RU2745331C2 - Cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface and method of cleaning submerged surface - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: waste treatment technologies.SUBSTANCE: cleaning head contains a cleaning element designed to separate the material located on the submerged surface when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface during use, the cleaning element being designed to move relative to the submerged surface, and a suction port through which the material separated from the submerged surface by the cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head when negative pressure is created in the suction port. In each cleaning element, at least one suction port is located so that the cleaning element rotates around the suction port when the element is moved relative to the submerged surface, and the material separated from the submerged surface by the cleaning element is pumped out through the suction port.EFFECT: effective cleaning of submerged surfaces.11cl, 13 dwg

Description

Scope of invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface in a marine cleaning system, in particular for cleaning the underwater part of a ship's hull or other structure, as well as a method for cleaning a submerged surface.

Background of the invention

It is known that there is a tendency for increasing fouling of the underwater part of the ship's hull or structure over time, so much so that as a result, a significant layer of material, including under some circumstances living organisms, accumulates on the underwater part of the ship's hull or structure.

If such fouling is not removed from the ship's hull or structure, serious problems can arise, including damage to the ship's hull or structure and, in the case of a marine vessel, a reduction in the seaworthiness of the ship. In addition, some living organisms can be harmful and, if transported elsewhere, can be hazardous to native species.

Uncontrolled water treatment can release chemical or biological contaminants into the local environment, and for example, can stimulate the release of reproductive shoots or plant and animal fragments capable of regeneration.

To avoid the release of these pollutants into the local marine environment, a common cleaning technique for a ship's hull involves removing the ship from the water and then cleaning the ship's hull. However, this approach is costly and time consuming.

AU 2012244227 describes a cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface. The cleaning head comprises a body part, a skirt part extending along the contour of the body part, and rotating brushes or scrapers that contact and move relative to the submerged surface so that material located on the submerged surface is separated from this surface. The separated material is pumped out of the cleaning head through the suction port.

Summary of the invention

Describes a cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface, comprising:

body part,

a skirt portion extending along the contour of the body portion, the skirt portion serving as a seal between the body portion and the submerged surface to be cleaned when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use; and

at least one cleaning element for separating material located on the submerged surface from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface during use and the cleaning element is moved relative to the submerged surface; and

at least one suction port in fluid communication with a cavity formed between the body portion and the submerged surface during use,

moreover, during use, when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface and the specified at least one suction port is fluidly connected to the device for creating negative pressure, the material separated from the submerged surface by the specified at least one cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head through the suction hole,

wherein the at least one cleaning element comprises at least one cleaning component designed to create a fluid flow adjacent to the submerged surface when the cleaning component moves relative to, but practically does not touch, the submerged surface during use, the fluid flow causing material to separate from a submerged surface.

The body part can contain several parts movably connected together.

The body portion may comprise first and second body portions movably connected together.

The first and second body parts can be movably connected together by means of a hinge.

The skirt part can be configured as a brush.

The cleaning head may include a height adjustment system for adjusting the distance between the body portion and the submerged surface to be cleaned, and therefore adjusting the compression ratio of the skirt portion during use, and adjusting the effectiveness of the seal created between the skirt portion and the submerged surface.

The cleaning head may include a drive mechanism for moving the cleaning head relative to a submerged surface during use.

The drive mechanism may contain at least 2 drive shafts connected together by a universal joint, each drive shaft contains a drive wheel mounted on the drive shaft.

The height control system can be designed to adjust the distance between one or more drive shafts and the housing.

The drive mechanism may include a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic valve to facilitate control of the amount of fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor and hence the speed of movement of the cleaning head.

The cleaning head can contain multiple cleaning elements.

The at least one cleaning component may comprise a sock located on a first side of the cleaning component facing in the direction of movement of the cleaning component during use and a beveled portion located on the second side of the cleaning component facing against the direction of movement of the cleaning component during use.

The toe can be substantially tapered, and the tapered shape can taper at an angle of approximately 45 °.

The shape of the beveled portion can be substantially the same as the shape of the toe.

Each cleaning component can be rotatable such that the beveled portion follows a rotational path defined by the toe.

The cleaning head may include at least one motor for rotating one or each of the cleaning elements.

The specified at least one motor may contain at least one hydraulic motor.

The cleaning head may comprise at least one rotating disc-shaped portion, each disc-shaped portion containing at least one cleaning component.

