Device for cleaning of enclosed spaces

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning of enclosed spaces according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background to the invention

US patent specification US 3544012 refers to a device for cleaning of enclosed spaces, e.g. the inside of a tank. During the cleaning of a tank, the device according to US 3544012 is placed centrally in the tank. The problem with the device according to US 3544012 is that it has at regular intervals to be raised up out of the tank for cleaning of the device itself. This is because it comprises a number of parts where dirt and bacteria can accumulate, which parts are not washed clean by the device during operation.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for cleaning of enclosed spaces which affords a compact technical solution.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning of enclosed spaces which is made up of components which are easy to change.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device comprising fewer components than conventional cleaning devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which has a high hygiene standard and can be self-cleaning.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is not only cost ¹ effective to manufacture but also easy to build, making it possible to optimise manufacturing time and cost.

The aforementioned and other objects are achieved according to the invention by the device described in the introduction being provided with the characteristics indicated in claim 1.

An advantage achieved with a device according to the characterising part of claim 1 is that the device is of compact configuration. Its compactness simplifies the transport of the device to a tank. Assembling the device is also simplified through not requiring a great deal of space for the fitting or replacement of parts.

A further advantage achieved with a device according to the characterising part of claim 1 is that it comprises a small number of movable parts. The reduced number of movable parts in a device according to the invention as compared with conventional cleaning i

devices reduces the risk of complications with regard to parts. This is because the parts which tend most often to fail in a device are the movable ones.

A further advantage achieved with a device according to the characterising part of claim 1 is that the number of threaded elements is reduced as compared with conventional cleaning devices. The advantage of this is that it raises the hygiene standard in that not having threads reduces the possible sites liable to bacteria growth.

A further advantage achieved with a device according to the characterising part of claim 1 is that the device is self-cleaning. This means that the device according to the invention can be in spaces which are closed, sealed or difficult of access without having to remove it for cleaning.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention further have the characteristics indicated in subclaims 2 - 13.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the turbine and the planetary gear are situated in the rotatable part in such a way that said turbine and planetary gear rotate about a centreline running centrally through the turbine and the planetary gear, which centreline may preferably be situated horizontally. Having both the planetary gear and the turbine situated in the rotatable part results in compactness of the device. Such a solution makes it possible to reduce the height of the housing as compared with conventional cleaning devices, since it means that the rotatable part need not be adapted to accommodate any component such as, for example, the planetary gear or the turbine.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a turbine shaft connects the turbine and the planetary gear with and after one another by extending horizontally centrally through said turbine and planetary gear, which extent of the turbine shaft coincides with said centreline through the turbine and the planetary gear whereby the centreline also extends centrally through the turbine shaft in its extent. An advantage of this is that there is thus only one component, the turbine shaft, which influences the rotation of both the turbine and the constituent parts of the planetary gear.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the planetary gear comprises first and second planet wheels which under the influence of the turbine shaft are caused to rotate, thus causing the lower ring gear, which has the shape of an annular bevel gear, to rotate about said centreline. Said lower ring gear cooperates with the upper ring gear, which takes the form of an annular bevel gear and which is connected to the rotatable part, whereby during rotation of the lower ring gear the cooperation between said ring gears causes the rotatable part to rotate in a motion about a vertical centreline which extends centrally through the device and which crosses, and forms a right angle with, said horizontal centreline. A variant of this embodiment may be that the horizontal centreline is angled

relative to the vertical centreline, in which case the so-called horizontal centreline will not be horizontal.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hub is suspended in said bearing via an element which forms part of the lower ring gear and which cooperates with the bearing, which bearing is annular and extends round said centreline. The element extends on the outside of part of the hub and part of the planetary gear, whereby the element partly surrounds both the hub and the planetary gear and cooperates with them. The cooperation between the element and the planetary gear causes the element of the planetary gear to rotate. The element cooperates with the upper ring gear which is in engagement with the lower ring gear, which lower ring gear forms part of the element. Rotation of the element about the centreline thus also causes rotation of the rotatable part about the vertical axis.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hub surrounds part of the turbine shaft and part or the whole of the turbine, and the hub and the turbine rotate at different speeds relative to one another about the centreline. The relative rotation of the hub and the turbine may entail their being able to rotate both in the same direction and in opposite directions.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hub surrounds a number of means which are connected to the turbine and are caused to rotate about the centreline during rotation of the turbine, which means during said rotation sweep across the inside of the hub across inlets to passages which lead to the nozzles on the outside of the hub, whereby the inlets are alternately closed and opened by means sweeping across them, resulting in a pulsating liquid jet from the nozzles. An advantage of this is that it takes less liquid for the device to clean a space, since the liquid jet is pulsating and discontinuous and therefore uses a smaller volume of liquid.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the hub is connected to the lower ring gear by a first locking ring as a result of a number of releasable connecting elements being placed in cavities through the hub and the element, with which connecting elements the locking ring cooperates. In a corresponding manner, the stationary part is connected to the upper ring gear by a second locking ring as a result of said locking ring cooperating with a number of releasable connecting elements placed in cavities through walls of the stationary part, which connecting elements extend into at least one groove in the upper ring gear. An advantage of using locking rings is that the need to connect constituent parts of the device to one another by means of threads to cater for screwed or bolted connections can be eliminated. Threads are difficult to reach and it is difficult to guarantee that they do not contain bacteria or dirt. It is therefore desirable to have as few threads as possible in said invention in order to reduce the risk that bacteria and dirt might accumulate in the device.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, part of the liquid flow extends in such a way that after the liquid has passed through the device it is led out through slits provided between the stationary part and the rotatable part and between the rotatable part and the hub. The slits are oriented in such a way that the liquid flowing out sweeps across the external surfaces of the housing. The fact that liquid can flow through the slits reduces the risk of bacteria and/or dirt accumulating at the transition between two parts which are movable relative to one another.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a shield is disposed on the hub to mask part of the slits and lead the liquid which flows out towards the screen away so that the liquid sweeps across the external surfaces of the housing.

