MACHINE FOR REMOVING SEDIMENTS, RESIDUES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS

Abstract

A machine (1) for removing sediments, dregs and the like, having a self-propelled machine body (2), with which is associated at least one suction mouth (10) of a material to be removed that is fluidically connected to an outflow duct (12) of the removed material, which in turn is fluidically connectable to a storage site located in a remote position with respect to the machine; the machine has a recirculation means (20) mounted on the machine body and configured to reuse at least part of the removed material that passes through the outflow duct to erode and break up the material to be removed.

Description

1 / 12 MACHINE FOR REMOVING SEDIMENTS, RESIDUES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS

[001] The present invention relates to a machine for removing sediments, residues and the like, in particular, for carrying out cleaning and restoration operations in tanks and cisterns used for the storage of petroleum products and / or chemicals.

[002] As is known, fluid storage tanks used in the petroleum and chemical industries are periodically subjected to cleaning operations.

[003] In fact, within such fluid storage containers, an accumulation of sludge tends to occur near the bottom, as a result of the slow sedimentation of products with high gravity.

[004] This may give rise to a variety of problems, including, for example, a reduction in the capacity of the container, the onset of corrosion phenomena, and others.

[005] In this regard, various systems are therefore used to carry out the necessary cleaning operations.

[006] Among known cleaning systems, the so-called 'person-free' technologies are becoming increasingly popular, as the necessary operations are carried out without personnel inside the storage containers.

[007] Technologies that do not require human entry for cleaning tanks and cisterns containing white and black oil are relatively recent and, together with robotic systems, offer an alternative to traditional cleaning methods, which involved a workforce that had to enter these tanks to remove sediment and sludge, or other technologies that involve the use of automated recirculation systems for sludge dissolution, suction and separation of solid materials from hydrocarbons. Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 7 / 24 2 / 12

[008] Currently available robotic systems basically involve the use of a specially designed robotic machine to insert a fluid into a fluid storage container, an external control unit, an external power supply unit or an external suction unit, such as, for example, a centralized vacuum cleaner or a cleaning truck.

[009] However, it should be noted that through self-cleaning, pneumatic transport of the material is carried out, i.e., the material is dragged through the tube by the air velocity until a maximum vacuum limit of 0.8 bar is reached; with viscous fluids, the material tends to adhere and stop in the tube.

[010] Thus, in fact, vacuum technology needs to transform the sludge into liquid in order to allow it to be transferred, but this runs into obvious problems of waste generation.

[011] Alternatively, it will be possible to install a positive displacement pump on board the robotic machine; and this type of pump allows the mud to be transferred as is, but its air suction capacity is considerably lower and therefore the supply of material to its suction port becomes essential.

[012] It should also be considered that the material to be removed may be extremely compact, in such a way that it frequently requires the use of water or appropriate solvents, generally substances of the same nature as the product contained in the tank, which serve to make the sludge more fluid in order to facilitate its suction by the pump.

[013] These solvents, which may also be distributed in large quantities, must be collected and properly recovered not only to contain costs, but also to protect the environment by avoiding Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 8 / 24 3 / 12 dispersion of the same.

[014] U.S. Patent Serial No. 5561883A discloses a cleaning system for cleaning storage containers used in oil or petrochemical refineries. A remotely controllable double-tracked robotic vehicle is placed in a container to be cleaned. A cleaning fluid diluent material is directed against residual material in the container, causing a portion of it to cover a fluid paste that is vacuumed out through a nozzle and hose carried by the vehicle. An external separator system processes the removed fluid paste.

[015] Japan Serial No. H06142626A discloses a sludge removal device for tanks. The device has a carriage that runs on the bottom face, a cover which is fixed to the front of the carriage and whose front and bottom parts are open, an impeller which is supported in such a way as to become rotatable inside the cover and removes the sludge by scraping action, and a treatment liquid supply hose for supplying a treatment liquid to melt the sludge towards a blade through a hollow shaft of the impeller. The device also has a molten sludge suction tube which is fixed to the carriage, the tip of which is positioned at the rear of the impeller, and which has a bell-shaped mouth at its end, a pump carried on the carriage for connecting the suction tube to a suction port, and a molten sludge discharge tube connected to a discharge port of the pump.

[016] The objective of the present invention is to provide a machine for the removal of sediments, residues and the like, which overcomes the shortcomings of the previously cited prior art and which allows eliminating, or at least limiting, the use of solvents introduced from the outside during tank cleaning.

