The invention relates to a process positioning and process control unit for process control of a wash-down hose with flushing nozzle for cleaning of waste-water pipes, in which the wash-down hose is mounted on a cylindrical wash-down hose drum.

The invention also relates to use of the process positioning and process control unit for positioning and control of a wash-down hose in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes.

Cleaning of waste-water pipes will traditionally be carried out with mobile device, which has mounted a suction device for filth and a powerful high pressure rinsing pump connected to a wash-down hose drum, which can rotate and thereby store, roll out and roll up a specific number of meters of wash-down hose.

In the outermost end of the wash-down hose there is mounted a, for the purpose constructed, flushing nozzle provided with a suiting number of holes with suiting diameter, mostly backwards facing.

The flushing process is subsequently initiated by putting the flushing nozzle down in the well and into the waste-water pipe, which is to be cleaned. Thereafter, the wash-down hose is pressurised, such that the flushing water now with large force becomes shot backwards through the nozzle holes. The reaction from these backwards facing streams of water makes the nozzle pull itself forward and up through the pipe, with the wash-down hose dragging after it. Since this first phase is primarily only a transport process and not a cleaning process as such, this must occur with the lowest possible water consumption, which means as fast as possible, with the wash-down hose drum's transmission coupled in free running.

When the nozzle has reached the next well, the actual cleaning process starts by one, still with high water pressure, pulling the now unwilling flushing nozzle back home in a suiting slow speed, such that the wastewater pipe becomes left fully clean and the filth becomes pulled with outwards and down through the pipe. In the lowermost well, the filth is sucked, during the whole flushing process by application of the suction device, up in a tank. If there is so much filth in the pipe that it can not be cleaned completely in one process procedure, one can repeat the process as needed.

During roll up on the wash-down hose drum, the wash-down hose must preferably be placed such that you for each flushing drum rotation displace the wash-down hose's roll up point one wash-down hose diameter in axial direction until you reach the end of the flushing drum and the hose layer is full, whereafter you change the displacement design and put the next hose layer on from opposite side and in opposite direction. This process can be carried out manually, but since there is talk of large powers and also monotonous repeated work, there are large advantages by automating the process.

The classical construction of a mechanical hose guide is based on a double cut worm gearing with cycling glide. The worm's rotation is operated directly from the drum rotation via a mechanical transmission with a suited gear ratio and has thereby got a permanent mechanical memory. The cycling glide is mechanically connected to a pair of guide rolls, which continuously carries out the hose's axial movement. It has been found, however, that there are some drawbacks of this known technique with such mechanical memory. The construction is thus heavy and it is also both vulnerable, maintenance demanding and is worn quickly. This is enhanced additionally by both sharp bent angles on the wash-down hose and the rough high pressure water and salt fog environment at the back of a sludge exhauster / flusher.

US5636648 describes a process positioning and process control unit for process control of a wash-down hose with flushing nozzle, which can be used for cleaning of waste-water pipes. The wash-down hose is mounted on a cylindrical wash-down hose drum with an axial length and where the wash-down hose drum has a rotational position. The construction does however not appear to be capable of controlling the position of the flushing nozzle and an efficient roll up and roll out of the wash-down hose does not seem to be achievable.

It is therefore an object of the invention to show a process positioning and process control unit for a wash-down hose without the above mentioned drawbacks.

The object of the invention is achieved by a process positioning and process control unit for process control of a wash-down hose with flushing nozzle for cleaning of waste-water pipes, in which the wash-down hose is mounted on a cylindrical wash-down hose drum with an axial length and where the wash-down hose drum has a rotational position, which wash- down hose has a length L and an outer diameter D, which is characterized in that the process positioning and process control unit includes a pulse emitter, a rotating direction indicator and a memory unit, in which: - the pulse emitter is designed for emitting a fixed number of electrical pulses per rotation of the wash-down hose drum, - the rotating direction indicator is designed for determining a rotational direction for the wash-down hose drum and

- the memory unit is designed to communicate and receive data from the pulse emitter and from the rotation indicator and is designed with an address for storing data related to the electrical pulses from the pulse emitter and from the rotating direction indicator for determination of the rotational position of the wash-down hose drum and where the storage of data is maintained independently from power supply to the memory unit. With the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention, the wash-down hose drum is thus provided with a pulse emitter, which emits a fixed number of electrical pulses per drum rotation. This electrical signal is used to inform about the drum's speed of rotation and position, measured in for example rotations per minute.

