Jet water cleaning apparatus

• US 4,376,443 A
• Filed: 08/24/1981
• Issued: 03/15/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Job-Master Sales Incorporated Houston TX, S&S Trust
• Original Assignee: Job-Master Sales Incorporated, Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. (Kirby Corporation)
• Inventors: Mondy, Clement R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bleutge, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US06/295,296
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 134/167 R, 134/168 R, 134/172, 134/180, 134/181
• US Class Current: 134/168.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/12 with spray booms or the like rotating around an axis by means independent of the liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/00 Details measuring thickness of deposit G01B
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 3/16 using jets of fluid for removing debris
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 9/005 of regenerative heat exchanger

Abstract

A rigid water conduit is manifold connected to a rotary swivel connection and receives high pressure water therefrom and supplies the water to a plurality of jet nozzles. The jet nozzles are rotated about an axis offset from the nozzles and reciprocating means are connected to the manifold for reciprocating the manifold and nozzles about the swivel connection. The swivel connection includes a housing with a water inlet adapted to be connected to a water pump with a hollow mandrel rotatable in the housing and connected to the manifold and having an opening in communication with the water inlet. A bearing and a seal are provided between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated. A track is positioned generally transverse to the manifold and a carriage movable on the track includes a pivoting support having bearings for supporting the mandrel but allowing movement of the mandrel transverse to the carriage. A lead screw is connected to the carriage for reciprocating the carriage and limit switches are positioned for limiting the extent of travel of the carriage in opposite directions. Air motors actuate the lead screw and rotate the jet nozzles. The jet nozzles include a body having a passageway in communication with the nozzles and are carried by a rotating mandrel in a housing which is in fluid communication with the manifold. Bearings and seals between the mandrel and the housing allow the mandrel to be easily rotated by a motor.

Claims

1. A water cleaning apparatus comprising,

a rigid water conduit manifold,

a rotary swivel connection attached to one end of the conduit whereby said conduit may pivot at said one end, said swivel connection adapted to be connected to a water pump for supplying high pressure water to the manifold,

a plurality of jet nozzles connected to the manifold for receiving and dispersing high pressure water,

means for rotating the jet nozzles about an axis offset from the axis of said nozzles, and

means connected to the manifold for reciprocating said manifold and nozzles about the swivel connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotary swivel includes,

a housing having a water inlet,

a mandrel rotatable in the housing and connected to the manifold and having an opening in communication with the water inlet,

a bearing and a seal between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated even when receiving high pressure water.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reciprocating means includes,

a track positioned generally transverse to the manifold,

a carriage movable on the track, said carriage including a support pivotally connected to the carriage, said support including bearings for supporting the manifold but allowing movement of the manifold generally transverse to the carriage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including,

a lead screw connected to the carriage for reciprocating the carriage, and

limit switches positioned on the track spaced from each other limiting the extent of travel of the carriage along the track in opposite directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 including,

air motors actuating said lead screw and rotating the jet nozzles.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nozzles and the means for rotating the nozzles includes,

a body supporting said nozzles, said body including a fluid passageway in communication with the nozzles,

a mandrel connected to the body and in fluid communication with the passageway,

a housing enclosing and rotatably supporting one end of the mandrel, said housing having a fluid inlet connected to the manifold,

said mandrel having an opening in communication with the fluid inlet,

a bearing and seal between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated even when receiving high pressure water, and

motor means connected to the mandrel for rotating the nozzles.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

a second set of jet nozzles connected to the manifold and means for rotating the second set of nozzles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including a pump connected to the rotary swivel providing at least 5000 psi water pressure and less than 300 gallons per minute water.

9. A water cleaning apparatus for cleaning a rotating vertical air preheater comprising,

a rigid water conduit manifold positioned above the upper end of the preheater,

a rotary swivel connected attached to one end of the conduit whereby said conduit may pivot at said one end and move across the upper end of the rotating preheater, said swivel connection adapted to be connected to a water pump for supplying high pressure water to the manifold for cleaning the preheater,

a plurality of jet nozzles connected to the manifold for receiving and dispersing high pressure water onto the preheater,

means connected to the manifold for incrementally reciprocating said manifold and jets about the swivel connection and across the upper end of the preheater, said means including means for incrementally moving said manifold and nozzles upon each rotation of the preheater.

10. A water cleaning apparatus comprising,

a rigid metal water conduit manifold,

a rotary swivel connection including,

a housing having a water inlet adapted to be connected to a water pump for receiving high pressure water,

a hollow mandrel rotatable in the housing and connected to the manifold and having an opening in communication with the water inlet,

a bearing and a seal between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated even when receiving high pressure water,

a plurality of rotating jet nozzles connected to the manifold for receiving and dispersing high pressure water including,

a body supporting said nozzles, said body including a fluid passageway in communication with the nozzles,

a hollow mandrel connected to the body and in fluid communication with the passageway,

a housing enclosing and rotatably supporting one end of the mandrel, said housing having a fluid inlet connected to the manifold,

said mandrel having an opening in communication with the fluid inlet,

a bearing and seal between the mandrel and the housing on each side of the opening whereby the mandrel may be easily rotated even when receiving high pressure water, and

motor means connected to the mandrel for rotating the nozzles,

means connected to the manifold for reciprocating the manifold and nozzles about the swivel connection including,

a track positioned generally transverse to the manifold,

a carriage movable on the track, said carriage including a support pivotally connected to the carriage, said support including bearing for supporting the manifold but allowing movement of the manifold generally transverse to the carriage.