Method and device for cleaning high-voltage carrying installation component parts

• US 6,863,594 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul-Eric Preising
• Original Assignee: Paul-Eric Preising
• Inventors: Preising, Paul-Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D.
• Application Number:
  US10/221,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20030104764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 451/2, 451/72, 451/75, 451/39, 451/60, 451/102, 134/7
• US Class Current: 451/39
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 1/003 using material which dissolves or changes phase after the treatment, e.g. ice, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 1/086 Descaling; Removing coating films
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 3/322 for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 5/02 Blast guns, e.g. for generating high velocity abrasive fluid jets for cutting materials perforating by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 Controlled by pressure

Abstract

A cleaning method and a corresponding cleaning device offer adequate protection to individuals, devices and installations, for cleaning component parts of installations that carry an electrical high-voltage and which are not disconnected during cleaning. Towards this end, the component parts to be cleaned are subjected to the action of a two-phase particle stream (PS) consisting of a compressed gas (DGA) serving as a carrier medium and of carbon dioxide ice particles (TP) carried therein. Possible superficial accumulations of dirt are removed from the component parts by way of low-temperature embrittlement and by the kinetic energy of the impacting carbon dioxide particles. The carbon dioxide ice particles themselves sublimate without leaving residues. A sufficiently safe distance of cleaning personnel from the high-voltage carrying insulation component parts is ensured by the provision of an electrically insulating distance mechanism (L, SFR) that is provided approximately in the form of a lance (L) or of a stream guided tube (SFR). A further increase in protection is offered by monitoring the quantity of moisture of compressed gas and/or ambient air, whereby the cleaning device is immediately shut off when predetermined limiting values are exceeded.

Claims

1. A method with which a user can clean a surface of high-voltage carrying installation components or of components used in high-voltage carrying installations, the method comprising the steps of:

a) generating, in a jet generator, a two-phase jet consisting essentially of a pressure gas and carried dry-ice particles;

b) guiding said two-phase jet to a component having a jet emitting opening to release said two-phase jet into air;

c) directing, following step b), said two-phase jet towards the component to be cleaned; and

d) maintaining a minimum distance between the user and said jet emitting opening using an electrically insulating distancing means, said distancing means disposed between and communicating with said component having said jet emitting opening and a handhold or hand rest for the user, wherein said minimum distance corresponds to a minimum distance to the high-voltage carrying component as required for personal protection or installation safety.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said handhold or hand rest communicates with control elements for the user.

3. The cleaning method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a humidity content of said pressure gas and preventing or interrupting the cleaning process should said humidity content of said pressure gas exceed a predetermined limit.

4. The cleaning method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said preventing or interrupting of the cleaning process is effected by an interruption of pressure gas supply.

5. The cleaning method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising monitoring a humidity content of ambient air and preventing or interrupting the cleaning process should said humidity content of said ambient air exceed a predetermined limit value.

6. The cleaning method of claim 5, wherein said preventing or interrupting of the cleaning process is effected by an interruption of pressure gas supply.

7. The cleaning method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an electrical insulation of sold distancing means and preventing or interrupting the cleaning process should said electrical insulation fall below a predetermined threshold value.

8. The cleaning method of claim 7, wherein said preventing or interrupting of the cleaning process is effected by an interruption of pressure gas supply.

9. The cleaning method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an electrical insulation of said distancing means and preventing or interrupting the cleaning process should electric current flowing through at least a part of said distancing means exceed a predetermined limit.

10. The cleaning method of claim 1, further comprising suctioning to remove dirt particles and contamination loosened by said two-phase jet.

11. The cleaning method of claim 1, wherein step c) comprises generating or guiding said two-phase jet to leave said jet emitting opening in a direction which is not collinear to a principal direction of said distancing means.

12. The cleaning method of claim 1, wherein a dry-ice quantity in said pressure gas is at least 50 g dry ice per cubic meter pressure gas and a humidity of said pressure gas is sufficiently low that a pressure dew point of said pressure gas is below 20°

C.