Moreover, the process positioning and process control unit includes, according to the invention, a rotating direction indicator for determining a rotational direction for the wash-down hose drum. Application of such a rotating direction indicator thus allows, not only registration of the wash- down hose drum's speed of rotation, but also its rotational direction.

According to the invention, the process positioning and process control unit includes that the wash-down hose drum is in mesh with a driving hydraulic motor.

The hose drum is via a toothed wheel transmission in direct and

unbreakable mesh with a driving hydraulic motor.

As accessory for this hydraulic motor exists a revolution counter, which continuously generates a specific number of pulses proportional to the angle turning of the motor shaft and via the gear ratio thereby also proportional to the angle turning of the drum itself. In a preferred embodiment, the revolution counter submits 844 pulses / drum rotation.

Simultaneously with the revolution counter emitting these pulses, it also emits a signal, which continuously states operational sign (plus / minus) for the currently emitted pulses, meaning a signal, which continuously tells if the currently emitted pulses must be added up or subtracted in the total score.

The memory unit is capable of registering electronically and storing the current flushing drum situation, regardless of power cuts, emergency stops or other interruptions in the working procedure, such as lunch break or closing-time.

According to the invention, the process positioning and process control unit includes that the memory unit includes a PLC unit, which includes an address for storing the wash-down hose drum's situation / position.

The process positioning and process control unit's memory unit, consisting of a PLC, has thus got a permanent electronic memory for the drum situation, for example by using "Reminent Data Memory" in the specific unit. "Reminent Data Memory" is a special address in the memory unit, where there continuously can be written / overwritten. The last value, which is written in, will always appear again, when the unit is turned on, also after a randomly long power cut.

The control unit / the PLC, must continuously keep score of the drum's rotational situation / position, stated by the accumulated number of pulses, including operational signs, calculated on the basis of a fixed defined starting situation. "The address" in the PLC called "reminent data memory" continuously remembers, also after a potential cut of the supply voltage.

The in the "reminent data memory" stated pulse number is overwritten 250 times per second, with the current result from the ongoing accumulating pulse score, as a representative of the drum's total rotational angle, calculated on the basis of the fixed defined starting situation. This lastly written pulse number will always be written in the address, also after a potential cut of the voltage supply.

The pulse score will thus always be continuously updated, regardless of a potential intervening power cut or emergency stop.

With the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention, a specific basis situation is defined for the wash-down hose drum, from which the process positioning and process control unit, by application of the memory unit herein, is capable of, from continuously conducting a permanent "pulse score", where the current accumulated pulse number from the pulse emitter at any time will represent a very specific position of the wash-down hose drum. With the process positioning and process control unit, according to the invention, is thus achieved a well functioning unit where the process control of the wash-down hose occurs electronically and without the drawbacks, which a mechanical memory function results in, or the drawbacks of conventional microprocessor technology, where loaded data are reset by power cut.

In the context of this invention, "the wash-down hose drum's rotational position" is defined as the accumulated angle of rotation of the wash-down hose drum, based on the total accumulated and direction corrected pulse number, meaning the rotational position includes the total net number of rotations + the angle in relation to a basis position. According to claim 4, the process positioning and process control unit is designed to control a hose guide for positioning of the wash-down hose in the wash-down hose drum's axial length on the basis of the stored data in the memory unit, such that there is continuously correspondence between the axial position of the wash-down hose and the rotational position of the wash-down hose drum.

The hose guide can thus continuously be moved such that there is continually correspondence between the axial position of the wash-down hose and the rotational position of the wash-down hose drum, which on the basis of the electronic memory allows a precise control of the wash-down hose and the drum. As stated in claim 5, the process positioning and process control unit can additionally include a hose guide, which is designed to include at least one guide roll for positioning of the wash-down hose in the wash-down hose drum's axial length, in which at least one guide roll is axially moveable and where its axial movement is handled hydraulically by application of a hydraulic cylinder on the basis of the in the memory unit stored data, such that there is continuously correspondence between the axial position of the at least one guide roll and the rotational position of the wash-down hose drum. With the hose guide, the axial movement of a hydraulic cylinder is instead handled by a purely mechanical construction. Such a hydraulic construction is both strong, robust and does not require maintenance.

