Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Including use of vacuum – suction – or inert atmosphere
Patent
1998-06-19
1999-08-24
Warden, Jill
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Including use of vacuum, suction, or inert atmosphere
134 2212, 134 24, 134304, 134395, B08B 904
Patent
active
059420448
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The invention relates to a method for treating ducts, for instance cleaning thereof, in particular a duct for ventilation, comprising the steps of: connected to a source of fluid through a hose or the like.
2. Description Of The Related Art
According to a generally known method for cleaning air conditioning ducts, an underpressure is generated in the duct system an a jet nozzle connected to a source of fluid is transported through the duct. The jet nozzle can be connected for instance to a source of pressurized air. With the powerful air jet accumulated dirt in the duct is loosened and removed from the duct system by means of the underpressure. The jet nozzle is moved forward in the duct for cleaning due to the thrust of the outflowing pressurized air.
Such a jet nozzle is known from EP-A-0 077 562.
In this known method the problem arises that the jet nozzle moves forward lying on the bottom of the duct as a consequence of the own weight of the jet nozzle and the connecting member between the source of fluid and the jet nozzle. This results in loss of efficiency, particularly in ducts of larger diameter. It is moreover difficult in this manner to adequately clean the enclosed corners in rectangular ducts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a solution herefor in that during moving said jet nozzle, said nozzle is kept roughly in the centre of the cross-sectional area of the duct by said propelling means.
Owing to this step the distance of the walls to the jet nozzle is to a very large degree the same in all directions, so that a considerable efficiency improvement is achieved.
A device for performing the method as stated above comprises a jet nozzle with a rotor part and a stator part and connecting means on the jet nozzle for connection to a source of pressurized fluid and means to propel said jet nozzle by means of a reaction thrust, said device being characterized in that said propelling means are formed by radially protruding flexible hollow arms connected to said source of pressurized fluid. These arms strike with their end part against the wall of the duct and centre the jet nozzle roughly in the centre of the duct. The flexible arms preferably take a hollow form and are connected to the connecting means for the fluid. In this manner pressurized air is for instance also directed through the hollow arms to the corners of the duct, so that a sufficient cleaning takes place there also.
In order to enhance the stability of the central guiding of the jet nozzle, a second set of arms can be arranged as seen in longitudinal direction at a distance from the first arms so that support at differing mutual distance also takes place in longitudinal direction.
From WO 94/19118 is known a method and device for cleaning air ducts wherein a jet nozzle connected to a source of pressurized air is moved through a duct. The displacement occurs by means of a rigid feed tube, wherein during operation the jet nozzle carries out a swinging movement along the inner wall of the pipe. Such a device is not suitable for cleaning rectangular or square ducts. Because of the uncontrolled movement of the jet nozzle it is moreover uncertain during operation whether all wall parts of the pipe are subjected to the cleaning operation.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,677 is known a construction wherein a device for cleaning ducts is used in which a blow-out piece is moved through the duct over wheels or a suitable frame. Air is blown from cleaning elements, wherein the cleaning elements perform a sine-shaped movement through the duct during operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,567 describes a device for cleaning air ducts, wherein a nozzle with radially protruding arms is rotated in the duct. The nozzle is connected to a hose which is pulled through the duct. Flexible spacers hold the rotating nozzle with the arms at a distance from the walls of the duct for cleaning.
SU-A-919 768 discloses a device which is self-propelling by means of nozzles 5. By changing the angle of inclination
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patent: 5383975 (1995-01-01), Faxon
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patent: 5735016 (1998-04-01), Allen et al.
patent: 5768741 (1998-06-01), Leiman et al.
patent: 5814162 (1998-09-01), Barrett et al.
Chaudhry Saeed T.
Piguillet & Zonen V.O.F.
Warden Jill
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