Hydraulic robot jet lance

• US 5,377,913 A
• Filed: 07/16/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stork Nedserv BV
• Original Assignee: Stork Nedserv BV
• Inventors: Van Der Woude, Meino J.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US08/090,037
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 239/227, 239/264, 239/265, 239/273, 239/280-281, 239/587.1, 239/588, 134/172, 901/1, 901/43, 901/15, 901/22, 901/29, 414/918, 188/170, 188/77 R, 188/76, 165/95
• US Class Current: 239/227
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0431 with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0463 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/049 having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes , i.e. self-propelled

Abstract

A jet lance device comprising a hydraulic crane with an articulated jib movable by hydraulic motors, a hydraulic rotator mounted on the free end of the jib such that a rotatable support element thereof is turnable about an axis in the vertical plane through the jib, and a jet member mounted on the support element. This jet member comprises a jet lance which is pivotable on a pivot axis transverely of the rotation axis of the rotator and connectable to a source of jet liquid under high pressure, and the device further comprises controllers and drivers for operating the device.

Claims

1. Jet lance device comprising a hydraulic crane with an articulated jib, said articulated jib having a plurality of rotatably connected arm parts movable by hydraulic motors whereby said arm parts rotate about horizontal rotational axes, said articulated jib having one end connected to the crane and a free end opposite the end connected to the crane, a hydraulic rotator mounted on said free end of said jib such that a rotatable support element thereof is turnable about a rotational axis extending vertically through said jib, and a jet member mounted on the support element, which jet member comprises a jet lance, and pivoting means connected to said jet lance for pivoting the jet lance on a pivot axis transversely of said rotational axis of the rotator and said jet lance connected to a source of jet liquid under high pressure, and wherein the device further comprises control and drive means for operating said jib, rotator, and pivoting means.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotator is connected to the jib for pivoting on an axis transversely of the vertical plane through the jib, and blocking means connected to the jib and the rotator are arranged which in their active position obstruct the pivoting movement of the rotator relative to the jib.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blocking means are actuated by the control means and that these are embodied such that in the operating situation of the jet lance the blocking means are held constrained into their blocking position.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blocking means comprise a strap brake which is held in engagement by resilient means and which is held in released position counter to the force of the resilient means by a pressure cylinder in its loaded position.

5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims wherein said jet lance pivots on a pivot axis and wherein said jet member comprises a feed channel extending coaxially with said pivot axis of said jet lance, to which a high pressure hose arranged along the jib is connected by a right-angle coupling device, wherein the coupling device is embodied rotatably with both the feed channel and said hose.