When a wash-down hose must be rolled up on a drum, such that there can be the largest possible number of hose meters on the drum, the hose must from the start be placed "nicely" on in fully filled layers. In order to achieve this, the hose can be controlled between a pair of rolls on a sledge or wagon, which is capable of displacing the hose in the drum's axial direction. This means that for each drum rotation, the wash-down hose must be moved one wash-down hose diameter in the correct axial direction until the specific layer is filled. Hereafter, the axial movement of the hose must change direction until this new layer is filled, whereafter the axial direction again changes. Forth and back and forth and back... , until all the hose has been rolled up.

Any specific situation during roll up of a hose will represent a quite specific accumulated roll up angle seen from a fixed defined starting situation and will therefore be represented unambiguously by the, for the situation corresponding pulse number, in the ongoing accumulating pulse score. The situation will also represent a specific axial position and axial direction of movement.

When the hose during roll up is controlled on the drum, for example by application of a controlled linear actuator (such as for example a hydraulic cylinder) and there is mounted an axial distance meter, which can continuously inform the PLC / the memory unit about the actual current position of the hose guide, the PLC will, based on the current registered accumulated pulse number and with suiting inserted parameters always be capable of controlling the actuator to the correct position.

Based on the, in "reminent data memory" stated pulse number, the correct hose guide placement and movement direction will always be remembered, regardless of a potential intervening power cut or emergency stop.

With the process positioning and process control unit according to claim 5 there is thus achieved an additionally well functioning unit where the process control of the wash-down hose occurs electronically and where energy supply and the force impact of wash-down hose and hose guide is hydraulic.

As stated in claim 6, the hose guide can additionally include an axial position measurer for determining the position of the, at least one, guide roll.

With such an axial position measurer, the current hose guide position can, consisting of the guide roll's position, be registered, and it can be

determined if the position corresponds to the pulse score's desired hose guide position. The hose guide position can subsequently continuously be adjusted in accordance thereby. The adjustment process is carried out by the hydraulic movement being activated via short electrical pulses to an on / off hydraulic valve, or there can alternatively be used a signal, which operates an analogue hydraulic valve.

As stated in claim 7, the position measurer is preferably electronic, additionally preferred laser based or magnetic with a high measuring accuracy.

As stated in claim 8, the memory unit is designed to store date for the wash-down hose's length L and outer diameter D.

As stated in claim 9, the memory unit is designed to store data for the wash-down hose drum's dimension.

The process positioning and process control unit can, according to the invention, also be designed such that the wash-down hose has a roll out length indicated by the flushing nozzle's position and the memory unit additionally includes an address for storing data related to the wash-down hose drum's dimension and the wash-down hose's dimension for determining the roll out length by comparing the wash-down hose drum's rotational position and the wash-down hose drum's dimension and the wash down hose's dimension. When one thus at sewer flushing occasionally meets an obstacle, which can not be flushed away, it is necessary to dig down to the specific pipeline. When one via flushing has located the obstacle, it is a big advantage if the flushing attendant is capable of registering the distance from the flushing well out to the blocked obstacle as important information to the excavator operator. It is therefore advantageous to be able to define the wash-down hose's roll out length in relation to a reference point.

The electrical solution, according to the invention, allows a more precise determination than the known technique, which tends itself to measuring by application of a mechanical measuring wheel.

According to the invention, the determination of the wash-down hose's roll out length is carried out on the basis of an algorithm. In practice, the wash- down hose's roll up circumference will be changed gradually, which results in a relatively complicated algorithm. Alternatively, a simpler algorithm can be used, which is based on successive increase of the wash-down hose's roll up circumference.

The number of hose meters per drum rotation will vary proportionally to the current roll up diameter.

Based on parameters such as drum inner diameter, drum width, hose diameter and total hose length, one can calculate how many pulses the first rolled up meter of hose represents (in a preferred embodiment typically 420 pulses / meter) and how many pulses the lastly rolled up meter hose represents (typically 200 pulses / meter in the specific embodiment). The intermediate meters will subsequently successively from the first rolled up meter to the last become assigned a still linear decreasing number of pulses until all meters and pulses are "used". Hereafter, there will be a precise clear-cut connection between the accumulated number of pulses specified in the pulse score and the current rolled out number of meters of hose. The meter score will always be updated continuously, regardless of a potential intermediate power cut or emergency stop.

