Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
  • B08B3/024—Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
  • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
  • B07B1/00—Sieving, screening, sifting, or sorting solid materials using networks, gratings, grids, or the like
  • B07B1/46—Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens
  • B07B1/50—Cleaning
  • B07B1/55—Cleaning with fluid jets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a system and a method for washing a separating machinery used in the production and/or in the treatment of cementitious material.
• cementitious material refers to materials comprising any type of cement.
• cementitious paste in the jargon called “grout” and composed of cement and water
• cement mortar composed of cementitious paste and a granular inert element typically of fine grain size, e.g. sand
• concrete composed of cementitious paste and one or more granular inert elements having different grain sizes depending on the needs such as sand, gravel, pebble, etc.
• US 2002/0108537 A1 discloses a method for the recovery of useful material from waste cement.
• a separating machinery comprising a tank whose bottom has a plurality of openings for the outflow of the liquid phase, said bottom being set in vibration to facilitate the separation between the two phases and the advancement of the solid material up to an unloading mouth.
• a separating machinery in particular the bottom of the tank, requires regular washing with water, not only for the presence of the inert granular phase of the cementitious material, but also and above all for the presence of the aqueous phase containing, dissolved and/or suspended, the aforementioned residues of cementitious material (i.e. also comprising cement or the like).
• This aqueous phase is in fact subject to deposit or drying, for example during the non-operational phases of the separating machinery, causing encrustations on the surfaces of the machinery itself, in particular the bottom, which can obstruct the outflow openings and/or penalize in general the machinery efficiency.
• the Applicant also considered that increasing the pressure of the water exiting from the sprinklers to try to compensate for the aforementioned loss of strength would lead to excessive water consumption, with consequent waste, as well as an oversizing of the pumping devices.
• the Applicant has therefore posed the problem of washing a separating machinery, comprising a tank with a bottom equipped with a plurality of openings for the outflow of the liquid phase, in an automatic and efficient way in terms of washing efficiency, resource consumption, time spent and/or costs.
• the invention relates to a system for washing a separating machinery, wherein the separating machinery comprises a tank having a bottom and defining a useful volume of the separating machinery.
• the system comprises:
• washing device comprising at least one sprinkler for emitting a jet of washing liquid
• a driving system structured to move said washing device parallelly to said bottom between a first position, in which the washing device is arranged externally to said useful volume, and a second position, in which said washing device is arranged internally to said useful volume and in which said jet of washing liquid faces the bottom, wherein said first position is proximal to a first end of the bottom and said second position is proximal to a second end of the bottom, longitudinally opposite to the first end.
• the invention relates to a station of separation comprising a separating machinery and the system for washing according to the present invention rigidly coupled to said separating machinery.
• the invention relates to a method for washing a separating machinery.
• the method comprises:
• the washing device can alternatively assume the first position, in which it is external to the useful volume, and the second position, in which it is instead internal to the useful volume, allows, during the non-operative phases of the system for washing (which typically coincide with the operating phases of the separating machinery), not to obstruct the useful volume of the machinery, for example not to interfere with the functionality of the machinery and/or with further functional and/or structural parts of the machinery, and at the same time to be able to introduce, when necessary, the washing device in the useful volume for washing the machinery.
• the movement of the washing device between the two ends of the bottom parallel to the bottom of the machinery also allows to uniformly wash substantially a whole extension of the bottom during this movement.
• horizontal refers to a normal arrangement of the system for washing according to the present invention with respect to a walkable surface.
• longitudinal refers to a direction substantially parallel to an advancement direction of the material along the separating machinery during the separating operation.
• transversal refers to a direction (substantially) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to said bottom.
• the present invention in one or more of the aforesaid aspects may have one or more of the following preferred features.
• said washing device is structured to emit said jet of washing liquid over substantially a whole transversal extension of said bottom.
• said driving system is structured to move said washing device along a straight path longitudinally arranged.
• said system for washing comprises a frame (intended to be) integrally coupled to said separating machinery.
• said driving system comprises a telescopic support arm longitudinally extendable towards said machinery.
• said support arm is coupled to said frame. In this way a structure firmly coupled to the frame of the machinery is created.
• said support arm comprises a plurality of telescopically movable sections mutually connected in succession.
• said support arm comprises a first fixed section integral with said frame.
• said washing device is firmly fixed to said support arm at a final section of the support arm opposite to said first section.