The cleaning head may contain at least one floating element.

The cleaning head may include a device for reducing pressure in the cleaning head in the area between the cleaning head and a submerged surface during use.

The device for reducing the pressure in the cleaning head may be designed to reduce the pressure at a location located substantially in the center of the cleaning element.

The pressure reducing device may include an impeller.

The motor can be adapted to rotate the impeller.

The cleaning head may include a casing for rotatably accommodating the impeller, the casing comprising a skirt portion of the casing for sealing function between the casing and a submerged surface to be cleaned when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use.

The impeller may comprise a hollow protruding part having alternately circumferentially spaced wall-like parts and holes in the wall, and at least one impeller blade protruding outward from the corresponding wall-like part, while the hollow protruding part forms an impeller hole located in connection with the fluid medium with holes in the wall, while the rotation of the impeller causes a decrease in pressure in the hollow protruding part.

The disc-shaped portion may have a central opening and the hollow protruding part is adjacent and in fluid communication with the central opening.

The impeller can be elastically connected to the cleaning element.

The scrub head may include a safety mechanism provided to shut down the scrub head if the operator is unable or otherwise unable to operate the scrub head.

A cleaning system for cleaning a surface under water is also described, while the cleaning system contains:

a cleaning head according to the first aspect of the present invention;

a device for creating negative pressure; and

a suction pipe extending between said device and a cleaning head, the suction pipe being in fluid communication with a cavity formed between the body portion and the submerged surface during use;

and during use, when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface, material separated from the submerged surface is pumped out of the cleaning head through the suction pipe.

The negative pressure device may include a suction pump.

The cleaning system may contain an additional cleaning head connected to the suction pump and manually operated by the operator.

The system may include a separating device for receiving water sludge and material to be separated from the submerged surface and for separating water and material from the sludge.

The system may comprise a decontamination device configured essentially to decontaminate water that is separated from the sludge.

The system may comprise a cleaning chamber comprising at least one transparent wall-like portion, at least one opening, a sealing device associated with each opening, and a suction opening in fluid communication with the cavity formed by the chamber, wherein the cleaning the device is mounted through the opening and the sealing device such that the cleaning device forms a substantially sealed connection with the opening.

A method for cleaning a submerged surface is also described, the method comprising:

provision of a cleaning head having:

body part;

a skirt part that runs along the contour of the body part; and

at least one cleaning element having at least one cleaning component for separating material on the submerged surface from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface and the at least cleaning element moves relative to the submerged surface;

positioning the cleaning head on the submerged surface such that the skirt portion contacts the submerged surface and acts as a seal between the body portion and the submerged surface;

connecting a cavity formed between the body portion and a submerged surface in fluid communication with the negative pressure generating device;

activating said device and said at least one cleaning element so that the material is separated from the submerged surface and pumped out of the cleaning head,

wherein the method is characterized in that said at least one cleaning component is positioned to create a fluid flow adjacent to the submerged surface when the cleaning component moves relative to, but practically does not touch, the submerged surface during use, the fluid flow causing the material to separate from submerged surface.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface, comprising:

body part,

at least one cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning blade for separating material located on the submerged surface from said surface by scraping material from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface during use and the cleaning element moves relative to submerged surface;

at least one suction port through which material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning blade is pumped out of the cleaning head when negative pressure is applied to the suction port, and

a skirt that extends around the cleaning element and has the function of sealing the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use,

wherein in each cleaning element, said at least one suction opening is located substantially in the center of the cleaning element and the corresponding at least one cleaning blade, and

moreover, in each cleaning element, when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface and the cleaning element rotates relative to the submerged surface, and the specified at least one suction port is fluidly connected to the device for creating negative pressure, the material separated from the submerged surface by the specified at least one cleaning the blade of the cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head through the suction port.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a submerged surface, comprising:

using a cleaning head having:

at least one cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning blade for separating material located on the submerged surface from the submerged surface by scraping material from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use and the cleaning element rotates relative to submerged surface;

a skirt that extends around the cleaning element and has the function of sealing the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use,

at least one suction port through which material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning blade is pumped out of the cleaning head when negative pressure is applied to the suction port, and

wherein, in each cleaning element, said at least one suction opening is located substantially in the center of the cleaning element and the corresponding at least one cleaning blade,

positioning the cleaning head on a submerged surface, rotation of said cleaning element relative to the submerged surface,

a flow connection of said at least one suction port to a negative pressure device, and

actuating said device such that material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning blade of the cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head through said suction port.