As mentioned, the hose is controlled by roll up on the drum, for example by application of a controlled linear actuator (such as for example a hydraulic cylinder). The axial distance measurer, which continuously informs the PLC of the factual current position of the hose guide, results in that the PLC based on the current registered accumulated pulse number and with suiting inserted parameters will always be capable of controlling the actuator to the correct position.

Based on the in "reminent data memory" stated pulse number, the correct hose guide placement and movement direction will as mentioned always be remembered, regardless of a potential intervening power cut or emergency stop.

The process positioning and process control unit, according to the invention, can furthermore include a time determination function for determining the current speed with which the flushing nozzle is moved, by comparing the time determination function and the roll out length.

By cleaning of waste water pipes, during use of wash-down hose technology with rocket nozzle it is thus important than one chooses the optimum nozzle speed in the pipe. If the nozzle is pulled in too slow, the water consumption becomes too high and if the nozzle is pulled in too quickly, the cleaning becomes insufficient.

With knowledge of the wash-down hose drum's and the wash-down hose's dimensions, one can continually at any time register the calculated number of hose meters, which are rolled up on the drum. By again combining this with a time function, the nozzle's immediate speed can continually be registered and shown in a display. If one continually combines changes in the meter score with the electronic control unit's integrated time function, the current speed can be

continuously calculated and shown. This read out value of the current nozzle speed can be followed continually and from this it can be decided when and how much one should subsequently compensate.

It is furthermore possible to fine compensate the nozzle speed calculation by including the wash-down hose's length changes originating from both the water pressure and the current pulling in force. With this embodiment of the invention, an improved control over the nozzle speed is achieved in relation to manual adjustment of it, for example by manual adjustment of the oil flow in a hydraulic valve or by remote control of the nozzle speed, which will vary with the wash-down drum rotation speed and the roll up degree.

It is furthermore valuable that one, when one once at a later time faces a similar task, can easily and quickly rediscover the right speed parameter.

Additionally preferred, the process positioning and process control unit can in relation to the invention include an adjustment unit including data concerning a predetermined movement speed of the flushing nozzle for adjustment of the current speed with which the flushing nozzle is moved in relation to the predetermined movement speed of the flushing nozzle.

If one thus in the process positioning and process control unit's memory unit has programmed the desired nozzle speed, the unit will continually be able to hold the current nozzle speed up against the desired nozzle speed and thereby continually adjust a regulating change of the speed signal to the wash-down hose drum such that the nozzles speed can for example be held constant during the whole pull.

The process positioning and process control unit, according to the invention, can in the memory unit have stored one or more additional process parameters for a flushing process for full or partial automatic adjustment of the flushing process.

Such process parameters can preferably include general process parameters from the group of process parameters including connections between wash-down hose material, liquid flow and pressure in the wash- down hose, connections between flushing nozzle sizes and shapes and flushing and vacuum pump displacement and exchange.

Additionally or alternatively, the process parameters can include individual process parameters from specific wells from the group of process parameters including well depth and well diameter and the waste-water pipe's material, diameter, length, drop and degree and character of being dirty and stream flow.

By this preferred embodiment of the invention, it is made possible to eliminate the variation in changing operators' estimates of which

parameters that are best suited for a specific flushing task. One can thus pre program the process positioning and process control unit with general data and / or individual data, specific for the concerned unit and necessary information from the operator about the specific job and thereby get the unit to fully or partially to take over the control of the flushing process. By thus also programming scientifically optimised connections between the flushing process' parameters and individual data specific for the concerned device, the operator's effort can be limited to defining and encoding characteristics, which are specific for the concerned task, such as the well's depth, the pipe's material, diameter, length, drop, degree and character of being filthy and water flow rate.

Another aspect of the invention includes use of the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention for positioning and control of a wash-down hose in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes.

Another aspect includes use of the process positioning and process control unit for determining a wash-down hose's roll out length in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes. Another aspect includes use of the process positioning and process control unit for determining a flushing nozzle's current speed in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes.

Another aspect includes use of the process positioning and process control unit for adjusting a flushing nozzle's current speed in relation to a

predetermined movement speed of the flushing nozzle in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes.

Another aspect includes use of the process positioning and process control unit for full or partial automatic adjustment of a flushing process in connection with cleaning of waste-water pipes. Then invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, on which: Fig. 1 shows the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows known technology consisting of mechanical hose guide with double cut worm gearing.