• said driving system comprises an actuation system, more preferably fluid- dynamic (e.g. with air, hydraulic, oil dynamic, etc.), structured for extending and retracting said support arm, more preferably each of said sections independently of each other, to move said washing device between said first and second position. In this way the longitudinal and rectilinear movement of the washing device is performed in simple way.
• said actuation system comprises at least one double-action fluid-dynamic actuator, preferably a plurality of double action fluid-dynamic actuators connected to each other in series for extending longitudinally towards said machinery.
• said actuators are structured and mutually connected so that a piston of each actuator serves as cylinder for a further actuator of said plurality of actuators arranged immediately downstream of said each actuator moving towards said separating machinery.
• said plurality of actuators e.g. the set of cylinders and pistons connected to each other in succession and structured as described above
• said actuators have circular section along a whole longitudinal extension thereof.
• said driving system comprises, for each piston of said actuators, a blocking element structured to prevent a rotation of the respective piston about a respective axis of central symmetry.
• said blocking element comprises a bar rigidly fixed to said respective piston parallelly to the respective piston, and slidingly passing through an opening counter-shaped to said bar and integral with a cylinder of said respective piston. In this way, the rotation of each piston along the respective axis of symmetry is prevented to avoid, during the extension of the support arm, the washing device and/or one or more support elements (described below) from reaching the bottom of the machinery inclined with respect to the latter, which could lead to collisions of the system for washing against the machinery or malfunctions.
• each telescopically movable section of the support arm is operatively associated to a respective fluid-dynamic actuator distinct from said section.
• a respective fluid-dynamic actuator distinct from said section.
• an inclination of said support arm with respect to a horizontal plane is adjustable. In this way it is possible to precisely adjust the spatial relationship between the support arm and the bottom (for example to adapt the system for washing to a previously installed separating machinery).
• said support arm comprises for each telescopically movable section (at least) one support element (more preferably a carriage comprising at least on wheel, e.g. a pair of wheels).
• each support element is fixed at a free end of the respective section (typically the free end remains always external to a further section placed immediately upstream along the extension direction of the arm).
• each support element slides in contact with said bottom along at least a stretch of a trajectory of movement of the free end of the respective section.
• the weight of the support arm and/or of the washing device for example limiting the flexion of the arm, with respect to a support arm totally cantilevered with respect to the frame, and/or reducing the mechanical stresses to which the telescopic sections can be subjected during their reciprocal sliding.
• said driving systems comprises a command and control unit operatively connected to said actuation system for commanding said actuation system for extending and/or retracting said support arm.
• said command is automated.
• said washing device in said first position is at an unloading mouth of said machinery.
• said washing device in said second position is at a loading region of said machinery.
• said driving system is structured for (preferably said method comprises) moving said washing device between said first position and said second position with opposite direction with respect to an advancement direction along said machinery of a material loaded into said machinery.
• said washing device within the useful volume by accessing the latter in a simple way through the unloading mouth of the machinery (typically open in the aforementioned separating machinery).
• Preferably said method comprises emitting said jet of washing liquid during only said movement of said washing device from said first position to said second position. In this way waste is further reduced without penalizing the washing efficiency.
• said first position of the washing device corresponds to a completely retracted configuration of said support arm (i.e. a configuration in which each section of the arm is substantially internal to the section immediately preceding along the extension direction, which contains it). In this way the spatial encumbrance is limited.
• said second position of the washing device corresponds to a fully extended configuration of said support arm (i.e. a configuration in which each section of the arm is substantially completely external to the immediately preceding section). In this way the arm extension is fully exploited.
• said washing device comprises a plurality of sprinklers, comprising said at least one sprinkler, for emitting a respective jet of washing liquid.
• said sprinklers are aligned along a transverse direction, more preferably distributed (in a uniform way) along substantially a whole transverse extension of said bottom. In this way the uniform washing of the bottom is favoured.
• each jet of washing liquid has at least one component perpendicular to said bottom.
• each jet of washing liquid also comprises a component parallel to said bottom.
• each jet of washing liquid forms with said bottom an acute angle greater than or equal to 20°, and/or less than or equal to 60°, wherein said angle is preferably turned towards said first end of the bottom. In this way the washing efficiency is further increased.
• each jet of washing liquid is a water blade having transversal development. In this way the washing liquid is easily distributed.
