JPH11319746A - Apparatus for cleaning inner surface of tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus which can clean the inner surface of a tank efficiently. SOLUTION: In an apparatus for cleaning the inner surface of a tank, which removes deposits by spraying fluid to the inner surface of the tank 1, a freely warpable arm 23 which connects plural links together freely rotatably and to which elastic force is given so that the links are arranged in series is fitted to the periphery of the end part of a rotary shaft to be inserted into the tank 1. A nozzle 34 for ejecting the fluid toward the inner surface of the tank 1 is attached to the arm 23. In addition, a press member 42 for warping the arm 23 against the elastic force by relative rotation to the arm 23 is attached to a fixed plate 5 on which the rotary shaft 11 can rotate relatively, and the fluid is supplied to the nozzle 34 along the rotary shaft 11 and the arm 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an inner surface of a tank having a closed structure, and more particularly to a cleaning apparatus suitable for dry cleaning with air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tank for storing or mixing a substance such as a liquid, a gas or a powder is usually of a closed structure in view of its function, strength, manufacturing cost and the like. On the other hand, at the start of use, or when changing a stored product or a mixture or performing a periodic inspection, it is necessary to clean the inside with the contents completely discharged. Therefore, an opening for cleaning is basically provided in a tank having a closed structure, and the inside is cleaned using the opening.

In the case of a very large tank, it is difficult to clean the tank by human work. Therefore, the structure of the tank itself is suitable for machine cleaning. However, a tank having an inner diameter or a height of about several meters is required. For example, since it is disadvantageous in terms of strength and cost to adopt a structure that inserts a special washing machine, it is widely practiced to form a manhole that can be opened and closed and workers enter inside to wash. . In particular, in many cases, a tank for storing or mixing a substance such as food or medicine that needs to be maintained in an aseptic state is configured to be cleaned by an operator.

[0004]

As described above, since the storage or mixing tank is basically of a closed structure, if an operator enters the inside to perform a cleaning operation, the ventilation is poor. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the burden on the worker is increased, such as a small work space. In addition, since the cleaning is performed manually, there is a limit even if the operation time is shortened, and not only the operation efficiency is poor, but also the downtime of the tank is lengthened and the operation rate is disadvantageously reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an apparatus capable of efficiently cleaning the inner surface of a tank having a small opening.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a tank inner surface cleaning apparatus for spraying a fluid onto an inner surface of a tank to remove deposits. A plurality of links are rotatably connected to each other around the distal end of the rotating shaft to be inserted, and a bendable arm provided with an elastic force so that the links are arranged in series is attached to the arm. A pressing member to which a nozzle for ejecting a fluid toward the inner surface of the tank is attached, and further, the rotating shaft is relatively rotatable, and a pressing member for bending the arm against elastic force by relative rotation with the arm. Is provided so as to supply a fluid to the nozzle along the rotation axis and the arm.

Therefore, in the device according to the present invention, when the arm is rotated relative to the pressing member together with the rotating shaft, the rear surface of the arm is pressed against the pressing member. Since the arms are configured such that the links are arranged in series by an elastic force, the arms are curved by being relatively pressed by a pressing member, and are in a so-called wound state. The arm and the nozzle attached thereto are inserted into the tank in the wound state, so that the opening required for the tank may have a small opening area.
If the arm and the rotation shaft are rotated in the opposite direction to the above with respect to the pressing member with the arm inserted inside the tank, the arm will not be pushed from the back side, so the arm will be It gradually expands, eventually becoming a bar with all links in series. That is, the tip of the arm extends to a position close to the inner surface of the tank, and the nozzle attached thereto approaches the inner surface of the tank and faces the tank. Therefore, when the fluid is supplied to the nozzle and ejected from the nozzle in this state, the fluid is sprayed on the inner surface of the tank, and the substance adhering thereto is removed. Since the supply of the fluid to the nozzle is performed along the rotating shaft and the arm, an opening for supplying the fluid is not required. Therefore, the inside of the tank should be cleaned using the existing small opening. Can be. Further, since the arm rotates together with the rotation shaft, the entire inner surface of the tank can be cleaned.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described based on a specific example shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration. The apparatus shown here includes a positioning plate 3 fitted into an opening 2 formed in the upper part of a tank 1. The positioning plate 3 is a disk-shaped member having an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the opening 2, and an outer peripheral portion on the lower surface side thereof is formed in a tapered shape. The whole apparatus is configured to be positioned with respect to the tank 1 and connected to the tank 1.