[017] Within the above objective, a specific object of the present invention is Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 9 / 24 4 / 12 provide a machine that is capable of recovering a portion of the substances already present inside the tank to make the cleaning process self-sustaining.

[018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that makes it possible to avoid waste, in such a way that its use becomes advantageous also from an economic point of view.

[019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that increases the efficiency of the cleaning process and simultaneously reduces the environmental impact.

[020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that is sufficiently compact to fit into a tank through a manhole.

[021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine that can operate even in the presence of explosive atmospheres.

[022] This objective and objects, as well as others, which will become more evident from the following description, will be obtained by a machine for removing sediments, waste and the like, as claimed in the appended claims.

[023] Other features and advantages will become more apparent from a description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[024] Figure 1 is a side view of the machine according to the present invention;

[025] Figure 2 is a top view of the machine according to the present invention;

[026] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the machine according to the present invention; Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 10 / 24 5 / 12

[027] Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the front portion of the machine according to the present invention;

[028] Figure 5 is another perspective view showing in detail the front portion of the machine according to the present invention;

[029] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the rear portion of the machine according to the present invention.

[030] With reference to the Figures, a machine for removing sediments, residues and the like is generally indicated by the reference number 1.

[031] Machine 1 is specifically designed to perform cleaning operations in confined spaces, such as tanks and cisterns for storing petroleum products, without the assistance of an operational workforce inside them, thus constituting a truly human-free technology.

[032] To this end, machine 1 is entirely controlled by remote control or controlled by means of an umbilical cable system, not shown, consisting of a bundle of connections that provide both a fluid supply and an electrical power source, and the commands to operate the various functions and sensors installed in machine 1.

[033] In addition, machine 1 is designed to be able to operate in environments with a risk of explosion, for example, in areas classified according to ATEX (Explosive Atmospheres) regulations as zone 0.

[034] It will become apparent to a person skilled in the art that machine 1 is equally suitable for use in situations other than those indicated above, without thereby falling outside the scope of protection of this patent.

[035] Machine 1 has a machine body 2 comprising a Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 11 / 24 6 / 12 structure 3 equipped with a means of movement 4 that allows machine 1 to move above a support plane P, which consists, for example, of the bottom area of ​​a tank or cistern.

[036] According to the illustrated example, the motion means 4 comprises a pair of hydraulic motors 5 that drive a respective pair of tracks 6, preferably of the magnetic type, positioned on opposite sides of the machine body 2.

[037] A pumping device 7 is mounted on the structure 3, and is designed to aspirate a material to be removed that is deposited on the support plane P.

[038] This material may be in a solid, liquid or semi-solid form, and may consist, for example, of oily residues from solid particles, crude oil and water.

[039] The pumping device 7 is a positive displacement pump, preferably a progressive cavity pump, driven by a hydraulic motor 8.

[040] The pumping device 7 has a suction element 9 fluidly connected to a suction port 10 of the material to be removed, and a release element 11 fluidly connected to an outlet duct 12 of the removed material.

[041] The outlet duct 12 is located at the rear of machine 1 and is arranged so as to be fluidly connected to a storage location for the removed material, located at a remote position relative to machine 1.

[042] Preferably, the transfer of material removed from machine 1 to the remote storage location takes place via a flexible tube, not shown, integrated into the umbilical system.

[043] Advantageously, a supply device 13, for the Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 12 / 24 7 / 12 of the material to be removed is mounted on a front part of machine 1, which is preferably movably connected to the machine body 2 and can be positioned in an adjustable manner with respect to the support plane P.

[044] According to this embodiment, the supply device 13 is equipped with an oscillating tool 14 that can be selectively activated in rotation with an alternating motion around its own axis of rotation.

[045] It will become apparent to a person skilled in the art that the machine may be fitted to a supply device other than that described and illustrated in this document; or the machine may not even have any supply device.

[046] Preferably, one or more release nozzles 15, in this case two on each side, are arranged in the supply device 13 and are adapted for spraying jets of a treatment fluid towards the suction port 10 and / or towards the material to be removed, this treatment fluid preferably consisting of water and / or a hydrocarbon-based solvent.

[047] Advantageously, a lifting arm 16 articulated on the machine body 2 and fitted with a visual acquisition means is mounted on the machine 1. The visual acquisition means may be a video camera 17 and at least one lighting device 18, both configured to detect images from above of the environment surrounding the work area / moving area of ​​the machine 1.