Brief description of graphic materials

In the following, by way of example only, a description of the present invention is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a marine purification system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 2 is a schematic top perspective view of a cleaning head in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 3 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the cleaning head shown in FIG. 2;

in fig. 4 is a schematic top view of an alternative cleaning element of an alternative embodiment of a marine cleaning system;

in fig. 5-8 are schematic side, top and bottom views of the cleaning component of the cleaning pad shown in FIGS. four;

in fig. 9 is a schematic top perspective view of a cleaning head housing according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 10 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the casing of FIG. nine;

in fig. 11 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a cleaning head assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the cleaning pad assembly shown in FIG. eleven; and

in fig. 13 is a schematic bottom perspective view of an alternative cleaning head.

Description of one of the embodiments of the invention

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a marine cleaning system 10 for cleaning a submerged part of a ship or other structure in place.

The present embodiment has been described with respect to cleaning a ship's hull, however, it will be understood that other uses are contemplated.

The system 10 comprises a cleaning head 14, in this example arranged so that during use it is located on the underwater part of the ship's hull 12 and designed to separate fouling material from the ship's hull 12.

The system 10 also includes a device for creating a negative pressure in the cavity formed between the cleaning head 14 and the hull 12 of the vessel to prevent the material separated from the vessel's hull by the cleaning head 14 from entering the surrounding marine environment, and instead is pumped out of the cleaning head 14. B In this example, the device for creating negative pressure is a conventional suction pump type 16 with the ability to work in a marine environment. The suction pump 16 can be hydraulically or electrically driven.

In the marine environment, the fouling material present on the ship's hull 12 is usually predominantly biological type, but other types of material may also be present.

The system 10 also includes a separating device 18 configured to receive sludge of water and material to be separated from the vessel 12 and to separate the water and material from each other, and a disinfection device 20 designed to substantially disinfect the water separated from the material.

It should be understood that the separation device 18 and the decontamination device 20 can take any suitable shape, and in this example, the separation device 18 is from Baleen Filters Pty Ltd, for example B1010S Baleen filter, and the decontamination device is from Berson Milieutechniek BV. for example the disinfection device Berson inline 450 UV. The decontamination device may additionally or alternatively comprise a chemical-based decontamination component. Flow meters and other volumetric devices can also be included to improve the quality of water treatment.

System 10 also includes a power unit 22 for providing the system components with the required electrical and / or hydraulic power.

In this example, the separation device 18, the decontamination device 20 and the power plant 22 are located above the waterline 32, for example at the quay 30, and the suction pump 16 is located below the waterline 32.

During use, the scrub head 14 is positioned adjacent to the portion of the ship's hull 12 to be cleaned, and the suction pump 16 is driven so that the sludge containing water and material separated from the hull 12 by the scrub head 14 is pumped out of the scrub head 14 and moved. up to the separation device 18 through the outlet conduit 19. In the separation device 18, the solid material separated from the sludge is collected in the storage hopper 36 for solids, and the water filtered from the sludge passes through the disinfection device 20 and back into the surrounding marine environment through the outlet pipe 34.

Although this example has been described in relation to the hull 12 of a ship, it should be understood that the system is applicable to any structure having a submerged portion and thus subject to fouling. It should also be understood that while this example is described in relation to the treatment of biological fouling of a ship's hull or submerged structure, the system is also applicable to treating other types of fouling that may form on submerged structures, or indeed other fluids, over an extended period of time.

FIG. 2 and 3, the cleaning head 14 is shown in more detail.

The cleaning head 14 in this example comprises first and second body portions 40, 42, which are movably connected to each other in such a way that the profile created by the first and second body portions 40, 42 is adjustable. In this example, the first and second body portions 40, 42 are connected to each other by a hinge 44, which allows the first and second body portions 40, 42 to rotate relative to each other. This allows the first and second hull portions 40, 42 to in principle coincide with the bending line of a structure, such as the hull 12 of a ship.