A sleeve 4 is connected to the center of the upper surface of the positioning plate 3 so as to be positioned on the same axis, and a fixed plate 5 is integrated with the upper end of the sleeve 4 in the drawing. The fixing plate 5 is a disk having a diameter larger than that of the positioning plate 3 and forms a base of the entire apparatus. A rotary sleeve 6 is inserted into the sleeve 4 through the fixing plate 5, and the rotary sleeve 6 is
Are rotatably held with respect to the sleeve 4 and the fixed plate 5 by a bearing 7 disposed inside the. A gear 8 is integrally mounted on the outer peripheral side of the rotary sleeve 6, and a drive gear 9 meshing with the gear 8 is connected to the motor 1.
0 is attached to the output shaft. This motor 10
It is attached to the upper surface of the fixing plate 5.

A rotating shaft 11 is provided inside the rotating sleeve 6.
The rotary shaft 11 and the rotary sleeve 6 are connected by a slide key 12 so as to be integrally rotated. The rotating shaft 11 has a double pipe structure of an inner cylinder 13 and an outer cylinder 14,
A spiral groove, that is, a male screw 15 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the. A female screw member 16 screwed to a male screw 15 formed in the outer cylinder 14 is arranged on the upper end side of the rotary sleeve 6 on the same axis.

The female screw member 16 is integrally provided with a sleeve 17 having a diameter larger than that of the rotary sleeve 6 and covering the outer periphery of the upper end of the rotary sleeve 6 at the lower end thereof. Bearing 1 between outer peripheral surface
8 are arranged. That is, the female screw member 16 is rotatably held by the rotary sleeve 6 via the bearing 18 and the sleeve 17.

A gear 19 is integrally attached to the female screw member 16, and a drive gear 20 meshing with the gear 19 is attached to an output shaft of a motor 21. The motor 21 is fixed to the fixing plate 5 via a bracket 22.

The rotary shaft 11 extends downward in FIG. 1 through the positioning plate 3, and has an arm 23 attached to a lower end thereof. The arm 23 is configured to be able to hold a posture extended linearly by elastic force and bend into a spirally wound state.

More specifically, this arm 23
Is configured by connecting a plurality of links shown in FIG. 2, for example. The first link 24 shown in FIG. 2 is a member having a U-shaped cross section in which projecting pieces 26 parallel to each other are integrally formed on upper and lower ends of a back plate 25. The second link 27
Is a member having a U-shaped cross section in which projecting pieces 28 having substantially the same shape as the projecting pieces 26 are integrated parallel to each other at upper and lower ends of a back plate 29.
The height of the link 27 is set to a dimension substantially equal to the inner dimension of the projecting piece 26 of the first link 24. The back plate 29 is formed to be narrower than the width of the protruding piece 28.
That is, the second link 27 is configured to be fitted between the projecting pieces 26 of the first link 24.

The projecting pieces 26,
28 are rivet holes 30, 3 whose axes coincide with each other in a state where the first link 24 and the second link 27 are combined.
The first link 24 is formed by inserting a rivet (not shown) into the rivet holes 30, 31.
And the second link 27 are connected so that they can rotate alternately and mutually. Further, two pins 32, 33 are provided upright at predetermined positions on the back plate 25, 29 side with respect to the rivet holes 30, 31, respectively, so that the first link 24 and the second link 27 adjacent to each other are provided. The pins 32 and 33 are connected to each other by an elastic member such as a coil spring (not shown).

Therefore, the first link 24 and the second link 2
7 is elastically urged in a direction in which the back plates 25 and 29 are closer to each other than the connection portion, that is, the rivet holes 30 and 31. As a result, a moment acts on each of the links 24 and 27 in a direction in which the back plates 25 and 29 approach each other, so that the links 24 and 27 rotate around the rivet holes 30 and 31.
As a result, when the edges of the back plates 25 and 29 are in contact with each other and only the elastic force of the elastic member is acting, the edges of the back plates 25 and 29 are in contact with each other and the back plates 25 and 29 are in contact with each other.
The posture is maintained such that the lines 29 are aligned on the same plane. That is, the arm 23 is configured to maintain a linear state by the elastic force of the elastic member provided between the links 24 and 27.

The links at the base ends (start ends) of the links 24 and 27 thus connected are fixed to the outer periphery of the lower end of the outer cylinder 14 constituting the rotary shaft 11. In addition, a nozzle 34 that blows out air is attached to a predetermined link in the middle part upward. Further, a nozzle 34 directed obliquely upward and a nozzle 34 directed forward in the direction in which the arm 23 extends are attached to the most advanced link.