Brief description of the drawings

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is described below in more detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings, which only show the parts necessary for understanding the invention.

Fig. 1 depicts a device during operation as observed from outside, with markings denoting liquid jets flowing out.

Fig. 2 depicts components of the device via a section through the device.

Fig. 3 depicts a variant of the device depicted in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 depicts the device with a pulse-like liquid jet emerging from nozzles.

Detailed description of various embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 depicts a device as viewed from the outside, comprising a housing (1). The housing (1) comprises a stationary part (2), a rotatable part (3), a number of spray nozzles (4a-c), and a hub (5) to which the nozzles (4a-c) are connected. The stationary part (2) and the rotatable part (3) can move relative to one another by the rotatable part (3) rotating about a vertical centreline (16) through the device. The rotatable part (3) and the hub (5) with the nozzles (4a-c) can move relative to one another by the hub (5) rotating about a centreline (12) which extends through the rotatable part (3) and the hub (5). This centreline (12) may preferably be horizontal.

Externally the housing is free from protruding or recessed fastening elements, fastening devices or other elements that might constitute sites for accumulation of dirt and bacteria.

Fig. 1 shows how flows of liquid move across the housing. Between the parts which are movable relative to one another there are slits (26a-b) whereby liquid can flow at transitions between said parts. This makes it possible for the device to be self-cleaning during use.

Fig. 2 shows in section through the device some of the components situated inside the housing (1). The majority of the components are situated in the rotatable part (3). The rotatable part (3) comprises, as viewed from the right in Figure 2 where the hub (5) is situated, a bearing (7), an element (6), a turbine (8), a planetary gear (9), a lower ring gear (11) and a turbine shaft (13). The turbine (8) and the planetary gear (9) have running through them the turbine shaft (13) which connects said turbine (8) and planetary gear (9) to one another so that there can be cooperation between the three.

The turbine shaft (13) extends centrally through both the turbine (8) and the planetary gear (9) in the extent of the turbine shaft (13). Said extent coincides with a notional centreline (12) which in a corresponding manner extends through said turbine (8) and the planetary gear (9).

One end of the turbine shaft (13) is associated with an inside of the hub via a precision ball placed between said end and a centrally situated point on the inside of the hub (5). The hub (5) rotates about this central point. Said central point on the hub (5) has the notional centreline (12) running through it. The turbine (8) is placed between said central point and the planetary gear (9).

The hub (5) comprises an outer portion and an inner portion. Said outer portion comprises spray nozzles (4a-d) (4c-d are not visible in Fig. 2). The number of spray nozzles (4a-d) can be varied from outside according to user requirements. Said inner portion comprises a tubular section extending from the inside of the hub (5) towards the vertical centreline (16). Said tubular section extends in such a way that it surrounds the turbine (8) but not the planetary gear (9). The tubular section of the hub (5) cooperates with the planetary gear (9) via the element (6). The element (6) is partly tubular. The element (6) has its one end surrounding part of said tubular section of the hub (5), and the other end surrounding part of the planetary gear (9). At the end which surrounds the planetary gear, the element (6) has internal teeth which cooperate with first and second planet wheels (14, 15) of the planetary gear (9).

The element (6) is connected to the hub by a number of releasable connecting elements (20a-d) (20c-d are not visible in Fig. 2) which cooperate with a first locking ring (19). The connecting elements (20a-d) extend through the element (6) via a hole in the element (6) and into hole recesses in the tubular section of the hub (5). The size of the hole recesses in the tubular section of the hub (5) is such that the connecting elements (20a-d) cannot entirely pass through them. The holes and the hole recesses are so positioned that they are situated over one another, whereby said connecting elements (20a-d) thus each extend through the respective hole and partly into the respective hole recess. When the connecting elements (20a-d) have been placed through the respective holes and hole recesses, the first locking ring (19) is placed on said connecting elements (20a-d) so that

their positions become fixed. The connecting elements (20a-d) being fixed means that the element (6) and the tubular section of the hub (5) also become releasably connected and fixed to one another.