13. A device with which a user can clean a surface of high-voltage carrying installation components or of components used in high-voltage carrying installations, the device comprising:

means for generating a two-phase jet consisting essentially of a pressure gas and carried dry-ice particles;

means for guiding said two-phase jet to a component having a jet emitting opening to release said two-phase jet into air;

means for directing said two-phase jet towards the component to be cleaned; and

means for maintaining a minimum distance between the user and said jet emitting opening using an electrically insulating distancing means, said distancing means disposed between and communicating with said component having said jet emitting opening and a handhold or hand rest for the user, wherein said minimum distance corresponds to a minimum distance for high-voltage carrying component as required for personal protection or installation safety.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said generating means comprises one of an internal pressure gas generator to produce said pressure gas with a pressure above atmospheric pressure and a pressure gas inlet to accept externally supplied pressure gas having a pressure above atmospheric pressure, said generating means also comprising one of a dry-ice reservoir for said dry-ice particles and a particle generator for producing said dry-ice particles, said generating means having a jet generator to generate said two-phase jet, and further comprising means for connecting said jet generator to one of said pressure gas generator and said pressure gas inlet as well as means for connecting said jet generator to one of said dry-ice reservoir and said particle generator.

15. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein said distance means is a lance at least partly made of an insulating material, wherein said jet generator is attached to an end of said lance.

16. The cleaning device of claim 15, wherein said distance means is a jet guiding tube comprising or communicating with said jet generator at a first end of said distance means and forming said jet emitting opening at a second end of said distance means.

17. The cleaning device of claim 16, wherein said jet guiding tube comprises a jet deflection near an end thereof shortly before said jet emitting opening.

18. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein said jet generator is attached to an end of said lance with an angular deviation.

19. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein said distancing means is additionally employed for jet guidance.

20. The cleaning device of claim 19, wherein said distance means is a jet guiding tube comprising or communicating with said jet generator at a first end of said distance means and forming said jet emitting opening at a second end of said distance means.

21. The cleaning device of claim 20, wherein said jet guiding tube comprises a jet deflection near an end thereof shortly before said jet emitting opening.

22. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein said jet generator is integrated into said distancing means.

23. The cleaning device of claim 22, wherein said distance means is a jet guiding tube comprising or communicating with said jet generator at a first end of said distance means and forming said jet emitting opening at a second end of said distance means.

24. The cleaning device of claim 23, wherein said jet guiding tube comprises a jet deflection near an end thereof shortly before said jet emitting opening.

25. The cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising a humidity sensor communicating with at least one of said pressure gas and said dry-ice particles and a shut-down unit communicating with said pressure gas and said humidity sensor, wherein said shut-down unit prevents or interrupts a pressure gas supply should a predetermined humidity limit value be exceeded.

26. The cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising an ambient air humidity sensor for measuring a humidity of ambient air.

27. The cleaning device of claim 26, further comprising a shut-down unit to interrupt or inhibit pressure-gas supply as soon as said ambient air humidity sensor indicates at least one of a predetermined humidity value level being exceeded or condensation of water vapor.

28. The cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising an insulation monitoring unit for monitoring insulation properties of said distancing means to trigger safety action when said insulation properties fall below a predetermined limit value.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said triggered safety action comprises at least one of a warning to cleaning personnel, interrupting pressure gas supply, inhibiting a start of pressure-gas supply, inhibiting another essential component of the cleaning device, and powering down the installation component part to be cleaned.

30. The cleaning device of claim 28, wherein said insulation monitoring unit comprises an electrode communicating with said distancing means to measure a leakage current to ground.

31. The cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising an additional pneumatic suction unit for removal of dirt particles and contamination loosened or blasted off by said two-phase jet.

32. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein a quantity of dry ice in said pressure gas is at least 50 g dry-ice per cubic meter pressure gas, a humidity of said pressure gas being sufficiently low that a pressure dew point of said pressure gas lies below 20°

C.

33. Use of a the device of claim 14 for surface cleaning of installation component parts carrying an electric high-voltage or of installations component parts in installations carrying a high-voltage.