• said at least one sprinkler has a rectangular emission mouth with transversal development having an extension comparable with a transversal width of said bottom. In this way a water blade is generated to make the bottom washing even more uniform.
• said system for washing comprises a system for supplying of washing liquid to said washing device, said system for supplying comprising at least one pumping device and being hydraulically connected to said washing device and to a source of washing liquid (e.g. mains water, plant for treatment of waste waters coming from vehicle washing, etc.).
• a source of washing liquid e.g. mains water, plant for treatment of waste waters coming from vehicle washing, etc.
• said bottom is provided with a plurality of through openings (for the outflow of the liquid phase).
• Typically said bottom is flat.
• said bottom is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane with an increasing height proceeding from the second end to the first end.
• said separating machinery comprises a respective frame stably fixed to ground.
• said tank is coupled to said frame.
• said bottom is rectangular with a larger dimension longitudinally arranged.
• said tank comprises a pair of vertical walls arranged longitudinally and extending from said bottom.
• said tank comprises an unloading region, having said unloading mouth, arranged at said first end of said bottom, and a loading region arranged at said second end of said bottom.
• said tank comprises a transverse wall arranged at said second end of said bottom to delimit said loading region together with a respective longitudinal end portion of said vertical walls.
• said tank is open at said first end of said bottom (to facilitate the continuous unloading of the solid phase).
• said machinery comprises an unloading chute arranged at said unloading mouth of the tank and in continuity with said bottom.
• said machinery comprises a vibration system operatively connected to said tank to transmit vibrations to said tank.
• the vibrations favour the separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase and make the material advance from the loading region towards the unloading mouth.
• said machinery comprises a damping system operatively interposed between said tank and the frame of the machinery for damping a transmission of said vibrations from said tank to said frame. In this way the frame is protected and contribution to set in vibration the tank is made.
• said frame of the system for washing is rigidly fixed to said frame of said machinery, more preferably externally to said useful volume.
• said frame of the system for washing is fixed to the frame of the machinery at said first end of said bottom.
• figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a station of separation comprising a separating machinery and a first embodiment of a system for washing according to the present invention
• figure 2 shows a detail of figure 1
• figure 3 shows a side view of the station of separation of figure 1
• figure 4 shows a side view of the station of separation of figure 1 , partially cut away, with the washing device in the second position
• figure 5 shows a perspective view of the station of separation of figure 4
• figure 6 shows a partial and schematic perspective view of a station of separation comprising a separating machinery and a second embodiment of the system for washing according to the present invention
• figure 7 shows a partial and schematic perspective view of the station of separation of figure 6 with the washing device in the second position.
• the number 90 globally indicates a station of separation comprising a separating machinery 99 and a system 1 for washing the separating machinery.
• the separating machinery 99 is used for the separation of cementitious material respectively in the solid and liquid phases.
• the separating machinery can be used in a plant for treatment of waste waters coming from the washing of vehicles for the transport and/or the production of cementitious material.
• the present invention can also find application to separating machinery of different types, not shown, such as those used in plants for the production and/or treatment of cementitious material to perform a sieving (or screening) phase of the cementitious material to separate into size classes, and therefore as a function of their size, the granular inert materials used for the production of cementitious material.
• the machinery 99 comprises a tank 92 having a flat bottom 93 equipped with a plurality of through openings (e.g. a plurality of slits arranged longitudinally according to a pattern which extends longitudinally and transversally to cover the bottom in substantially uniform manner) for the outflow of the waste waters together with residues dissolved and/or suspended in them.
• a plurality of through openings e.g. a plurality of slits arranged longitudinally according to a pattern which extends longitudinally and transversally to cover the bottom in substantially uniform manner
• the tank 92 comprises a pair of vertical walls 94 longitudinally arranged and developing from the bottom.
• the tank 92 comprises an unloading region 96, having an unloading mouth 97, arranged at a first end 9 of the bottom, and a loading region 95 arranged at a second end 10 of the bottom.
• the tank comprises a transverse wall 98, arranged at the second end 10 of the bottom to delimit the loading region together with a respective longitudinal end portion of the vertical walls 94, and it is instead open at the first end 9 of the bottom.
• the bottom 93 is rectangular with the vertical walls 94 arranged longitudinally and along the largest dimension.
• the bottom is inclined by about 10° with respect to a horizontal plane (not shown, coinciding with a machinery support plane) with an increasing height moving from the second end to the first end.