[048] According to the present invention, machine 1 comprises a recirculation means mounted on the machine body 2 and is configured to reuse at least a portion of the removed material that is passing through the outlet duct 12, but which has not yet been transferred to the storage location, in order to erode and fragment the material to be removed, which is deposited on the support plane P.

[049] Machine 1 comprises a recirculation duct 20 having a Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 13 / 24 8 / 12 first end 20a fluidly connected to the outlet duct 12 downstream of the pumping device 7, with respect to the flow of the removed material, and a second end 20b fluidly connected to the release medium 21 of the removed material, as described below.

[050] A first valve means 22, for example, a solenoid valve means, is arranged along the outlet duct 12 downstream of the first end 20a of the recirculation duct 20, with respect to the flow of the removed material.

[051] The first valve means 22 may be configured to selectively define at least one recirculation condition, in which at least part of the removed material passing through the outlet duct 12 is fed to the release means 21 by the pumping device 7, and one flow condition, in which the removed material is transferred to the storage location.

[052] Preferably, machine 1 also comprises an additional duct 23 having a first end 23a fluidly connected to the outlet duct 12 downstream of the pumping device 7, but upstream of the first valve means 22, with respect to the flow of the removed material.

[053] A second end 23b of the additional outlet duct 23 may be fluidly connected to the treatment fluid supply medium. In the recirculation condition, it is necessary that the treatment fluid be mixed in varying quantities with the removed material that is fed to the release medium 21 by the pumping device 7.

[054] A release means 21 is mounted on the front of the machine 1. The release means 21 comprises at least one orientable nozzle 24 for releasing the removed material, which nozzle is fluidly connected to the second end 20b of the recirculation duct 20.

[055] The swivel nozzle 24 has the particular feature of emitting the material Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 14 / 24 9 / 12 removed in the form of a jet substantially directed towards the material to be removed, in the area located in front of the dispensing device 13.

[056] Preferably, a second valve means 25, for example, a solenoid valve means, is arranged immediately upstream of the orientable nozzle 24, with respect to the flow of said removed material.

[057] The second valve means 25 will also be configured to selectively set at least the recirculation condition and the flow condition.

[058] According to the above-described method, the pumping device that feeds the recirculation medium will be the same device used to aspirate the material to be removed and then discharge it to the storage location for the removed material.

[059] It will become apparent to a person skilled in the art that the inventive concept of the present invention generally relates to a means of recirculation, and such inventive concept may be used in a variety of machines.

[060] For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the machine is configured to be connected to an external suction unit, such as, for example, a central vacuum cleaner or a cleaning truck.

[061] A pumping device will therefore be installed on board the machine body, and, in essence, will be exclusively dedicated to the recirculation medium.

[062] In this case, the pumping device will preferably be placed along the recirculation duct downstream of the first end of the same, with respect to the flow of the removed material.

[063] The operation of machine 1 according to the present invention becomes evident from the description above and will be presented in summary form below.

[064] Machine 1 is introduced through a manhole into a space Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 15 / 24 10 / 12 confined, such as, for example, in a tank that will contain the material to be deposited and removed.

[065] In this respect, by means of a control panel placed on the outside of the tank and connected via the umbilical system to machine 1, the operator positions the lifting arm 16 transversely to the support plane P and then performs substantially all the operations necessary to make machine 1 operational.

[066] The supply device 13 is then activated, and displaces and fragments the material to be removed, assisted in its function by the nozzles 15, and transports the material to the suction port 10.

[067] The displaced material is then sucked up by pumping device 7 and pumped continuously to a storage location for the removed material, situated at a remote position relative to machine 1, or somehow outside the tank.

[068] Thanks to the onboard pumping device 7, the machine 1 will be able to pump the removed material even over long distances.

[069] When the material to be removed proves to be excessively compact or dry, or, in some way, needs to be more fluid, the operator may decide to activate the recirculation medium, and use it throughout this operating time or as an alternative to the supply device 13.

[070] In practice, when the first valve means 22 and the second valve means 25 are placed in the recirculation condition, the pumping device 7 will pump at least part of the removed material into the recirculation duct 20, thereby feeding the steerable nozzle 24, which will emit this removed material in the form of a jet substantially directed towards the material to be removed in the area located ahead of the device. Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 16 / 24 11 / 12 supply 13.

[071] The removed material that comes out under pressure from the steerable nozzle 24 will, in this case, wear down and fragment the material to be removed.

[072] If necessary, the removed material pumped into the recirculation duct 20 may be mixed with a variable amount of treatment fluid that is fed through the additional duct 23.

[073] Once its function is completed, the recirculation means is deactivated, and the first valve means 22 and the second valve means 25 are placed in a flow condition.