The rotating shaft 11 is composed of the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14 as described above. The space between the inner cylinder 13 and the space between the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14 It is a flow path, so at the lower end of the rotating shaft 11,
A port 35 communicating with the inside of the inner cylinder 13 and a port 36 communicating between the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14 are formed. A port 35 communicating with the inside of the inner cylinder 13 has an air hose 37 connected to a nozzle 34 directed toward the distal end of the arm 34.
Is communicated by Another nozzle 34 is connected to a port 36 communicating between the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14 via an air hose 38.

On the other hand, at the upper end of the rotating shaft 11,
Rotary joint 39 communicating with the inside of inner cylinder 13
And a rotary joint 40 communicating with a space between the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14 are attached. Through these rotary joints 39 and 40, the inner cylinder 13
The compressed air, which is a cleaning fluid, is supplied to the inside of the inside and the space between the inner cylinder 13 and the outer cylinder 14. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 41 denotes the rotating shaft 11.
2 shows a sensor for detecting the position in the vertical direction.

As described above, the arm 23 is connected to each link 2
The back plates 25 and 29 can be curved in a direction in which the back plates 25 and 29 are separated from each other with a state where the edges of the back plates 25 and 29 abut on each other as a limit position. A pressing member 42 for bending the arm 23 in this manner and storing it in a wound state.
Is provided. In the example shown in FIG.
2 is a plurality (for example, 3
The pressing position of these three pressing members 42 is a radial position for winding the arm 23 into a spiral having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 2, that is, the outer periphery of the positioning plate 3. It is arranged so that it may be located inside. The three pressing members 42 are configured so as to be able to be removed from the fixed plate 5 when the apparatus is in operation.

Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described. The state shown in FIG. 1 shows a state immediately before starting the cleaning of the inner surface of the tank 1 or a state in which the cleaning is completed.
And the whole apparatus is positioned and connected to the tank 1. To move the entire apparatus up to this state at the start of cleaning, for example, the fixing plate 5 is placed on a predetermined carriage (each not shown) provided with a lifter and moved over the opening 2 of the tank 1 and fixed in that state. The plate 5 may be lowered and the positioning plate 3 may be fitted into the opening 2.
By fitting the positioning plate 3 into the opening 2, the arm 23 is inserted into the tank 1, the arm 23 is linearly extended by the elastic force, and the nozzle 34 at the tip thereof is inserted into the tank 1. It is held at a position close to the peripheral surface.

When cleaning is started, the three pressing members 42 are pulled out above the fixing plate 5 so that the arm 23 can be freely rotated. By rotating the first motor 10 in this state to apply torque to the rotating sleeve 6 via the gears 9 and 8, the rotating sleeve 6
The rotation shaft 11 rotates in a predetermined direction because the rotation shaft 11 and the rotation shaft 11 are connected by the slide key 12. Therefore, the arm 23 and the nozzle 34 attached thereto pivot around the inner peripheral surface of the tank 1. Meanwhile,
When the second motor 21 is rotated, the female screw member 16 is rotated via the drive gear 20 and the gear 19 meshing with the drive gear 20, so that the rotating shaft 11 screwed with this is moved in the vertical direction. Can be The moving direction is the female screw member 1
6 depends on the rotation direction. From the state shown in FIG. 1, the female screw member 16 is rotated so that the rotating shaft 11 descends.
Therefore, when the two motors 10 and 21 are rotated, the rotating shaft 11 and the arm 23 attached thereto are gradually lowered while rotating along the inner surface of the tank 1.

When compressed air is supplied through the rotary joints 39 and 40 while rotating and lowering the arm 23 in this manner, air is blown from the nozzles 34 to the inner surface of the tank 1. As a result, the residue adhering to the inner surface of the tank 1 is removed. When the arm 23 descends to some extent, the nozzle 34 facing upward moves away from the upper surface of the tank 1, so that the supply of air to these nozzles 34 is stopped, and air is supplied only to the nozzle 34 at the tip of the arm 23. Supplied. That is, the inner surface of the body of the tank 1 is cleaned.

