WO2016183333A1

WO2016183333A1 - Sanitary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2016183333A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/032128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Digna NAGINEVICIUS
Original assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
Priority date: 2015-05-12
Filing date: 2016-05-12
Publication date: 2016-11-17
Also published as: AR104620A1

Abstract

A rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly having a stationary outer housing, a rotary housing disposed below said stationary housing rotatable about a central axis of said stationary housing, and a nozzle hub having a plurality of liquid spray nozzle mounted on said rotary housing for rotation about an axis transverse to the central axis. Features of the assembly include a stationary housing in the form of a one piece body having an integral liquid inlet that eliminates the need for a separate inlet cap; a fluid drive having components larger diameter than the liquid inlet adapted for quicker and easier assembly and disassembly from an underside of the stationary housing; the rotary housing having an integrally formed rotor with a plurality of veins to be driven by tangentially directed liquid from the stator; and the stator being reversibly mountable for varying rotative operating speed of the nozzle assembly.

Description

SANITARY TANK CLEANING SPRAY NOZZLE ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/160,339, filed May 12, 2015, which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to rotary cleaning devices, and more particularly, to a multi-axis rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly adapted for use in sanitary environments, such as processing or storage tanks in the food, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assemblies require complex multi-directional drives for rotating the spray nozzles in a manner that ensures the discharging spray covers all areas of the tank. Such spray nozzle assemblies require numerous parts and seals which can be cumbersome to assemble and disassemble for sanitary cleaning as required after each usage.

[0004] Such spray nozzle assemblies commonly have a vertically oriented stationary housing having a liquid inlet at an upper end, a rotary housing supported at a lower end for relative rotation about a central axis of the stationary housing, and a nozzle hub supported on the rotary housing for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the stationary housing. To facilitate access to drive components within the stationary housing, the stationary housing commonly has a liquid inlet cap removably mounted on the upper end thereof. While removable inlet cap enables access to internal components within the interior of the stationary housing for removal, cleaning, and replacement, mating peripheral surfaces of the liquid inlet cap and stationary housing can create a source of leakage as well as a site for contamination.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-axis rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly which is adapted for quicker and easier assembly and disassembly for facilitating frequent sanitary cleaning.

[0006] Another object is to provide a rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly as characterized above which has a one piece housing and liquid inlet which eliminates the need for a separate liquid inlet cap and possible leakage and contamination problems associated with use of an inlet cap.

[0007] A further object is to provide a spray nozzle assembly of the above kind having a one piece outer body with an integral liquid inlet at an upstream end smaller in size than the drive components of the nozzle assembly supported within the stationary housing, yet which enables efficient assembly and disassembly of the spray nozzle assembly.

[0008] Still another object is to provide a rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of the foregoing type in which the drive components can be efficiently assembled, supported, and disassembled from an underside of the stationary housing of the nozzle assembly.

[0009] Yet a further object is to provide such a rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly that has fewer individual drive components, and hence, is adapted for easier assembly, disassembly, and cleaning.

[0010] Another object is to provide a rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly as indicated above in which different rotative operating speeds of the spray nozzle assembly easily can be selectively established by the manner in which a drive component of the device is assembled.

[0011] Another object is to provide a rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of the foregoing type that is relatively simple in construction and lends itself to economical

manufacture.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective of an illustrative multi-axis tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly in accordance with the invention;

[0014] Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the spray nozzle assembly shown in Fig. 1;

[0015] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective of the illustrated spray nozzle assembly;

[0016] Fig. 4 is a top view of the illustrated spray nozzle assembly;

[0017] Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the illustrated spray nozzle assembly diagrammatically depicting liquid flow through the spray nozzle assembly;

[0018] Fig. 6 is a top view of the stator 18, in its operative position shown in Fig. 2;

[0019] Fig. 7 is a perspective showing the stator in mounted position on the rotary housing; [0020] Fig. 8 is a top view of the stator in an upside-down mounted position in the spray nozzle assembly; and

[0021] Fig. 9 is a perspective of the spray nozzle assembled in such flipped or upside-down condition and the resulting direction of liquid onto the rotor.

