JET SPRAY TANK CLEANER

• Main Authors: NORMAN E. REINHART, DONALD B. RUPPEL, LEE F. STALKER
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.08.1971
• Subjects: CLEANING; CLEANING IN GENERAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING

1304737 Cleaning tanks B F GOODRICH CO 7 July 1970 [8 July 1969] 32845/70 Heading A4F A portable apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tank or other vessel comprises a supporting means for attachment to the vessel and carrying at least two support members on one of which are mounted spray nozzles and driving means for rotating them through a changing pattern of movement about two mutually perpendicular axes, and means for extending and retracting one of said two support members relative to the other to facilitate the removal and insertion of the portable cleaning apparatus into the vessel. Tubular supporting members 15, 16 connected by a universal joint 17 depend from a base 13 adapted to be secured to a flange 11 surrounding an opening 12 in the vessel 10 to be cleaned. Tubular members 21 are pivotally connected to the member 16 and to a tubular member 23 carrying rotary spray nozzle assemblies to which cleaning liquid is supplied by a pump 60 via the members 15, 16, 21 and 23. To facilitate passage of the spraying apparatus through the opening 12 a cable 67 is operable by a winch 65 to draw the member 23 close to the member 16 with pivotal movement of the members 21. Each rotary spray nozzle assembly comprises two nozzles 35 or 37 secured to an elbow 36 or 54 rotatable about a vertical axis by an air motor 28 or 50 and about a horizontal axis by the engagement of a bevel gear 40 or 51 secured thereto with a stationary bevel gear 30 or 48. In a further embodiment the winch and cable are replaced by a pneumatic piston and cylinder device.