The outline formed by the first and second body portions 40, 42 comprises a skirt portion 46, which in this example is configured as a brush. The purpose of the skirt portion 46 is to provide a sufficient sealing performance between the first and second body portions 40, 42 and the surface of the structure to be cleaned. In this regard, the sealing must be effective enough that the negative pressure generated by the suction pump 16 causes the material to be separated from the surface to be pumped out of the surface through the cleaning head 14 with minimal release of material through the skirt 46 into the surrounding marine environment. This is important because biological material separated from the surface of the ship's hull 12 can cause undesirable effects in the environment.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 3, the cleaning head 14 includes one or more cleaning elements designed to separate material on the surface of the vessel 12 from the surface. In this example, two oppositely rotating cleaning elements and each cleaning element are formed as a rotating brush 48.

In this example, the brushes 48 are driven in rotation by at least one first hydraulic motor 50, although it should be understood that other arrangements are provided for rotating the brushes 48. In this example, 2 first hydraulic motors 50 are provided, each rotating brush having a corresponding first hydraulic motor fifty.

The cleaning head 14 also includes a suction pipe 52 that extends from the cleaning head 14 to a suction pump 16. The suction pipe 52 conducts a sludge of water and surface material from the cleaning head 14 during use. The first suction lines 54 protruding from the suction pipe 52 are in communication with the suction pipe 52 and extend to respective first suction openings 56 located on opposite sides of the cleaning head 14. Also, the second suction lines 58 protruding from the suction pipe 52 are in communication with a suction pipe 52, and extend to respective first suction holes 60 located at the end of the cleaning head 14 remote from the suction pipe 52. In this example, the first and second suction holes 56, 60 are located adjacent to the rotating brushes 48.

In an example, the first hydraulic motor (s) 50 may include a pumping unit designed to increase efficiency in the cleaning head by pushing water slurry and material separated from the surface towards the suction holes 56, 60.

In this example, the cleaning head 14 also includes a drive mechanism for driving the cleaning head in a direction parallel to the hinge 44 during use. In this example, the drive mechanism includes a second hydraulic motor 62 coupled to a reduction gear 64 to drive the cleaning head 14.

The drive mechanism includes a first drive shaft 66 connected to a reduction gear 64, and a first drive wheel 68 mounted on a drive shaft 66. The first drive shaft 66 is connected by a universal joint 70 to a second drive shaft 72, and a second drive wheel 74 is mounted on the second drive shaft 72.

Since the first and second drive shafts 66, 72 are connected together by a universal joint 70, rotation of the first drive shaft 66 causes the second drive shaft 72 to rotate and thus the first and second drive wheels 68, 74 to rotate. During use, when the first and the second drive wheels 68, 74 rotate, contact between the first and second drive wheels 68, 74 and the surface to be cleaned drives the cleaning head 14 in a direction generally parallel to the pivot 44.

It should be understood that the universal joint 70 allows the drive mechanism to drive the cleaning head 14 at angles over a wide range between the first and second body portions 40, 42.

A 76 non-drive rear wheel is also provided.

Wheels 68, 74, 76 can be of any suitable configuration, and in this example, each wheel includes a wheel housing and a metal wire 78 wrapped around the wheel housing.

In this example, the cleaning head 14 also includes a valve 80 for regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic motor 62 and hence the speed of the second hydraulic motor 62, the rotational speed of the first and second drive wheels 68, 74, and the speed of movement of the cleaning head 14.

The first and second hydraulic motors 50, 62 are supplied with hydraulic fluid through hydraulic lines 92 that extend from the first and second hydraulic motors 50, 62 to the power unit 22 located above the waterline 32.

In an example, hydraulic power can be obtained from a salt water hydraulic system provided to supply pressurized salt water to the first and second hydraulic motors 50, 62. This arrangement has the advantage that a return line is not required.

In this example, the cleaning head 14 also includes first and second height adjusting devices 84, 86 for adjusting the distance between the first and second body portions 40, 42 and the surface to be cleaned. The height adjusting devices 84, 86 change the position of the drive wheels 68, 74 and the non-drive wheel 75 with respect to the first and second body portions 40, 42. Thus, the compression ratio of the skirt portion 46 during use is adjustable and, as a consequence, the sealing efficiency. obtained between the skirt part 46 and the surface to be cleaned is adjustable. The result of this is that the pressure difference between the surrounding marine environment and the cavity formed by the cleaning head 14 and the surface to be cleaned is adjustable if necessary, and therefore the amount of water passing into the cavity formed by the cleaning head 14 and the surface is controlled.

