US3885740A - Automatically revolved washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In a washing apparatus having a pair of nozzles mounted to a nozzle arm to be rotated by the reaction of water jets through the nozzels, a trochoid pump is operatively connected to the nozzle arm at the opposite of the nozzles to be actuated by the rotation thereof. The trochoid pump has a circulation passage of oil communicated with an oil reservoir, which follows to the increase and decrease of the amount of oil circulating the pump and compensates the amount of oil leaked from the pump.

Description

United States Patent Sugino et al.

[ May 27, 1975 1 AUTOMATICALLY REVOLVED WASHING [56] References Cited APPARATUS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventors: Kenji Sugino, Uozu; Hisataka Mori; 3,623,665 11/1971 Sugino 1. 239/227 Hironobu Yamagata, both of 3,834,625 9/1974 Barthod-Malot 239/227 Toyama, all of Japan Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [73] Assignee' 2 5: Machme Llmlted U020 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack [22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1974 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 499,038 In a washing apparatus having a pair of nozzles mounted to a nozzle arm to be rotated by the reaction of water jets through the nozzels, a trochoid pump is Forelg Apphcatlon Pnomy Data operatively connected to the nozzle arm at the oppo- Aug. 23, 1973 Japan .1 48-99299 Site f the nozzles to be actuated by the rotation Aug. 23, 1973 Japan 48-99300 thereof. The troehoid pump has a circulation passage Aug. 23, 1973 Japan 48-99301 of Oil Communicated with an oil reservoir, which f l lows to the increase and decrease of the amount of oil [52] US. Cl. 239/227 Circulating the pump and compensates the amount f [51] Int. Cl B05!) 3/00 Oi] leaked m the pump [58] Field of Search 239/227 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures H 14 l5 i' 5: 5O 12 E i E 3o E I ,z I I Fl k I 4 "$3 34 32 1 6 i 5s A. y w 3| 2:

PATENIED HAY2 71975 FIG.I

FIG.6

, 46 goo AUTOMATICALLY REVOLVEI) WASHING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for washing out dregs or rust attaching to the inner surface of a chemical reaction chamber, a polymerization tank, a concrete mixer, a liquid medicine mixing container, a bewage tank, a large diameter pipe, and the like containers by means of high pressure water jets through nozzles, and more particularly to apparatus of the foregoing character of which nozzles are automatically rotated and revolved by the reaction of the jet flow through the nozzles.

In such a washing apparatus of the type defined above, it is indispensable to provide a means for controlling a rotary speed of the nozzles to desired washing conditions. Because, if such a control means is not provided in the washing apparatus, the rotary speed of the nozzles will become higher in proportion to the reaction force of the jet flow of the washing water, the reaction force of which proportionally increases by the jetting water pressure and the amount of water. Accordingly, when the rotary speed of the nozzles is too high, the jet flow will become fog, which reduces the impact effect of the jet flow. On the contrary, when the rotary speed of the nozzle is too low, the washing efficiency will be lowered.

A washing apparatus provided with such a control means is known in US. Pat. No. 3,623,665 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In this apparatus, a trochid pump is assembled within a head body about a hollow shaft through which a high pressurized washing water is fed to nozzles. The hollow shaft is operatively connected to a nozzle holder such that the hollow shaft is rotated by the rotation of the nozzles to actuate the trochoid pump. The trochoid pump is filled with an oil which circulates in a closed passage by way ofa control value. Accordingly, the rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzle holder and the hollow shaft are controlled by adjusting the amount of oil circulating through the gear pump by the control valve.

In this known washing apparatus, however, when the diameter of the hollow shaft is made larger in order to meet the requirement such as to jet a greater amount of washing water under high pressure, the gear pump itself and, thereby, the diameter of the head body become larger as a necessary consequence. Accordingly, the washing apparatus having such a larger head body becomes too heavy for an operator to carry and hold with his hands and cannot be applied to wash containers having a small inlet.

Moreover, if the washing water passing through the hollow shaft happens to leak therefrom for some reasons while used for a long period and comes into the gear pump, it becomes impossible to adjust the rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles.

Further, it has been experienced while the known apparatus is used for a long period that the rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles becomes irregular, if the oil in the gear pump leaks and air is entered therein.

In addition, it has been difficult to obtain a delicate adjustment of the desired rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles.

The present invention has been accomplished to further improve the washing apparatus set forth directly above.

Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a lighter and smaller washing apparatus of the type set forth above to allow easy handling by operators and easy insertion into containers having a small inlet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus of the type defined above wherein the washing water under high pressure cannot be entered into a trochoid pump by any chance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus of the type defined above wherein a reliable and delicate adjustment of rotary and revolving speeds of nozzles is insured.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus of the type defined above wherein even if the amount of oil in the trochoid pump is decreased for some reasons, the amount of oil filled in the pump is automatically kept in constant to eliminate any irregular rotation and revolution of the nozzles and to elongate the lifetime of the pump, and the amount of oil circulating through the pump can be checked without disassembling the pump.

The aforementioned and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front view showing a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an arrangement of a pair of nozzles about a nozzle holder,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III III of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an arrangement of gears of a trochoid pump,

FIG. 5 is a view showing the external-internal gear arrangement,

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned front view showing main portions of washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII VII in FIG. 6.

Referring to a first embodiment of the present washing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a hollow head body 10 comprises an upper disc 11 and a lower disc 12, the lower end portion of the disc 12 being formed of a bevel gear 13. The upper disc 1 1 and the lower disc 12 are integrally connected with each other by bolts l4, l4 threaded through the circumferential portions thereof.

A hollow shaft member 15 is disposed in the head body 10 and rotatably supported by an oilless bearing 16, a thrust bearing 17 and a needle bearing 18. The oilless bearing 16 at the upper end of the hollow shaft member 15 and an oil seal 19 below the oilless bearing 16 effectively interrupt the leakage of washing water fed in the head body 10 through a hose 20 connected to the upper open end of the head body 10 by a joint 21.

The hollow shaft member 15 has an enlarged hollow lower portion 22, the annular upper surface of which is separated from the disc 12 by means of a thrust plate 23. An oilless bearing 24 having horizontal and vertical crossed oores is inserted into the enlarged lower portion 22 from the opened right hand portion in FIG. I and set to the position by a set ring 25 in close contact with the inner surfaces of the enlarged portion 22. Se-

cured to the lower end of the shaft member by a bolt 26 is a cover 27.

Referring now to a nozzle assembly 31) rotated by reaction force generated by jet flow of the washing water, a nozzle arm 31 is rotatably supported by the oilless bearing 24 at right angles relative in an axis of the hoi low shaft member 15. The nozzle arm 31 has a hollow space 32 therein which extends from one outer end to an inner central portion thereof, the inner central portion of which communicates with the axial space in the hollow shaft member 15 through a circumferential opening 33 of the nozzle arm 31 and the vertical bore 34 in the oilless bearing 24. Screwed to the open end portion of the nozzle arm 31 is a nozzle holder 35 which has a pair of angles passages 36, 36 communicating with the hollow space 32 in the nozzle arm 31 as shown in FIG. 2. A pair of nozzles 37, 37 are fixed to the nozzle holder 35 in communication with the angled passages 36, 36. The angled passages 36, 36 and the nozzles 37, 37 are arranged symmetrically relative to the axiz of the nozzle arm 31 insuch a manner that the reaction force generated by the jet flow through the nozzles 37, 37 rotates the nozzle arm 31 about the axis thereof. Also fixed about the nozzle arm 31 inside of the nozzle holder 35 by set screws 38, 38 is a bevel gear 39, which engages with the other bevel gear 13 at the lower end of the lower disc 12. An annular flange 40 integrally connected to the nozzle arm 31 inside of the bevel gear 39 receives a leftward thrust in FIG. 1 in cooperation with a thrust plate 41 abutting against the right open end of the enlarged portion 22 of the hollow shaft member 15, while a nut 42 threaded to the solid portion of the nozzle arm 31 receives a rightward thrust in FIG. 1 in cooperation with a thrust plate 43 abutting against the left end of the enlarged portion 22. Thus, the lateral movement of the nozzle arm 31 is interrupted.

With an arrangement set forth above, when the nozzles 37, 37 rotate about the axis of the nozzle arm 31 by the water jets therethrough, they also revolve about the axis of the hollow shaft member 15 by means of the bevel gears 13 and 39.

Referring now to an adjusting means for rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles 37, a trochoid pump is provided to the nozzle arm 31 at the other end opposite to the nozzle holder 35, this end portion being solid but not hollow. The trochoid pump has a pump housing 51 threaded to the enlarged lower portion 22 of the hollow shaft member 15 by an annular sleeve portion 52. The annular sleeve portion 52 has aperture 53 provided outside of the outer circumferential end of the enlarged lower portion 22 of the hollow shaft member 15, so that even if the washing water leaks along the nozzle arm 31 through the oilless bearing 24, enlarged portion 22, thrust plate 43 and nut 42 in turn, the leaked washing water is drained through the aperture 53 and cannot reach the inside of the pump housing 51. The solid end portion of the nozzle arm 31 extends into a cylindrical space 54 of the pump housing 51 to be rotatably and liquid-tightly through a sealing O-ring 55.