[074] At the end of the cleaning operations, the lifting arm 16 is placed in a position substantially parallel to the support plane P, and the machine 1 is placed in a non-operational condition, after which it is removed from the tank.

[075] According to the other embodiment mentioned above, when the first valve means and the second valve means are placed in the recirculation condition, the pumping device will also be activated, whereas, when the first valve means and the second valve means are placed in the flow condition, the pumping device will be deactivated.

[076] In practice, it has been observed that the present invention will achieve the above-mentioned objective and objects with a machine for removing sediments, residues and the like which, to a large extent, limits, if not completely eliminates, the use of externally introduced solvents during tank cleaning operations.

[077] In fact, thanks to the recirculation method, the machine according to the present invention will be able to recover some of the substances already present inside the tank for the self-sustainability of the cleaning process.

[078] Another advantage of the present invention is that this machine makes it possible to prevent waste, thus making its use Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, page 17 / 24 12 / 12 is also particularly advantageous from an economic point of view.

[079] Another advantage of the present invention is the greater efficiency of the cleaning process and a reduction in environmental impact.

[080] Another advantage is the compact dimensions which allow the machine to enter a tank through a manhole.

[081] Another advantage of the present invention is constituted by the technical characteristics that allow the machine to operate even in the presence of explosive atmospheres.

[082] This application claims priority over Italian Patent Application No. 102023000004500, filed on March 10, 2023, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Petition 870250096351, dated 10 / 22 / 2025, p. 18 / 24

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Machine for removing sediments, residues and the like, comprising a self-propelled machine body (2); at least one suction nozzle (10) for a material to be removed being associated with said body (2); said suction nozzle (10) being fluidly connected to an outlet duct (12) for the removed material; said outlet duct (12) being fluidly connectable to a storage location situated at a remote position relative to said machine (1); said machine (1) being CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a recirculation means (20) mounted on said machine body (2) and being configured to reuse at least a portion of the removed material that passes through said outlet duct (12), in order to erode and fragment said material to be removed.

2. Machine according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said recirculation means comprises a recirculation duct (20) having a first end (20a) fluidly connected to said outlet duct (12), and a second end (20b) fluidly connected to the release means (21) of said removed material to said material to be removed; a pumping device (7) having a suction element (9) fluidly connected to said suction port (10), and a release element (11) fluidly connected to said release means (21), and a first valve means (22) arranged along said outlet duct (12) downstream of the first end (20a) of said recirculation duct (20) with respect to the flow of said removed material;the said first valve means (22) being configurable to selectively define at least one recirculation condition, in which at least a portion of the removed material passing through said outlet duct (12) is fed to said release means (21) by said pumping device (7), and a flow condition, in which said removed material is transferred to said storage location. Petition 870250080516, dated 08 / 09 / 2025, page 8 / 11 2 / 3; 3. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that said pumping device (7) is arranged along said outlet duct (12), upstream of the first end (20a) of said recirculation duct (20) with respect to the flow of said removed material.

4. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that said pumping device (7) is arranged along said recirculation duct (20), downstream of the first end (20a) of said recirculation duct (20) with respect to the flow of said removed material.

5. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that said release means (21) comprises at least one orientable nozzle (24) for releasing said removed material with a jet substantially directed in the direction of said material to be removed; said orientable nozzle (24) being fluidly connected to the second end (20b) of said recirculation duct (20).

6. Machine according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED in that said release means (21) comprises a second valve means (25) arranged immediately upstream of said orientable nozzle (24) with respect to the flow of said removed material; said second valve means (25) being configurable in order to selectively define at least said recirculation condition and said flow condition.

7. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises an additional duct (23) having a first end (23a) fluidly connected to said outlet duct (12), upstream of said first valve means (22) with respect to the flow of said removed material, and a second end (23b) fluidly connectable to the supply means of a treatment fluid.

8. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises one or more discharge nozzles (15) for a treatment fluid with respective jets substantially directed towards said suction port (10) and / or towards said material to be removed.

9. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a material supply device (13) for the material to be removed, connected to said machine body (2) and configured to move said material to be removed and transport it towards said suction nozzle (10).

10. Machine, according to any one or more of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a lifting arm (16) articulated to said machine body (2); said lifting arm (16) comprising a visual acquisition means (17, 18) configured to detect images from above of the environment surrounding the work / mobile area of ​​said machine (1). Petition 870250080516, dated 08 / 09 / 2025, pp. 10 / 11

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