• the machinery comprises a frame 91 stably fixed to the ground and to which the tank is coupled.
• the machinery comprises an unloading chute 80 arranged at the unloading mouth 96 and in continuity with the bottom.
• the machinery comprises a vibration system 101 (not described further as for example of the known type) operatively connected to the tank to transmit vibrations to the tank.
• the vibratory movement of the tank is used for the separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase and for the advancement of the material along the machinery to the unloading mouth.
• the machinery comprises a damping system 102 operationally interposed between the tank and the frame of the machinery for damping the transmission of the vibrations to said frame to safeguard its structure and/or the constraints (e.g. ground constraints) and to contribute to set the tank in vibration.
• the damping system 102 comprises four pairs of damping elements 103 (e.g. springs).
• the system 1 for washing comprises a frame 2 rigidly fixed to the frame 91 of the separating machinery externally to a useful volume 200 of the machinery defined by the tank 92, at the unloading mouth 97 of the tank.
• the frame 2 of the system for washing has a U-shape with concavity facing the machinery and it has a transverse width substantially equal to a transverse width of the frame 91 of the machinery.
• Exemplarily the system 1 for washing comprises a washing device 3 comprising at least one sprinkler 4 for emitting a jet of a washing liquid 105 (shown in figures 3 and 6).
• washing device 3 is structured to emit the jet of washing liquid over substantially a whole transverse extension of the bottom.
• substantially a whole extension means more than 90%, more preferably more than 95%, of this extension.
• the jet of washing liquid is a water blade having transverse development.
• the washing device 3 exemplarily comprises six sprinklers 4 each one structured to emit a respective jet of washing liquid (105) having water blade conformation with transverse development.
• the six sprinklers 4 are aligned along a transverse direction 300, and uniformly distributed along substantially a whole transverse extension of the bottom 93.
• the washing device 3 exemplarily comprises two sprinklers 4.
• each jet of washing liquid 105 forms with the bottom an acute angle equal to about 45°, the acute angle being turned towards the first end 9 of the bottom.
• the system 1 for washing comprises a system 5 for supplying of washing liquid to the washing device, the system for supplying comprising at least one pumping device 6 (e.g. a hydraulic pump) and being hydraulically connected to the washing device 3 and to a source of washing liquid (for example, not shown, the main water and/or a tank where the washing waste waters are collected, which can then be reused).
• the system for supplying comprises a flexible tube 7 to bring the washing liquid from the pumping device 6 to the washing device 3.
• the flexible tube 7 is wound on a support from which it can be unrolled and/or wound following the movement of the washing device.
• the system 1 for washing comprises a driving system 8 structured to move the washing device 3 parallelly to the bottom 93 of the separating machinery, and along a rectilinear path arranged longitudinally, between a first position (exemplarily shown in figures 1 , 2, 3 and 6 for both the embodiments), in which the washing device is arranged externally to the useful volume 200, and a second position (exemplary shown in figures 4, 5 and 7 for both the embodiments), in which the washing device is arranged internally to the useful volume 200 and in which the jet of washing liquid faces the bottom 93, wherein the first position is proximal to the first end 9 of the bottom 93 and the second position is proximal to the second end 10 of the bottom, longitudinally opposite to the first end.
• a driving system 8 structured to move the washing device 3 parallelly to the bottom 93 of the separating machinery, and along a rectilinear path arranged longitudinally, between a first position (exemplarily shown in figures 1 , 2, 3 and 6 for both the embodiments), in which the washing device is arranged
• the driving system 8 comprises a telescopic support arm 11 longitudinally extendable towards the machinery, the support arm having a plurality of telescopically movable sections 12 (e.g. three sections for the embodiment of figures 1-5 and four sections for that of figures 6 and 7) mutually connected in succession.
• the support arm comprises a first fixed section integral with the frame 2 and the washing device 3 is firmly fixed to the support arm at a final section of the support arm opposite to the first section.
• the driving system 8 comprises a fluid-dynamic actuation system 13 structured to extend and retract each of the sections 12 of the support arm independently of each other, to move the washing device between the first and the second position.
• actuation system 13 comprises a plurality of double action fluid-dynamic actuators 14 connected to each other in series for longitudinally extending towards the machinery.