An axis of the cylindrical space 54 is eccentrically arranged relative to an axis of the nozzle arm 31. A rotor or an external gear 56 shown in FlG. 5 is keyed to the nozzle arm 31 within the cylindrical space 54 and meshes with an internal gear 57 snugly and rotatably fitted in the cylindrical space 54, thereby forming trochoid pump with an oil filled therein. In communication with the trochoid pump, a pair of arc- shaped grooves 58, 59 and inflow passage and outflow passage 61 respectively communicated with the grooves 58 and 59 are provided in a pump cover 62. These inflow and outflow passages 60 and 61 meet together at an oil amount adjusting passage 63.

Extending in the passage 63 as shown in FIG. 4 is a screw 64 for adjusting the amount of oil fed in the trochoid pump. The screw 64 has a cylindrical rod portion 65, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than that of the adjusting passage 63. The rod portion 65 extends beyond the inflow passage 60 but not reaches the outflow passage 61 of the oil and threaded to the pump cover 62 with a sealing O-ring 66 with an adjusting screw head 67 exposing outside of the pump cover 62. As the adjusting screw 64 thus extends in the passage 63, before the oil reaches the inflow passage 60, it has to pass through a narrow space defined between the rod 65 of the adjusting screw 64 and the wall portion of the passage. Thus, when the length l of the narrow space is shortened, the amount of oil passing through the narrow space into the inflow passage 60 increases, so that the pressure upon the trochoid pump increases to reduce the rotary speed of the nozzle arm 31. On the other hand, when the length l of the narrow space is elongated, the amount of oil passing therethrough decreases, so that the pressure upon the trochoid pump decreases to increase the rotary speed of the nozzle arm 31. Accordingly, the delicate and stepless adjustment of the rotary speed of the nozzle arm 31 can be made in proportion to the length l by rotating the adjusting screw 64.

Also provided in the pump cover 62 is an oil reservoir 70 which communicates with the adjusting passage 63 through a passage 71. The passage locates adjacent to the inflow passage 60 of the oil at right angles relative to the adjusting passage 63 and the inflow passage 60. The oil reservoir 70 comprises a housing 72 partially threaded to the pump cover 62 and communicated with the passage 71 at the open inner end thereof. A balance piston 73 is snugly and liquid-tightly fitted in the housing 72 and urged against the oil therein by a spring 74 provided between an annular shoulder of the piston 73 and a cap 75. The balance piston 73 has a cylindrical hollow space 76 along an axis thereof, and a steel ball 77 of a larger diameter than the hollow space 76 is fitted against the outer end of the hollow space 76 by a set screw 78.

In such a structure of the oil reservoir, when the oil amount adjusting screw 64 is adjusted to elongate the length l to decrease the amount of oil led into the inflow passage 60, a part of oil coming to the passage 63 through the outflow passage 61 is led into the oil reservoir 71) and stored therein through the passage 71. On the contrary, when the adjusting screw 62 is operated to shorten the length I, an additional oil is supplied into the adjusting passage 63 from the oil reservoir 71) through the passage 71. Such storage of the superfluous oil and supply of the additional oil in and from the oil reservoir 70 is insured by the simple structure thereof, since the balance piston 73 is biased by the spring 74 to follow the increase and decrease of the oil therein. Further, even if the amount of oil in the trochoid pump is decreased for some reasons, the amount of oil filled in the pump is automatically supplied from the oil reservoir 70 and kept in constant amount, so that the adjustment of the rotary speed of the nozzles is insured for a long period without replenishing the oil and that the amount of oil filled in the oil reservoir 70 can be checked by looking at the position of the balance piston 73. Further, when the oil is to be replenished, after removing the set screw 78 and taking-out the steel ball 77, the oil is supplied in the reservoir 70 by pulling the balance piston 73, while preventing any air from entering in the oil. h I

Referring to a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the oil reservoir 70 .of the same structure as shown in FIG. 3 is assembled to the pump housing 51a inside of the cover 27a. Likewise, the a pair of grooves 58, 59 and passages 60, 61, 63, 71 for circulating the oil into and out of the trochoid pump are made in the pump housing 51a. Accordingly, the pump cover 62a is made thinner and slightly exposed outside of the cover 27a with its spherical surface. The oil amount adjusting screw 64a in the pump housing 51a is made of a needle valve and different from that of the first embodiment.

