Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-10
2001-01-30
Gulakowski, Randy (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Combined
C134S022100, C134S113000, C134S16700R, C134S16800C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179929
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and degassing underground storage tanks.
More in particular, the present invention relates to a motorised vehicle, powered pneumatically or hydraulically, for carrying out cleaning and degassing operations of underground tanks, particularly tanks for fuel storage, in conditions of maximum security.
The invention is principally intended for use in the oil industry field.
BACKGROUND ART
Cleaning and degassing operations in underground fuel storage tanks are traditionally carried out by first emptying the tank, using a suction pump, and then lowering an operative into the tank itself, who, using special tools guaranteed not to produce any sparks which might cause an explosion, then scours the internal part of the tank; said operative also being provided with a suction mouth, guided by him, for removing by aspiration the sludge gathered at the bottom of the tank.
This operation is in reality extremely dangerous, due to the presence of inflammable vapours inside the tank, liable to cause explosions and possibly the death of the operator.
Further, the cleaning operation carried out by the operator requires great use of cleaning water, which also has to be collected up and suitably dispersed.
Instead of employing an operator to be introduced inside of a fuel storage tank, JP-A-4,038,496 discloses a travelling truck which can be inserted into a container to be cleaned.
Said truck is able to clean the side walls, the ceiling and the floor of the container by means of water injected from suitable nozzles, at the end of the cleaning operation said water being received by side covers positioned on both sides of the truck and then collected in the corner to be sucked by a suction pipe.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,711 discloses a portable hydraulic apparatus for cleaning the hydrocarbon contaminated sludge deposit of an oil storage tank by means of a fluidizing agent.
Said apparatus comprises a frame, having a central portion and first and second end portions, and a couple of independently movable endless chain belts suitable to move the frame within the oil storage tank; the fluidizing agent is discharged into selected portions of the sludge deposit so as to form a pool of sludge and fluidizing agent.
Then, a suction pump positioned on the central portion of the frame draws up said pool. Moreover, a plurality of nozzles is disposed adjacent the first end portion of the frame and is connected with the suction pump so as to provide pressurized agitation and discharging of the pool into a second portion of the sludge deposit adjacent said first end portion of the frame so as to dislodge and also aid in liquifying the second portion of the sludge deposit.
Document JP-A-3,137,955 describes a small robot to be used in hazardous environments wherein it is immersed in liquid and motioned by means of main endless tracks on both side of a main shaft and of auxiliary endless tracks at the front and rear ends of the main shaft via a rotative auxiliary chassis.
Moreover, document U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,653 discloses a water washing robot which comprises a frame provided with water pumps means, robot articulations means disconnectably mounted on the frame and nozzled articulatable wash water jetting means disconnectably mountable on the frame.
The robot is transported, in unassembled form, inside of oil storage tanks and assembled therein to be used in cleaning operations. One operator is required inside the storage tank to control the robot moving and working phases.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention obviates the drawbacks and disadvantages typical of the prior art and provides a device for cleaning and degassing underground storage tanks which allows effective and careful tank cleaning operations to be carried out in conditions of total security for the operators, as well as considerably reducing the environmental impact of the cleaning activity.
This is obtained by means of a device having the features described in the main claim.
The dependent claims describe particularly advantageous forms of embodiment of the invention.
The device for cleaning and degassing underground storage tanks according to the present invention is constituted by an entirely pneumatically or hydraulically powered motorised vehicle, which can be placed internally of the tank to be cleaned and be moved around inside the tank itself, for example, by means of tracked wheels driven by respective pneumatic or hydraulic motors.
The motorised vehicle according to the invention is provided with a first series of nozzles, frontally arranged with respect to the advancement direction of the vehicle, which nozzles emit water at high pressure with the aim of breaking up and suspending in the water the deposits collected in the tank; the vehicle is also provided with a suction mouth arranged anteriorly of the first series of nozzles, by means of which mouth the water-suspended deposits are aspirated and removed from the tank.
The motorised vehicle is further provided with a second series of nozzles, arranged on one or more rotating heads, which nozzles emit water at high pressure along the whole internal surface of the tank. This has the double aim of removing any encrustation from the wall of the tank and of performing the final wash of the tank itself.
According to a particularly advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the motorised vehicle is further provided with a support for a television camera and a light, both of which are obviously totally electrically sealed from the contents of the tank.
The television camera thus enables the motorised vehicle to be moved into zones where there is a particular need for cleaning, thereby improving the efficiency of the cleaning and degassing operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4770711 (1988-09-01), Deal, III et al.
patent: 4777971 (1988-10-01), Tribout et al.
patent: 4817653 (1989-04-01), Krajicek et al.
patent: 5640982 (1997-06-01), Landry et al.
patent: 5740821 (1998-04-01), Arnold
patent: 5884642 (1999-03-01), Broadbent
patent: 5944036 (1999-08-01), Allen
patent: 5-131381 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 5-170282 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 5-200373 (1993-08-01), None
International Search Report for PCT/IT97/00083, Aug. 22, 1997.
Gudini Maddalena
Pivi Mario Pompeo
Chaudhry Saeed
Gulakowski Randy
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
T. & A. S. A.
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