In this example, the cleaning head 14 also contains floating elements 90 that help the cleaning head remain in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

System 10 may also include an optional cleaning head 100 that connects to a suction pump 16 and is used manually by an operator to clean material from a surface. Such additional cleaning head 100 may include a skirt portion 102 configured similar to the skirt portion 46 of the cleaning head 14, may create a negative pressure region adjacent to the surface to be cleaned, and may or may not contain cleaning elements that actively remove material from the surface.

System 10 may also include a safety mechanism 104 configured to require a positive input pulse from an operator to activate the rotating brushes 48 and / or the drive mechanism. In the absence of such a positive input pulse, the operation of the rotating brushes 48 and / or the drive mechanism is terminated. The safety mechanism can be commonly referred to as a "safety lock" type when operation is stopped if the operator is unable or otherwise unable to operate the scrub head 14.

During operation, the operator places the cleaning head 14 directly on the surface to be cleaned so that the skirt portion 46 contacts the surface and starts the system so that the brushes 48 begin to rotate and negative pressure is created in the cavity formed by the first and second body portions 40, 42 and the surface to be cleaned. ... As the material is separated from the surface by the brushes 48, the material enters the surrounding water, and the sludge containing water and separated material is sucked through the suction pipe 52 using the suction pump 16 to the separation device 18, in this example located on the berth 30. The separation device receives the sludge , separates water from the sludge and feeds the separated water to the disinfection device 20. The solid material separated from the sludge passes into the storage hopper 36 for solids, and the water passing through the disinfection device 20 is disinfected and fed back to the marine environment through the outlet pipe 34 ...

It will be appreciated that the cleaning system allows the operator to substantially clean material from a submerged surface, in particular the surface of the ship's hull 12, in situ, because substantially all of the removed surface material is removed from the surface without entering the surrounding water. Removing the vessel from the water for cleaning is optional.

In a variation of the above-described embodiment, in addition to or instead of the rotating brushes 48, the cleaning elements may comprise one or more rotating cleaning components provided to scrape material off the surface to be treated during use.

In another variation of the above described embodiment, in addition to or instead of the rotating brushes 48, the cleaning elements may comprise one or more cleaning components installed to create a fluid flow adjacent to the surface to be treated, resulting in material being removed from the surface during use substantially without touching surface.

For example, in FIG. 4-8, an alternative cleaning element 90 is shown that contains multiple cleaning components 92. The cleaning components 92 in this example are removably disposed on the rotating disc-shaped portion 94, in this example by bolting to the fixing holes 93 provided on the disc-shaped portion 94.

In this example, the cleaning pad 90 is designed such that suction can be applied directly between the cleaning pad and the surface to be cleaned during use, and for this purpose, the disc-shaped portion 94 includes a central opening 95 through which suction can take place during use.

FIG. 5-8, cleaning component 92 is shown in more detail. The cleaning component 92 in this example includes retention holes 96 that secure the cleaning components to the disc-shaped portion 94, the retention holes 96 recessed into the top side of the cleaning component, as shown in FIG. 8.

In this example, the cleaning component 92 includes a U-shaped protrusion 97 that mates with a corresponding recess or hole in the disc-shaped portion 94.

The cleaning component 92 also includes a nose 98 projecting outwardly, which, in this example, forms a wedge-shaped portion that tapers at the angle a shown in FIG. 6, approximately 45 °. On the opposite side of the cleaning component to the toe 98 is a beveled portion 99, which in this example forms an area of approximately the same shape and size as the toe 98.

The cleaning components 92 are disposed on the disc-shaped portion 94, and the disc-shaped portion is positioned and moved during use so that when the disc-shaped portion 94 rotates, the bevel 99 follows the rotation path defined by the toe 98 and the toe 98 and bevel 99 move relative to the surface to be treated, with the nose 98 and beveled portion 99 located close to and at a distance from the surface. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that this device creates a positive pressure area near the nose 98 and creates a negative pressure area near the beveled portion 99, which in turn creates a vortex in the liquid near the surface that removes material located on the surface.

It should be understood that the alternative cleaning element 90 allows material to be removed from the treated surface substantially without touching the surface, and this can be especially useful in situations where contact with the surface could cause damage or in situations where the surface is coated with a substance such as silicone or copper oxide, which must be retained on the surface or which will be toxic if removed.