A lower ring gear (11) in the form of an annular bevel gear extends round an outside of the element (6) on the half of the element (6) which is nearest to the hub (5). This ring gear is in engagement with an upper ring gear (10) situated on and releasably connected to the stationary part (2). Like the lower ring gear (11), said upper ring gear (10) takes the form of an annular bevel gear.

A bearing (7) extends round the tubular section of the hub (5) and cooperates with the element (6).

A second locking ring (23) connects the stationary part (2) to the rotatable part (3) via a number of releasable connecting elements (20e-h) (2Oh is not visible in Fig. 2) placed in a manner corresponding to that of the connection between the element (6) and the tubular section of the hub (5). The stationary part (2) has a lower portion which, when the stationary part (2) and the rotatable part (3) are brought together, extends partly downwards into the rotatable part (3) so that said portion of the stationary part (2) is partly surrounded by the rotatable part (3). In order to connect the stationary part (2) releasably to the rotatable part (3), connecting elements (20e-h) are placed through holes (24a-d) (24d is not visible in Fig. 2) in said lower portion of the stationary part (2). The upper ring gear (10) extends on the outside of said holes (24a-d) and round the outside of said portion. The ring gear (10) comprises a groove (25) which extends in a surface facing towards the vertical centreline (16) and which extends through the device. Said groove (25) accommodates the connecting elements (20e-h) which extend through the holes (24a-d) in the lower portion of the stationary part (2). The upper ring gear (10) is fixed in the rotatable part (3) by being situated between the lower ring gear (11) and an upper horizontal bearing placed on top of the upper ring gear (10). This upper horizontal bearing is connected to, and held in place relative to, the rotatable part (3) by a screwed connection cooperating with an upper edge region on the rotatable part (3), which edge region adjoins the stationary part (2). The fact that the connecting elements (20e-h) extend not only through said holes (24a-d) in the stationary part (2) but also into the groove (25) in the upper ring gear (10) means that the stationary part (2) is connected to the rotatable part (3). The second locking ring (23) functions in such a way that it abuts against the respective connecting elements (20e-h) and exerts a force directed outwards from the vertical centreline (16). The connecting elements (20e-h) are thus pressed between the stationary part (2) and the rotatable part (3) into the groove (25) in the upper ring gear (10), resulting in a releasable connection between the stationary part (2) and the rotatable part (3).

Slits (26a-b) are disposed at transitions between respective movable parts of the housing (1). The slits (26a-b) serve as passages for liquid. Their configuration is such that they direct the liquid in such a way that after passing through the slits (26a-b) it proceeds along the outside of the housing (1). The hub (5) comprises a shield (27) which masks part of the slits (26) and leads the liquid which flows out towards the shield (27) away so that the liquid sweeps across the external sides of the housing (1). These slits (26a-b) and shield (27) result in the whole outside of the housing (1) being swept across by liquid during operation.

Fig. 3 depicts a further embodiment of the invention where a number of means (17) are connected to the turbine (8) within the tubular section of the hub (5). The configuration of the means (17) is such that during rotation with the turbine (8) about the centreline (12) they sweep across inlets (18) on the inside of the hub (5). These inlets (18) lead liquid out to the nozzles (4a-d) (4c-d are not visible in Fig. 3) on the outside of the hub (5), which liquid leaving the nozzles (4a-d) hits the inside of the tank in order to clean it. When the means (17) are caused to rotate about the centreline (12), they sweep across the inlets (18) on the inside of the hub (5) so that the inlets (18) are alternately covered by the means (17) and alternately open. The result is a pulsating liquid jet from the nozzles (see Fig. 4). Using a pulsating liquid jet consumes less liquid during use of the device, since the liquid jet is not continuous.

During operation of the device, liquid enters the housing (1) via the stationary part (2) and proceeds to flow into the rotatable part (3). In the rotatable part (3), the liquid flows through and past the planetary gear (9) to the turbine (8) and out through the nozzles (4a-d) in the hub (5). The liquid causes the turbine (8) to rotate, with the result that the turbine (8) by means of the turbine shaft (13) causes the planetary gear (9) to rotate its constituent parts in the form of first and second planet wheels (14, 15). Through cooperation with the element (6), said planet wheels (14, 15) cause the hub (5) to rotate. The rotation of the element (6) contributes to rotation of the lower ring gear (11). The rotation of the ring gear (11) and its cooperation with the upper ring gear (10) therefore causes the rotatabfe part (3) to rotate about the vertical centreline (12) through the device. The fact that the hub with the nozzles and liquid spraying out is caused to rotate not only about the horizontal centreline (12) but also about the vertical centreline (16) means that the liquid spraying out reaches all the inside surfaces in an enclosed space.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment referred to but may be varied and modified within the scopes of the claims set out below, as partly described above.