When the arm 23 reaches a predetermined lower limit position near the bottom of the tank 1, the second motor 21 rotates in a direction opposite to the conventional one, and as a result, the rotation shaft 11 is rotated by the reverse rotation of the female screw member 16. Can be raised. In the meantime, air is blown out from the nozzle 34 at the tip to clean the inner surface of the tank 1. Note that the residue removed from the inner surface of the tank 1 is discharged to the outside of the tank 1 from a not-shown outlet formed in a lower portion of the tank 1.

When the arm 23 is moved up and down one or more times while rotating to return to the upper end position shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning of the inner surface of the tank 1 is completed. At this point, the motors 10 and 21 are temporarily stopped. Next, the pressing member 42, which is a rod, is inserted into the fixing plate 5, and its tip extends to the turning range of the arm 23. In this state, the first motor 10 is rotated in a direction opposite to the conventional direction. That is, the arm 23 is rotated so that the back plates 25 and 29 sides of the links 24 and 27 are on the front side in the rotation direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the back surface of the arm 23 contacts the pressing member 42 located closest to the arm 23, and the arm 2
3 is pressed relatively from the back side. Since the rotating shaft 11 further rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, the arm 23 is pressed and curved from the rear side, and is brought into a state of being caught around the rotating shaft 11.

As the arm 23 is wound in this way, the pressing point of the pressing member 42 gradually moves toward the distal end of the arm 23, and finally, the spiral with the pressing member 42 at the outermost position as shown in FIG. The arm 23 is wound up in a shape. The reason why the pressing member 42 is formed of three rods is that the arm 23 has flexibility, so that the arm 23 that has once been wound expands at a position where there is no regulating force from the outer periphery, and the desired winding shape is obtained. This is to prevent the maintenance from being stopped. Therefore, the pressing member 42 may be a cylindrical member with a part of the outer periphery cut away.

Since the outer diameter of the arm 23 wound in this way is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 2 formed in the tank 1, the arm 23 is raised together with the fixing plate 5 to move the arm 23 to the tank 1. Can be pulled out from. On the other hand, when cleaning is started, the arm 23 is inserted into the tank 1 by lowering the entire apparatus toward the opening 2 of the tank 1 with the arm 23 wound as described above. be able to. Further, if the rotating shaft 11 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 4, the rotating shaft 11 becomes gradually linear from the leading end where the restraining force of the pressing member 42 is released.

Therefore, according to the above apparatus, the tank 1
The inside of the tank 1 can be cleaned without a worker entering the inside of the tank. The arm 23, which blows air to the inner surface of the tank 1 to perform substantial cleaning, has a length close to the radius of the tank 1 in the extended state, but can be wound and stored in a spiral state, so that the opening 23 Is small, not only the arm 23 and the nozzle 34 can be inserted into the tank 1 but also the nozzle 34 can be made closer to the inner surface of the tank 1.
The inner surface of the tank can be reliably cleaned.

In the above-described example, an example in which air is used as a fluid for cleaning is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and other gases such as an inert gas, water, etc. Can be used as a cleaning fluid. In addition, the arm in the present invention is only required to be configured to extend by an elastic force and bend in a spiral state by an external force that opposes the elastic force, and is limited to the structure specifically described in the above example. Not done. Therefore, the bending direction may be either the front side or the back side,
Alternatively, it may be configured to be able to bend in both directions. Further, the mechanism for raising and lowering the rotating shaft in the present invention may be a fluid actuator such as a rodless cylinder other than the configuration using the screw described above.

[0030]

As described above, according to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, not only can the inner surface of the tank be cleaned without depending on the operator, but also when the opening formed in the tank is small. Even so, the nozzle for injecting the fluid can be brought closer to the inner surface of the tank, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced and efficient cleaning can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing an example of a device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a shape of a link constituting an arm.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a partially omitted arm in an extended state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arm spirally wound;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tank, 2 ... Opening part, 5 ... Fixing plate, 11 ... Rotating shaft, 23 ... Arm, 24, 27 ... Link, 34
... Nozzle, 42 ... Pressing member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tank inner surface cleaning apparatus for spraying a fluid onto an inner surface of a tank to remove extraneous matter, comprising:
A plurality of links are rotatably connected to each other, and a bendable arm provided with an elastic force so that the links are arranged in series is attached to the arm, and the arm ejects a fluid toward the inner surface of the tank. A pressing member to which a nozzle is attached and which further has a pressing plate that bends the arm against elastic force by relative rotation with the arm is provided on a fixed plate on which the rotating shaft is relatively rotatable. An inner surface cleaning device for a tank, which is configured to supply a fluid to the nozzle.