In this example, cleaning components 92 are made of polyamide, although it should be understood that any suitable material is contemplated.

An alternative embodiment of a cleaning head 88 comprising an alternative cleaning element 90 is shown in FIG. 9-13. Identical and similar elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

In this example, each cleaning element 90 is rotatably mounted in the housing 140 as shown in more detail in FIG. 9-12. Each housing 140 includes a liquid outlet pipe 142 in fluid communication with a suction pump 16 and a drive shaft opening 144 for rotatably receiving a drive shaft 146.

Each drive shaft 146 is coupled to a pressurizing device for creating a reduced pressure region in the center of the housing 140. In this example, the pressurizing device includes an impeller 148.

The impeller 148 in this example includes a disc-shaped portion 150 connected to a hollow protruding part 152 provided with alternating wall-shaped portions 154 and holes 156. The impeller 148 also includes external blades 158 that serve to move fluid as the impeller rotates 148, and a central opening 159 formed by a central protruding member 152, and is in fluid communication with the openings 156.

The impeller 148 is connected to the disc-shaped portion 94 by resilient elements 160, in this example springs, which serve to allow the disc-shaped portion 94 and, accordingly, the cleaning element 90 to move elastically with respect to the impeller 148. Impeller center hole 159 148 and the center hole 95 of the disc-shaped portion 94 are substantially aligned when the disc-shaped portion 94 and the impeller 148 are connected together.

During use, the first hydraulic motor 50 causes the drive shaft 146 to rotate, in this example in the counterclockwise direction indicated in FIG. 11, which causes the impeller 148 to rotate and thus creates a negative pressure region within the central protrusion 152 of the impeller 148. At the same time, the cleaning element 90 also rotates, thereby removing material from the surface adjacent to the cleaning components 92.

It should be understood that the area of negative pressure in the central protrusion 152 of the impeller 148 pulls the removed surface material into the impeller 148 and through the holes 156 in the impeller 148 into the outlet pipe 142.

Thus, in addition to the negative pressure generated by the suction pump 16 between the cleaning element 90 and the surface to be cleaned, negative pressure is also generated by the operation of the impeller 148, which increases the suction force applied to the sludge adjacent to the cleaning element 90.

It should also be understood that creating negative pressure in the cleaning head, in addition to generating negative pressure with a remote-controlled suction pump, allows for a lighter and less expensive conduit between the suction pump 16 and the cleaning head 14, 88.

As shown in FIG. 13, the alternative cleaning head 88 in this example contains 2 alternative cleaning elements 90, each of which is mounted in a corresponding housing 140. The alternative cleaning elements 90 and associated drive motors are arranged such that the cleaning elements 90 rotate towards each other during use.

In this example, the peripheral wall 160 of each housing includes a skirt portion, which in this example is configured as a brush, the purpose of which is to improve sealing with the surface 12 of the structure to be cleaned.

It will be appreciated that during use, the alternative cleaning head 88 defines a first chamber defined by each shroud 140 and a cleaning surface 12 and a second chamber defined by a cleaning surface 12 that surrounds the first chamber. This configuration provides double protection against material escaping from the cleaning head 88 into the surrounding water during use.

While the alternative cleaning head 88 is described in connection with the cleaning element 90 equipped with the cleaning components 92, it should be understood that the characteristics of the alternative cleaning head 88, where applicable, may be incorporated into the cleaning head 14 shown in FIG. 2-3. For example, the scrub head 14 may include a device for generating negative pressure on the scrub head 14, for example by using an impeller configuration of the type shown in FIG. 9-13 to create suction generally centered on the rotating brushes 48.

The cleaning system 10 may also include a chamber that can be used to remove fouling on and near protruding parts of the vessel such as anodes, transducer housings, suction grills, and baffles.

The chamber contains a frame element, a pair of support hoops at the longitudinal ends of the chamber, and a pair of end plates. The frame member, support hoops, and end plates provide structural integrity for the sheer top, side and end walls. In this embodiment, the transparent walls are made of plexiglass, although it should be understood that other suitable materials are contemplated.

The top wall includes an upper support beam in which elongated upper holes are formed and a sealing strip is attached inside the chamber above the upper holes. The sealing strip is made of a resilient material such as rubber and has a longitudinal cut.

Likewise, the side and end walls also include side openings formed on the side beams, end openings and corresponding sealing strips and longitudinal cuts.

