises the step of directing the jet to the selected area to be cleaned and cleaning the surface of the object impinged by the jet by moving the object and the jet in a linear manner relative to each other. cleaning method. 15. The cleaning method of claim 14, wherein said relative movement is controlled by a computer. 16. The relative motion is generally linear and programmable to provide a motion that is perpendicular to the area the jet impinges to clean an elongated area along the object. 15 methods. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of changing the position of the jet to treat different areas of the object. 18. The method of claim 17, including the step of repeating the step of changing the position of the jet until the entire object has been treated.