Fig. 3 shows the hydraulic cylinder from the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention.

In figure 1 is with 1 indicated shown the process positioning and process control unit according to the invention, including the pulse emitter 5, the rotation direction indicator 5a and the memory unit 6.

The pulse emitter 5 and the rotation direction indicator 5a, which is integrated with the pulse emitter 5, is mounted on the hose drum 4, which holds the flushing hose 2 with the flushing nozzle 3.

The pulse emitter 5 emits electrical pulses per rotation of the wash-down hose drum 3, whose rotation direction is also determined by the rotation direction indicator 5a, and data from here is stored in the memory unit 6, which can control a hose guide 7 with a hydraulic cylinder 9, such that the wash-down hose 2 continuously is held in the correct axial position by the guide roll 8. The guide roll's 8 position is monitored by the laser based position measurer 10. The known technology consisting of a mechanical hose guide shown on figure 2 includes mechanical transmission unit 21 , which ensures the correspondence between the hose drum and the double cut worm gearing 22, which via the cycling glide 23 and the guide rolls 24 ensures the mechanical positioning of the wash-down hose (not shown). In figure 3 is shown the hydraulic cylinder 9 from the process positioning and process control unit 1 according to the invention. The cylinder includes an outer displaceable telescopic pipe 41 and an inner fixed telescopic pipe 42, which are movable in relation to each other and separated by a wear middle layer of polypropylene plastic 43. The laser based position measurer 10 registers the position of the guide roll by application of the laser beam 44 with aiming point 45. It is noted that to function as a process control unit for a wash-down hose mounted on a cylindrical wash-down hose drum, the control unit includes in a preferred embodiment that

- the memory unit communicates with the pulse emitter and the rotation indicator and it stores data for the total length and outer diameter of the wash-down hose in a for that purpose designed memory.

Moreover, the memory unit stores data for the width and outer diameter of the wash-down hose drum.

The calculation unit calculates the rolled out length of the wash-down hose on the basis of an algorithm, which uses data for the rotational position of the wash-down hose drum and data for the total length of the wash-down hose and the outer diameter of the wash-down hose. Moreover, there is included data for width and outer diameter of the wash-down hose drum. The hose drum is via a toothed wheel transmission in direct and

unbreakable mesh with the driving hydraulic motor.

As accessory exists a revolution counter, which continually generates a specific number of pulses proportional to the angle turning of the motor shaft and via the gear ratio is thereby also proportional to the angle turning of the drum itself.

Simultaneously with the revolution counter emitting these pulses, it also emits a signal, which continually states operational sign (plus / minus) for the currently emitted pulses, which means a signal, which continually tells if the currently emitted pulses must be added up or subtracted in the total score.

The PLC / control unit continually holds score of the drum's rotation situation / position, indicated by the accumulated number of pulses, including operational signs, calculated from a fixed defined starting situation.

There exists a single "address" / storage area in the PLC, "reminent data memory", which is continually "remembered", also after a potential disconnection of the supply voltage. The pulse score will always be continually updated, irregardless of a potential intervening power cut or emergency stop.

The number of hose meters per drum rotation will vary proportionally to the current roll up diameter.

Based on parameters such as drum inner diameter, drum width, hose diameter and total hose length, one can calculate how many pulses the first rolled up meter of hose, and how many pulses the last rolled up meter of hose represent. The intermediate meters will subsequently successively from the first rolled up meter to the last become assigned a still linear decreasing number of pulses until all meters and pulses are "used".

There is thus an unambiguous connection between the accumulated number of pulses stated in the pulse score and the currently rolled out meters of hose. The hose is controlled between a pair of rolls on a sledge or wagon, which is capable of displacing the hose in the drum's axial direction. This means that for each drum rotation, the wash-down hose will be moved one wash- down hose diameter in the correct axial direction until the specific layer is filled. Hereafter, the axial movement of the hose will change direction until this new layer is full, whereafter the axial direction again changes.

When the hose during roll up is controlled on the drum by application of a controlled linear actuator (such as for example a hydraulic cylinder) and there is mounted an axial distance measurer, which can continually inform the PLC about the actual current position of the hose guide, the PLC will based on the current registered accumulated pulse number and with suiting inserted parameters control the actuator to the correct position.

Based on the in "reminent data memory" stated pulse number, the correct hose guide placement and movement direction will always be remembered regardless of a potential intervening power cut or emergency stop.