Although the pump housing 51 of the first embodiment is screwed to the lower enlarged portion 22 of the hollow shaft member 15, the hollow shaft member 15a of the second embodiment has not such enlarged portion. Instead, the pump housing 51a has an inner hollow portion 52a substantially corresponding to the lower enlarged portion 22 of the hollow shaft member 15 and is screwed to the lower end portion of the ho]- low shaft member 15a by this inner hollow portion 52a. The cover 27a is secured to the inner hollow portion 52a of the pump housing 51a by the bolt 26 through a spacer 28.

A shaft 44 for actuating the trochoid pump is not made of the nozzle arm 31. The shaft 44 has a projection 45 of rectangular cross-section formed at the inner end portion thereof and engaged with a concave 46 of rectangular cross-section formed at the inner solid portion of the nozzle arm 31a, so that the rotation of the nozzle arm 31a is transmitted to the shaft for the trochoid pump.

In order that any lateral movement of the nozzle arm 31a may be eliminated, the annular flange 40a about the nozzle arm 31a abuts against the right side of the oilless bearing 24' in FIG. 6 and is pressed thereto through a thrust plate 41a by a nut 47 threaded tothe open end of the inner hollow portion 520 of the pump housing 51a.

Referring now to the operation of the present apparatus of the both embodiments, when a washing water under high pressure is fed through the hose 20, the water passes through the hollow shaft member 15, 15a the nozzle arm 31, 31a and the nozzle holder 35, and is jetted through the pair of nozzles 37, 37. The reaction of the jet flow through the nozzles causes to rotate the nozzle arm 31, 31a about the axis thereof since the nozzle holder 35 rotatable together with the nozzles 37, 37 is secured to the nozzle arm 31, 31a. When the nozzle arm 31, 31a rotates about the axis thereof, the bevel gear 39 fixed thereto and engaged other bevel gear 13 at the lower disc 12 of the head body also rotates, so that the nozzle arm 31, 31a and the nozzles 37, 37 come to revolve about the axis of the hollow shaft member 15. Also, the hollow shaft member 15, a connected to the nozzle arm 31, 31a through the trochoid pump revolves about the axis thereof. At the same time when the nozzle arm rotates about the axis thereof, the external gear 56 secured or operatively connected to the nozzle arm 31, 31a within the pump housing 51, 51a also rotates and cooperates with the internal gear 57, so that the oil filled in the trochoid pump circulates in turn through the outflow groove 59, the passages 61, 63 and and the inflow groove 58. By operating the adjusting screw 64, 64a in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the amount of oil and, thereby, the pressure applied to the external gear 56 in the'pump are adjusted, so that the rotary and also the revolving speeds of the nozzles about the axis of the nozzle arm 31, 31a and the axis of the hollow shaft member 15, 15a are adjusted simultaneously.

As the washing apparatus of the present is so constructed as set forth above, many advantage can be attained. First, comparing with a known structure in which a gear pump for controlling the rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles is provided in the head body to be actuated by the rotation of the hollow shaft, the present washing apparatus actuated by the rotation of the hollow shaft, the present Washing apparatus can be smaller in size and lighter in weight even when a hollow shaft of larger diameter is employed for jetting a greater amount of washing water, because the present trochoid pump is assembled in connection with the nozzle arm.

Second, as the presenttrochoid pump is assembled at a place away from the passages of the pressurized washing water, there is no chance that the washing water enters into the gear pump.

Third, in the preferred structure wherein the oil reservoir is provided in communication with the circulation passages of the oil of the trochoid pump, even if the amount of oil in the pump slightly decreases for some reasons such as leakage while used for a long period, the amount of oil circulating through the pump does not decrease at all since the stored oil participates to the circulation. Further, in this structure, it is possible to know the amount of oil stored in the oil reservoir only by checking the position of the balance piston.