The frame member can also be provided with one or more sealing elements, for example made of a rubber material, which helps to provide a good seal between the chamber and the vessel during use.

The purpose of the holes and sealing strips is to position the cleaning nozzle (not shown) in the cavity formed by the chamber, without overlapping, while maintaining the relative negative pressure of the medium in the cavity.

The chamber also contains a branch pipe in connection with a cavity inside the chamber, the branch pipe is located on one of the supporting side beams and facilitates connection to the suction hose of the cleaning system.

In this example, the frame member, support hoops, side members and support beams are made of aluminum material, although it should be understood that other suitable materials are contemplated.

During use, the chamber is positioned over the projection to be cleaned, and a suction hose (not shown) is connected to the nozzle so as to create a relative negative pressure of the medium within the chamber. A suitable high pressure cleaning nozzle is then introduced through one of the orifices and used to clean fouling from and around the projection (s). The fouling material, which is separated from the vessel, is pulled out of the chamber and, for example, moves upward to the separating device 18 through the discharge line 19.

It will be appreciated that the transparent walls provide the user with a good view during the cleaning operation, and the chamber is configured to clean the hull portions adjacent the projections while minimizing the release of fouling material into the surrounding marine environment from the chamber.

Modifications and changes, as will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that if a reference is made in this document to any prior art publication, the reference does not imply an admission that the publication forms part of the public knowledge in the art in Australia or any other country.

In the following claims and in the previous description of the present invention, except where the context requires otherwise because of the language of expression or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "contains" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. .e. to determine the presence of the stated features, but not to exclude the presence or addition of additional features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (26)

1. A cleaning head for cleaning a submerged surface, comprising: body part, at least one cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning blade for separating material located on the submerged surface from said surface by scraping material from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface during use and the cleaning element rotates relative to submerged surface; and at least one suction port through which material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head when negative pressure is applied to the suction port, and a skirt that extends around the cleaning element and has the function of sealing the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use, wherein in each cleaning element, said at least one suction opening is located substantially in the center of the cleaning element and the corresponding at least one cleaning blade, and moreover, in each cleaning element, when the cleaning head is located on the submerged surface and the cleaning element rotates relative to the submerged surface, and the specified at least one suction port is fluidly connected to the device for creating negative pressure, the material separated from the submerged surface by the specified at least one cleaning the blade of the cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head through the suction port. 2. A cleaning head according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said cleaning elements. 3. A cleaning head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each said cleaning element comprises a rotating disc-shaped portion, wherein each disc-shaped portion comprises at least one said cleaning blade and a substantially centered said suction opening. 4. Cleaning head according to any one of paragraphs. 1 to 3, wherein said at least one cleaning element is designed to create a fluid flow adjacent to the submerged surface when the cleaning element moves relative to, but hardly touches, the submerged surface during use, the fluid flow causing the material to separate from the submerged surface. 5. Cleaning head according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, containing an impeller for reducing the pressure in the suction port. 6. The cleaning head of claim 5, wherein the impeller is elastically coupled to the cleaning element. 7. A method for cleaning a submerged surface, including: using a cleaning head having: at least one cleaning element comprising at least one cleaning blade for separating material located on the submerged surface from the submerged surface by scraping material from the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use and the cleaning element moves relative to submerged surface; and at least one suction port through which material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning blade is pumped out of the cleaning head when negative pressure is applied to the suction port, and a skirt that extends around the cleaning element and has the function of sealing the submerged surface when the cleaning head is positioned on the submerged surface during use, wherein, in each cleaning element, said at least one suction opening is located substantially in the center of the cleaning element and the corresponding at least one cleaning blade, location of the cleaning head on a submerged surface, rotating said at least one cleaning element relative to the submerged surface, a flow connection of said at least one suction port to a negative pressure device, and actuating said device such that material separated from the submerged surface by said at least one cleaning blade of the cleaning element is pumped out of the cleaning head through said suction port. 8. The method of claim. 7, wherein the cleaning head comprises a plurality of said cleaning elements. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein each said cleaning element comprises a rotating disc-shaped portion, wherein each said disc-shaped portion comprises at least one said cleaning blade and a substantially centered suction port. 10. The method according to any one of claims. 7-9, in which the cleaning head includes an impeller for reducing the pressure at the suction port. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the impeller is elastically coupled to the cleaning element.

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