• the actuators 14 are structured and mutually connected in such a way that a piston of each actuator serves as cylinder of the actuator (if present) placed immediately downstream of the first moving towards the separating machinery.
• the plurality of actuators 14 realizes the support arm 11 (see for example figure 2).
• the actuators 14 have circular section along a whole longitudinal extension thereof.
• the driving system 8 comprises, for each piston of the actuators 14, a blocking element for preventing a rotation of the respective piston about a respective axis of central symmetry (not shown).
• the blocking element comprises a longitudinal bar 16 rigidly fixed parallelly to the respective piston, and slidingly passing through an opening 17 counter-shaped to the bar 16 and integral with a cylinder of the respective piston (figure 2).
• each section 12 of the support arm is operatively associated with a respective fluid-dynamic actuator 14 distinct from the section.
• each actuator 14 is operationally interposed between the respective section 12 and a respective further section 12 of the support arm, arranged immediately upstream of the respective section along the extension direction, for longitudinally moving the respective section (and any sections 12 of the support 11 connected to the respective section and arranged downstream of the respective section along the extension direction) away from, and approaching to, the further section.
• the first section is fixed to frame 2 by means of a pair of flanges 50.
• an inclination of the support arm with respect to a horizontal plane (not shown) is adjustable.
• the flange placed in more distal position from the machinery is adjustable in height with respect to the frame, while the other flange is fixed on the frame, so that the inclination of the first section of the arm can be accurately adjusted.
• Exemplarily the washing device 3 is firmly fixed to the support arm 11 at a final section of the support arm along the extension direction and opposite to the first section.
• the support arm 11 comprises, for each telescopically movable section, a support element 19 (exemplarily a carriage comprising a pair of wheels), fixed at a free end of the respective section 12 (see for example figure 2).
• each support element 19 slides in contact with the bottom 93 along at least a portion of a trajectory of movement of the free end of the respective section.
• the portion of the trajectory of movement is comprised between a first position, in which the free end enters the useful volume 200, and a second position, in which the free end is at a maximum extension position distal from the first section of the support arm (arm section fully extended).
• the driving system 8 comprises a command and control unit 20 (only schematically shown) operatively connected to the actuation system 13 for commanding the actuation system for extending and/or retracting the support arm.
• the driving system 8 is structured to move the washing device between the first position and the second position with opposite direction with respect to an advancement direction 100 along the machinery of the cementitious material loaded into the machinery.
• the first position of the washing device corresponds to a completely retracted configuration of the support arm (figures 1 , 2, 3 and 6), and the second position of the washing device corresponds to a fully extended configuration of the support arm (figures 4, 5 and 7).
• the washing device in the first position is located at the second end of the bottom (i.e. at the loading region of the machinery), and in the second position it is located at the first end of the bottom (i.e. at the unloading mouth).
• the machinery 99 also comprises a series of fixed sprinklers 21 (exemplarily four, see for example fig. 5) arranged at a respective height from the bottom and in proximity to the unloading region of the tank. In use, the sprinklers 21 are activated to further wash the solid phase before the latter is definitively unloaded from the machinery.
• the system 1 for washing allows to perform a method for washing the separating machinery.
• a method for washing the separating machinery Exemplarily, starting from the first position of the washing device 3, it is provided moving the washing device parallelly to the bottom 93, progressively extending the support arm 11 , until the washing device is brought into the second position.
• the system for washing comprises a thrust element 104 (e.g. with triangular shape) firmly fixed to the support arm in front of the support element 19 of the final section of the arm (with respect to the extension direction of the arm).
• the thrust element slides in contact with the bottom helping to push any residues of the solid phase towards the loading region of the tank.
• Exemplarily the method comprises emitting the jet of washing liquid 105 during only the movement of the washing device from the first position to the second position, in order to uniformly wash the bottom of the machinery.
• the method subsequently comprises returning the washing device 3 to the first position (e.g. by gradually retracting the support arm 11 ), namely outside the useful volume of the tank, to avoid obstructing the machinery during a subsequent operating phase.

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• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Cyclones (AREA)

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Citations (10)

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• 2020
  • 2020-07-17 IT IT102020000017395A patent/IT202000017395A1/it unknown
• 2021
  • 2021-07-06 WO PCT/IT2021/050210 patent/WO2022013899A1/en unknown
  • 2021-07-06 EP EP21748970.7A patent/EP4182096A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (10)

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