Fourth, in the preferred structure wherein the fluid amount adjusting screw having cylindrical valve portion is used, it becomes possible to obtain a desired delicate adjustment of the rotary and revolving speeds of the nozzles.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, modification and alterations may be made within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically revolved washing apparatus comprising in combination:

a head body adapted to be connected to a pipe passage through which a washing fluid under high pressure is supplied,

a hollow shaft member disposed in said head body and communicated with said pipe passage,

a nozzle arm having an axially extending hollow space closed at one end portion thereof, said hollow space being communicated at the inner portion thereof with an axial space of said hollow shaft member,

a pair of nozzles symmetrically disposed relative to the axis of said nozzle arm and communicated with an opened outer end portion of said nozzle arm to rotate said nozzle arm about the axis thereof by means of the reaction of the jet flow through said nozzles,

gear means for revolving said nozzle arm relative to the axis of said head body while said nozzles are rotating about the axis of said nozzle arm, and

a trochoid pump provided at the opposite side of said nozzles to control rotary and revolving speeds of said nozzles, said trochoid pump having a cylindrical space into which a pump-drive shaft rotatable by the rotation of said nozzle arm extends, an 'external gear secured to said pump-drive shaft within said cylindrical space, an internal gear snugly disposed in said cylindrical space and engaged with said external gear, a closed fluid circulation passage communicating with an inlet and outlet of said cylindrical space, a fluid amount adjusting valve extending in said closed fluid passage, and a fluid material storage chamber communicating with said closed fluid passage, said storage chamber having a balance means to follow to increase and decrease of said fluid material.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed fluid circulation passage comprises a fluid amount adjusting passage through which the fluid material coming out of said cylindrical space circulates to said cylindrical space, and into which said fluid amount adjusting valve extends; and said fluid material storage chamber communicates to said adjusting passage at the downstream thereof, said storage chamber comprising a housing threaded to a pump casing, and a balance piston biased toward the fluid material and exposed at one end thereof to the outside of said pump casing.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trochoid pump is provided in a pump casing secured to said hollow shaft member, said pump casing having apertures at a place enclosing said pump-drive shaft for draining any washing water leaked and coming toward said trochoid pump.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid material storage chamber is provided inside of a cover member enclosing the bottom portions of said washing apparatus.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid material storage chamber further comprises a hollow space axially extending through said balance piston, a ball of larger diameter than the axial space and disposed at the outer open end of said axial space, and a set screw threaded to said balance piston outside of said ball.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid amount adjusting valve has a cylindrical portion extending into said adjusting passage beyond the place where said adjusting passage communicates with said storage chamber, and defines a narrow space between said cylindrical portion and the wall of said pump casing.

Claims (6)

1. An automatically revolved washing apparatus comprising in combination: a head body adapted to be connected to a pipe passage through which a washing fluid under high pressure is supplied, a hollow shaft member disposed in said head body and communicated with said pipe passage, a nozzle arm having an axially extending hollow space closed at one end portion thereof, said hollow space being communicated at the inner portion thereof with an axial space of said hollow shaft member, a pair of nozzles symmetrically disposed relative to the axis of said nozzle arm and communicated with an opened outer end portion of said nozzle arm to rotate said nozzle arm about the axis thereof by means of the reaction of the jet flow through said nozzles, gear means for revolving said nozzle arm relative to the axis of said head body while said nozzles are rotating about the axis of said nozzle arm, and a trochoid pump provided at the opposite side of said nozzles to control rotary and revolving speeds of said nozzles, said trochoid pump having a cylindrical space into which a pumpdrive shaft rotatable by the rotation of said nozzle arm extends, an external gear secured to said pump-drive shaft within said cylindrical space, an internal gear snugly disposed in said cylindrical space and engaged with said external gear, a closed fluid circulation passage communicating with an inlet and outlet of said cylindrical space, a fluid amount adjusting valve extending in said closed fluid passage, and a fluid material storage chamber communicating with said closed fluid passage, said storage chamber having a balance means to follow to increase and decrease of said fluid material.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed fluid circulation passage comprises a fluid amount adjusting passage through which the fluid material coming out of said cylindrical space circulates to said cylindrical space, and into which said fluid amount adjusting valve extends; and said fluid material storage chamber communicates to said adjusting passage at the downstream thereof, said storage chamber comprising a housing threaded to a pump casing, and a balance piston biased toward the fluid material and exposed at one end thereof to the outside of said pump casing.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trochoid pump is provided in a pump casing secured to said hollow shaft member, said pump casing having apertures at a place enclosing said pump-drive shaft for draining any washing water leaked and coming toward said trochoid pump.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid material storage chamber is provided inside of a cover member enclosing the bottom portions of said washing apparatus.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid material storage chamber further comprises a hollow space axially extending through said balance piston, a ball of larger diameter than the axial space and disposed at the outer open end of said axial space, and a set screw threaded to said balance piston outside of said ball.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fluid amount adjusting valve has a cylindrical portion extending into said adjusting passage beyond the place where said adjusting passage communicates with said storage chamber, And defines a narrow space between said cylindrical portion and the wall of said pump casing.

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