[0022] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative

constructions, a certain illustrative embodiment thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMB ODEVIENT

[0023] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative multi- axis sanitary tank cleaning rotary spray nozzle assembly 10 in accordance with the invention. The illustrated spray nozzle assembly 10 basically compromises a stationary housing 11 into which cleaning fluid or other liquid is directed, a rotary housing 12 supported at a lower end of the stationary housing 11 for relative rotation with respect to the stationary housing 11, a nozzle hub 14 supported on the rotary housing 12 for relative rotation having a pair of oppositely directed liquid discharging nozzles 15. A fluid driven drive disposed within the stationary housing, including a liquid directing stator 18, is effective for rotatably driving the rotary housing 12 about a central axis of the stationary housing 11, which in turn drives the rotatable nozzle hub 14 about an axis transverse to that of the stationary housing 11.

[0024] In accordance with a feature of the illustrated embodiment, the stationary housing 11 has a one piece outer body construction that includes a lower cylindrical body section 20 from which the rotary housing 12 depends and within which the fluid drive for the rotary housing 12 is contained and an integrally formed upwardly extending liquid inlet section 21 having a liquid inlet 22 for connection to a liquid supply line. The liquid inlet 22 is smaller diameter than the lower body section 20, as well as one or more of the components of the fluid drive, including the stator 18, housed within the lower body section 20. In this case, the liquid inlet section 21 has a diameter of about ½ the diameter of the lower body portion 20, and similarly, is significantly smaller than the diameter of the stator 18. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that contrary to conventional multi-axis rotary tank cleaners that have two piece outer body having a lower body section and a separate liquid inlet cap, the subject design eliminates a gap or juncture between the a separate liquid inlet cap and housing body, which can be an area of liquid leakage as well as a possible site for contamination. The design also simplifies the assembly and cleaning of the nozzle body, as will become apparent.

[0025] In carrying out a further feature of the subject spray nozzle assembly 10, the fluid drive for the rotary housing 12 includes a rotor 25 that is an integrally formed part of the rotary housing 12 and is directly acted upon by tangentially directed liquid from the stator 18 for driving the rotary housing 12. The rotary housing 12 in this case has a one piece elbow configured construction including an upstream vertically oriented section 26 and a downstream horizontal or right angled section 28. The vertically oriented section 26 includes an upstanding hub 29 substantially surrounded by a lower vertically opening curved flange or collar 30 and the horizontal or right angle section 28 includes an outwardly projecting cylindrical sleeve 31 substantially surrounded at its upstream end by a horizontally opening curve flange or collar 32.

[0026] In keeping with this feature of the illustrated embodiment, the rotor 25 is an integrally formed upper portion of the hub 29, having a plurality of upstanding veins 35 (Fig. 3) which are impinged upon and driven by tangentially oriented liquid flow streams from the stator 18, which rotates the rotor 25 and the rotary housing 12 of which it is an integral part. To permit communication for liquid through the rotary housing 12, the hub 26 is formed with a plurality of liquid flow passages 38 (Fig. 3) originating adjacent a downstream end of the veins 35 which communicate liquid through a right angle passage 39 (Fig. 2) within the rotary housing 12 for exit through radial passages 40 in the right angle or horizontal tubular sleeve of the rotary housing 12 upon which the nozzle hub 14 is rotatably supported. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the one piece design of the rotary housing 12 and rotor 25 not only simplifies the assembly and cleaning of the nozzle assembly, but eliminates the need to attach or couple the rotor separately. Elimination of the gap or juncture typically formed between the rotor and its mounting on the rotary housing in conventional multi-axis cleaners further eliminates another source of possible site contamination.

[0027] In accordance with still a further feature of the illustrated embodiment, the fluid drive, including the stator 18 and rotor 25, are assembled and supported from an underside of the stationary housing 11. To this end, the lower body section 20 of the stationary housing 11, including its downward open end, has a diameter larger than the drive components of the fluid drive, including the rotor 25, stator 18, and associated sealing elements, for permitting assembly of such components from the underside of the stationary housing 11.

[0028] For supporting and securing the rotary housing 12 and drive components thereof in operative relation to the stationary housing 11, an upstanding pin or stud 45 is provided that is positioned centrally through the vertical section 26 of the rotary housing 12, the rotor 25 and the stator 18. The pin has an enlarged cap or bottom 46 that is positionable for closing a bottom opening of the rotary housing 12.

