Motorized vehicle for cleaning and degassing underground storage tanks

• US 6,179,929 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TNC Co. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: A&T Corporation (Tokuyama Corporation)
• Inventors: Pivi, Mario Pompeo, Gudini, Maddalena
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHRY, SAEED T
• Application Number:
  US09/171,381
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 134/113, 134/167.R, 134/168.R, 134/18, 134/22.1
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0933 Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms

Abstract

A device for cleaning and degassing underground storage tanks is constituted by an entirely pneumatically or hydraulically powered motorized vehicle, which can be placed internally of a tank to be cleaned and be moved around inside the tank itself, for example by means of tracked wheels driven by respective pneumatic or hydraulic motors. Said motorized vehicle may be provided with a first series of nozzles, frontally arranged with respect to the advancement direction of the vehicle, which nozzles emit water at high pressure with the aim of breaking up and suspending in the water the deposits collected in the tank; the vehicle is also provided with a suction mouth arranged anteriorly of the first series of nozzles, by means of which mouth the water-suspended deposits are aspirated and removed from the tank.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning and degassing underground tanks, comprising a motorised vehicle suitable for being inserted into and moved inside of a fuel storage tank to be cleaned and degassed, said vehicle being provided with a plurality of nozzles which emit a fluid, advantageously water, at a predetermined pressure and directed towards the internal surface of said tank, and with at least a suction mouth for collecting and expelling said water externally of said tank, the vehicle being at least one of pneumatically or hydraulically powered by means of motors which drive respective conical pulley pairs and longitudinal and transversal belt pairs.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the motorised vehicle comprises a first series of frontal nozzles which emit water towards a bottom of said tank.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a second series of nozzles is arranged on a rotating head connected to motorised vehicle, said second series of nozzles emitting a fluid, advantageously water, directed at high pressure against the side walls of said tank.

4. A device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is moved inside the storage tank by means of an external control panel.

5. A device according to anyone of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the motorised vehicle is connected to a support truck on which a cistern is mounted, said cistern being subdivided into a plurality of compartments for storing the cleaning water coming from the first washing phase, and for treating and re-using the cleaning water coming from the final washing operation carried out by the second series of nozzles.

6. A device according to anyone of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the vehicle is provided with a television camera connected to a television set situated externally of said fuel storage tank, as well as with a light for illuminating.

7. A device of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 comprising means for effecting a first phase during which a filming substance is used internally of the fuel storage tank for forming on an internal surface there of a film, which film is proof to hydrocarbon vapours, means for effecting a second phase in which a flexible plastic pipe connected to a suction pump is introduced into the fuel storage tank through a manhole and immediately activated with the aim of aspirating a majority of muddy and sandy deposits present in a central part of a bottom of the tank, means for effecting a third phase during which the device is inserted into the fuel storage tank and is moved internally thereof during functioning of the suction mouth and the first series of frontal nozzles, and means for effecting a fourth phase during which said suction mouth is continuously operated while the first series of nozzles is deactivated and the second series of nozzles activated, which can be supplied with liquid, advantageously including at least one of water or with a filming agent.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein means for effecting a fifth phase during which steam is introduced into said fuel storage tank and subsequently removed therefrom by aspiration.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein the motorised vehicle is connected to a support truck on which a cistern is mounted, said cistern being subdivided into a plurality of compartments for storing the cleaning water coming from the first washing phase, and for treating and re-using the cleaning water coming from the final washing operation carried out by the second series of nozzles.

10. A device according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle is provided with a television camera connected to a television set situated externally of said fuel storage tank, as well as with a light for illuminating.

11. A device according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle is provided with a television camera connected to a television set situated externally of said fuel storage tank, as well as with a light for illuminating.