Apparatus for the cleaning of a closed compartment

• US 5,333,630 A
• Filed: 03/12/1993
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfa Laval Tank Equipment A/S (ALFA Laval AB)
• Original Assignee: Toftejorg A/S
• Inventors: Nielsen, Jorgen F., Jepsen, Erik L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/030,212
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 134/104.1, 134/141, 134/166 R, 134/167 R, 134/168 R, 134/169 R, 134/170, 134/180, 134/176, 134/177, 239/227, 239/240
• US Class Current: 134/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/555 discharged by cleaning nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0445 the movement of the outlet elements being a combination of two movements, one being rotational
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0936 using rotating jets

Abstract

A compact cleaning plant is provided which has great cleaning effect and is self-cleaning. The apparatus according to the invention has a conical stationary part (1) mounted on the inlet pipe for the cleaning liquid, and on which there is suspended a 90° pipe bend (16), the end of which has a hub (11) with nozzles (12) mounted in a rotatable manner in relation to the pipe bend. In this housing, there is contained a turbine (23) which drives a planet gear (15, 27) for turning the pipe bend (16), while at the same time the hub (11) is turned by means of toothed rims (8, 13) enclosed within the housing (1, 16, 11). The housing is also provided with outlet openings (35) and outlet slots (36, 37) for that part of the liquid (39) which serves to lubricate and clean the bearings, said openings and slots being positioned and configured in such a manner that the diverted out-flowing liquid also sweeps all of the housing'"'"'s external parts. The apparatus is thereby held clean both internally and externally during cleaning, which is of decisive importance where great demands regarding hygiene have to be met, while at the same time it is ensured that all movable parts of the apparatus are kept clean and functionally efficient. Finally, the liquid flows evenly through the apparatus, whereby the loss of pressure is very low.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning a closed compartment by means of a sprayed liquid, comprising a housing having a stationary part to which the liquid is supplied, a rotatable part mounted thereon having a hub with spray nozzles suspended in bearings therein, a turbine driven by the liquid and having a planet gear mounted in the stationary part for turning the rotatable part and the nozzles in such a manner that the liquid sprayed out through the nozzles during the rotation sweeps the closed compartment interior, the planet gear being externally in engagement with a first toothed rim mounted on the stationary part of the housing, the first toothed rim being in engagement with a second toothed rim on the hub, both toothed rims being surrounded by the housing, both toothed rims and the bearings therebetween extending into a part of the liquid flow, and, slots provided between the stationary part and the rotatable part, and between the rotatable part and the hub such that after passing through the apparatus, a portion of the liquid is led out through the slots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stationary part has outlet openings, the openings being placed in a bottom of one or more external recesses.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the slots and outlet openings are oriented in such a manner that the outflowing liquid sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slots are oriented in such a manner that the outflowing liquid sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shield provided on the hub which screens a part of the slot between the rotatable part and the hub and deflects the liquid flowing out from the slot against the shield so that it sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.

6. Apparatus for cleaning a closed compartment by means of a sprayed liquid, comprising a housing having a stationary part to which the liquid is supplied, a rotatable part mounted thereon having a hub with spray nozzles suspended in bearings therein, a turbine driven by the liquid and having a planet gear mounted in the stationary part for turning the rotatable part and the nozzles in such a manner that the liquid sprayed out through the nozzles during the rotation sweeps the closed compartment interior, the planet gear being externally in engagement with a first toothed rim mounted on the stationary part of the housing, the first toothed rim being in engagement with a second toothed rim on the hub, both toothed rims being surrounded by the housing, the stationary part having outlet openings for liquid, the openings being placed in a bottom of one or more external recesses.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein both toothed rims and the bearings therebetween extend into a part of the liquid flow, and further comprising slots provided between the stationary part and the rotatable part and between the rotatable part and the hub, such that after passing through the apparatus, a portion of the liquid is led out through the slots.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the slots and outlet openings are oriented in such a manner that the outflowing liquid sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a shield provided on the hub which screens a part of the slot between the rotatable part and the hub and deflects the liquid flowing out from the slot against the shield so that it sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the slots are oriented in such a manner that the outflowing liquid sweeps the external surfaces of the housing.