[0029] For supporting the rotary housing 12 on the pin 45 for relative rotation while preventing relative rotation of the stator 18, the pin 45 has a lower cylindrical portion 45a that extend upwardly beyond the top of the rotor 25 for enabling rotational movement of the rotary housing 12 about the pin 45, while an upper most portion 45b of the pin 45 above the rotor 25 is formed with a flat cross-sectional profile that is received within a complimentary configured aperture of the stator 18. An upper most end of the pin 45 is secured against rotation relative to the stationary housing 11 by a retainer clip 48 having a transverse prong 48a that is positionable through aligned apertures in the upper liquid inlet section 21 of the stationary housing 11 and an aperture through that flat profile 45b of the pin 45 and a wrap around holding portion 48b which in this case surrounds a reduced diameter section of the liquid inlet section 21. Liquid directed from the liquid inlet 22 through the stationary housing 11 is forcefully directed by the stator 18 for rotating the rotor 25 and the integrally formed rotary housing 12 about the cylindrical portion 45a of the pin 45 while the retainer clip 48 retains the pin 45 and stator 18 mounted on the flat section profile 48b against rotation. A bushing seal 50 is fixed between the enlarged head 46 of the pin 45 and the underside opening of the rotary housing 12, a bushing seal 51 is provided about the base of the rotor 25 and a lower interior side of the stationary housing 12, and a bushing seal 52 is provided between the cylindrical section 45a of the pin 45 and the upper end of the rotor 25 which facilitate relative rotation of the rotary housing 12 with respect to the pin 45 and stationary housing 11.

[0030] The nozzle hub 14, which is rotatably supported on the tubular sleeve 31 of the rotary housing 12, is retained thereon by an end cap or plug 55 fixed to the end of the rotary sleeve 31 by a retaining clip 58 with an annular bushing 56 interposed therebetween. The nozzle hub 14 defines an internal annular chamber 59 about the tubular sleeve 31 for receiving liquid directed through the rotary housing 12 and discharging from the radial outlet apertures 40 of the tubular sleeve 31 into the nozzle hub 14 for discharge, in this case, from a pair of oppositely directed solid stream discharge nozzles 15.

[0031] For effecting rotation of the nozzle hub 14 with respect to the rotary housing 12 as an incident to rotation of the rotary housing 12, the lower end of the stationary housing 11 and the upstream end of the nozzle hub 14 are formed with respective cooperating bevel gears 60, 61 (Fig. 3). As the rotary housing 12 is rotated by the direction of liquid through the spray nozzle assembly, as is known in the art, interaction of the bevel gears 60, 61 simultaneously rotate the nozzle hub 14 about the right angle sleeve 31 of the rotary housing 12. The bevel gears 60, 61 in this instance are protectively contained within the curved flanges or collars 30, 32 of the rotary nozzle housing.

[0032] In accordance with still a further feature of the present embodiment, the rotational operating speed of the spray nozzle assembly 10 can be easily altered simply by the manner in which a single drive component of the nozzle assembly is selectively assembled. To this end, the stator 18 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced liquid flow passages 65, in this case in the form of holes, that extend through the stator 18 at a compound angle. As depicted in Figs. 2 and 6, the flow passages 65 have inlets 66 circumferentially disposed about an upstream side of the stator 18 in a circular array having a diameter /J and the passages 65 exit a

downstream side of the stator 18 with outlets 68 in a circular array having a diameter Dl larger than the diameter D of the inlets 66 on the inlet side. Hence, the flow passages 65 of the stator 18 tangentially directed liquid flow streams 69 about an outer peripheral portion of the rotor 22 for rotatively driving the rotor 52, and hence, rotary housing 12 at a relatively high speed due to the relatively large torque radius of the impinging liquid 69 on the rotor 52.

[0033] In carrying out this feature of the invention, the stator 18 is easily removeable, as an incident to disassembly of the spray nozzle assembly as indicated above and repositionable in an upside down relation onto the support pin 45. It will be appreciated that the non-circular central opening 70 in the stator 18 enables positioning of the stator 18 on to the upstanding support pin 45 in either position. With the stator mounted in such upside-down position, in contrast to that shown in Figs. 2 and 6, inlets 68 to the passages 65 are disposed in the circular array having the relatively larger diameter Dl than the diameter D of the outlets 66 now on the downstream or outlet side of the stator 18. In that position, the tangentially directed flow streams 75 through the passages 65 engage the rotor 45 with a relatively smaller torque radius (as depicted in Fig. 8) that drives the rotor 45, and hence the rotary housing 12, at a reduced rotational speed without changing the pressure of the liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly. Hence, by easy assembly of the spray nozzle assembly, different rotative operating speeds of the spray nozzle assembly can be achieved using the same feed pressure. It will be appreciated that while the stator flow passages 65 in this case are circular holes through the stator 18, alternatively, the flow passages 65 could be defined by conventional liquid directing veins about the outer periphery of the stator 18.

[0034] From the foregoing, it can be seen that a multi-axis rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly is provided which has a one piece stationary housing that eliminates the necessity for a separate liquid inlet cap and the leakage and contamination problems associated therewith. The nozzle assembly also has a simplified drive for a rotary housing that is easily assembled and disassembled from an underside of the stationary housing and which enables selective changes in the rotative operating speed of the nozzle assembly without changing the liquid pressure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly comprising: a stationary housing in the form of a one piece body having a liquid inlet disposed at an upper end for connection to a liquid supply for direction of liquid into a lower body section of said one piece body having a downwardly opening bottom end; said liquid inlet being smaller in diameter than said lower body section; a rotary housing disposed below said stationary housing for rotation relative to said stationary housing about a central axis of said stationary housing; a nozzle hub having at least one liquid spray nozzle, said nozzle hub being mounted on said rotary housing for rotation relative to said rotary housing about an axis transverse to the central axis of said stationary housing; a fluid driven drive mechanism including a stator fixed within said lower body section of said stationary housing and a rotor associated with a drive shaft of said rotary housing disposed within the lower body section of said stationary housing for rotation as an incident to the direction of liquid through said stationary housing for rotating said drive shaft and rotary housing relative to said stationary housing; said rotary housing and nozzle hub having cooperating gears for rotating said nozzle hub relative to said rotary housing as an incident to rotation of said rotary housing with respect to said stationary housing; at least said stator of said fluid driven drive mechanism being larger in diameter than said liquid inlet of said one piece body; said rotary housing and stationary housing having a disconnect coupling for enabling disassembly of said rotary housing from said stationary housing; and said fluid driven drive mechanism being removable from said stationary housing from an underside of said lower body section as an incident to disassembly of said rotary housing from said stationary housing.

2. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 1 in which said liquid inlet has a diameter of about ½ the diameter of the lower body section.

3. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 1 in which said disconnect coupling for said rotary housing and stationary housing including an upstanding pin having an enlarged diameter bottom end for supporting a bottom of said rotary housing member in assembled relation to said stationary housing, said pin extending upwardly through said rotary housing and stator, and a removable fastener for releasably affixing an upper end of said pin to said stationary housing.

4. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 3 in which said pin has a cylindrical portion about which said rotary housing is supported for relative rotation.

5. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 4 in which said stator is formed with a non-circular central opening that is positioned on a complimentary configured non-circular cross-sectional profile of said pin for preventing relative rotational movement between said stator and pin.

6. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 3 in which said removable fastener is a retaining clip positioned through aligned apertures in said stator housing and an upper end of said pin.

7. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 1 including a bushing interposed between the enlarged bottom end of said pin and an underside of said rotary housing for supporting the rotary housing for sealed relative rotational movement.

8. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 1 in which said rotary housing has a right angle liquid passage communicating with said liquid inlet, said rotor being an integrally formed part of said rotary housing having a plurality of veins for impingement upon and to be driven by liquid directed from said stator for rotating said rotor and rotary housing with respect to the stationary housing, and said hub being formed with liquid passageways communicating between said liquid inlet and said right angle passage of said rotary housing.

9. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 1 in which said said stator has liquid flow passages with openings on one side of said stator circumferentially disposed in a circular array having a first diameter /J and openings on an opposite side of said stator in a circular array having a diameter Dl larger than diameter D of the openings on the first side, said stator being mountable within said stationary housing with the openings on the first side of the stator on an upstream side defining inlets to the stator flow passages such that the flow passages discharge liquid from the stator with a relatively large torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively high rotative speed for a predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly, and said stator being repositionably mountable in upside down relation in said stationary housing such that the openings on the opposite side of the stator are on an upstream side and define liquid inlets to said stator flow passages and the openings on the first side define liquid outlets such that liquid is tangentially directed from the flow passages from a relatively smaller torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively smaller rotative speed for said predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly.

10. A rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly comprising: a stationary outer housing; a liquid inlet disposed at an upper end of said stationary housing for connection to a liquid supply and for direction of liquid into said stationary housing; a rotary housing disposed below said stationary housing for rotation relative to said stationary housing about a central axis of said stationary housing; a nozzle hub having at least one liquid spray nozzle, said nozzle hub being mounted on said rotary housing for rotation relative to said rotary housing about an axis transverse to the central axis of said stationary housing; said rotary housing having a one piece elbow configuration including an upstream vertically oriented section and the downstream right angle section, said rotary housing having a right angle liquid passage communicating with said at least one spray nozzle; a stator fixed within said stationary housing for tangentially directing liquid from said liquid inlet, said upstream vertically oriented section of said rotary housing having an integrally formed rotor with a plurality of veins for impingement upon and to be driven by tangentially oriented liquid from said stator for rotating said rotor and rotary housing with respect to the stationary housing; and said rotary housing and nozzle hub having cooperating gears for rotating said nozzle hub relative to said rotary housing as an incident to rotation of said rotary housing with respect to said stationary housing.

11. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 10 in which said veins are part of a hub disposed at an upstream end of the vertical section of said rotary housing.

12. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 11 in which said hub is formed with liquid passageways communicating between said liquid inlet and said right angle passage of said rotary housing.

13. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 12 in which said liquid passageways of said hub communicate through said veins.

14. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 10 in which said stationary housing is in the form of a one piece body comprising said liquid inlet at an upper end and a lower body section having a greater diameter than said liquid inlet, and said stator being removable from said stationary housing from an underside of said lower body section as an incident to disassembly of the rotary housing from the stationary housing.

15. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 14 in which said said stator has liquid flow passages with openings on one side of said stator circumferentially disposed in a circular array having a first diameter /J and openings on an opposite side of said stator in a circular array having a diameter Dl larger than diameter D of the openings on the first side, said stator being mountable within said stationary housing with the openings on the first side of the stator on an upstream side defining inlets to the stator flow passages such that the flow passages discharge liquid from the stator with a relatively large torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively high rotative speed for a predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly, and said stator being repositionably mountable in upside down relation in said stationary housing such that the openings on the opposite side of the stator are on an upstream side and define liquid inlets to said stator flow passages and the openings on the first side define liquid outlets such that liquid is tangentially directed from the flow passages from a relatively smaller torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively smaller rotative speed for said predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly.

16. A rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly comprising: a stationary outer housing; a liquid inlet disposed at an upper end of said stationary housing for connection to a liquid supply and for direction of liquid into said stationary housing; a rotary housing disposed below said stationary housing for rotation relative to said stationary housing about a central axis of said stationary housing; a nozzle hub having a plurality of liquid spray nozzles, said nozzle hub being mounted on said rotary housing for rotation relative to said rotary housing about a rotary axis transverse to the central axis of said stationary housing; a fluid driven drive mechanism including a stator mounted within said stationary housing having flow passages for tangentially directing liquid passing through said housing, a rotor associated with a drive shaft of said rotary housing for rotation as an incident to the tangential direction of liquid from said stator for rotating said drive shaft and rotary housing relative to said stationary housing; said rotary housing and nozzle hub having cooperating gears for rotating said nozzle hub relative to said rotary housing as an incident to rotation of said rotary housing with respect to said stationary housing; said stator flow passages having openings on one side of said stator circumferentially disposed in a circular array having a first diameter /J and openings on an opposite side of said stator in a circular array having a diameter Dl larger than diameter D of the openings on the first side; said stator being mountable within said stationary housing with the openings on the first side of the stator on an upstream side defining inlets to the stator flow passages such that the flow passages discharge liquid from the stator with a relatively large torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively high rotative speed for a predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly; and said stator being repositionably mountable in upside down relation in said stationary housing such that the openings on the opposite side of the stator are on an upstream side and define liquid inlets to said stator flow passages and the openings on the first side define liquid outlets such that liquid is tangentially directed from the flow passages from a relatively smaller torque radius for driving the rotor at a relatively smaller rotative speed for said predetermined pressure of liquid directed through the spray nozzle assembly.

17. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 16 in which said stator flow passages are circular holes extending through the stator.

18. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 16 in which said stator is reversibly mountable on an upstanding support pin extending through said rotary housing and into said stationary housing, said stator having a non-circular central opening for positioning on a complimentary non-circular cross section upper end of said support pin with said openings on said one side defining either liquid inlets or liquid outlets to said stator flow passages.

19. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 16 in which said rotary housing and stationary housing having a quick disconnect coupling for enabling disassembly of said rotary housing from said stationary housing; and said fluid drive mechanism being removable from said stationary housing from an underside of said lower body section as an incident to disassembly of said rotary housing from said stationary housing.

20. The rotary tank cleaning spray nozzle assembly of claim 16 in which said upstanding pin having an enlarged diameter bottom end for supporting a bottom of said rotary housing member in assembled relation to said stationary housing, and a removable fastener for releasably affixing an upper end of said pin to said stationary housing.