Cleaning device with rotating nozzles for spraying cleaning liquid

Abstract

A cleaning device is described with a housing tube (1) for connecting to a liquid line, a rotor (15) which is arranged in the housing tube (1) and is driven during operation by cleaning liquid which flows through the housing tube (1), a planetary gear mechanism (4) which is connected to the rotor (15), a spray head (6) which is attached to one end of the housing tube (1) and is rotatably movable relative to the housing tube (1) in a manner which is driven by the planetary gear mechanism (4), and a nozzle carrier (7) which is attached rotationally movably to the spray head (6) and supports a plurality of nozzles (8) for spraying cleaning liquid. It is provided according to the invention that the planetary gear mechanism (4) has a plurality of planetary gears (41) made from plastic which are each configured in one piece with a journal (42).

Description

[0001] Cleaning device with rotating nozzles for spraying cleaning fluid

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a cleaning device for the interior surfaces of tanks or barrels. Such cleaning devices have a housing tube for connection to a liquid line, a rotor arranged in the housing tube, which is driven during operation by cleaning liquid flowing through the housing tube, a planetary gear connected to the rotor, a

[0004] A spray head mounted at one end of the housing tube and driven by the planetary gear is rotatably movable relative to the housing tube, as well as a nozzle carrier rotatably mounted on the spray head and carrying a plurality of nozzles for spraying cleaning fluid. A cleaning device having the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 3 065 876 ​​B1.

[0005] In such cleaning devices, the pressure of the cleaning fluid is used via a rotor and a planetary gear to rotate a spray head. In conventional cleaning devices, the planetary gears of the planetary gear are mounted on ceramic pins to enable operation with as little wear and friction as possible.

[0006] Constant goals in the development of cleaning devices of the type mentioned above are the lowest possible friction, the lowest possible wear, a compact design, and cost-effective production. The object of the present invention is to demonstrate a way to achieve these goals even more effectively.

[0007] This object is achieved by a cleaning device having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

[0008] In a cleaning device according to the invention, plastic planetary gears are used that are formed integrally with two pins, preferably with one pin on each side. Instead of a separate ceramic pin that engages a central opening in the planetary gears, the invention uses plastic pins that are manufactured integrally with the planetary gears. This advantageously reduces weight and manufacturing costs without noticeably increasing friction or wear.

[0009] An advantageous development of the invention provides for the plastic to be a plastic based on polyetheretherketone. Polyetheretherketone is chemically resistant to all common cleaning fluids, even at elevated temperatures, and abrasion-resistant. Technically pure polyetheretherketone can be used. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferably admixed with the polyetheretherketone, for example, 5% to 20% by weight of polytetrafluoroethylene. This allows for even further increased wear resistance.

[0010] Further details and advantages are explained using an embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a cleaning device,

[0011] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 along the section line AA, and

[0012] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the drive assembly of the cleaning device.

[0013] The cleaning device shown is used to clean the interior surfaces of tanks, barrels, or the like by spraying cleaning fluid. The cleaning device shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a housing tube 1 for connection to a fluid line (not shown), via which the cleaning device is supplied with cleaning fluid. A stator 2 is arranged in the housing tube 1, which, during operation, feeds cleaning fluid flowing through the housing tube 1 to a rotor 15, so that the rotor 15 is driven by cleaning fluid flowing through the housing tube 1 during operation. The rotor 15 is connected via a rotor shaft 3 to a planetary gear 4, which, via a shaft 5, drives a spray head 6 that is rotatably mounted at one end of the housing tube 1. A nozzle carrier 7, which carries a plurality of nozzles 8 for spraying cleaning fluid, is rotatably mounted on the spray head 6.In operation, the spray head 6 rotates about a first axis of rotation extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing tube 1, and the nozzle carrier 7 rotates about a second axis of rotation extending transversely to the first axis of rotation, preferably perpendicular thereto.

[0014] Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the drive assembly of the cleaning device. This drive assembly contains the rotor 15, which is connected to the planetary gear 4 via the rotor shaft 3. In the example shown, the planetary gear 4 is a three-stage planetary gear. Each stage contains three planet gears 41. The planet gears 41 are made of plastic, preferably a polyetheretherketone-based plastic, in one piece with pins 42. Polytetrafluoroethylene can be added to the plastic to improve wear resistance, for example, 10% polytetrafluoroethylene by weight.

[0015] The planetary gears 41 of a stage of the planetary gear are arranged on a disk 43, which has openings into which pins 42 of the respective planetary gears are inserted. The disk 43 can be made, for example, of stainless steel or plastic, in particular a plastic based on polyetheretherketone, such as polyetheretherketone with 5% to 20% by weight of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0016] On their side facing away from the disk 43, the planet gears 41 are held by a planet carrier 44, 45, which also has openings into which the pins 42 of the respective planet gears 41 are inserted. The planet gears 41 are thus each arranged between one of the disks 43 and a planet carrier 44, 45. Since the planet carriers 44, 45 are disks, the planet gears are clearly arranged between two disks.

[0017] The disc 43 and the planet carriers 44, 45 have openings in which the pins 42 of the respective planet gears 41 are inserted, so that the discs 43 and the planet carriers 44, 45 rotate together with the planet gears 41 of the respective stage around the corresponding sun gear 10, 11, 12.

[0018] The sun gear 10 of the first stage of the planetary gear 4 is attached to the rotor shaft 3 or, for example, is formed integrally with it. The rotor shaft 3 extends through a central opening in the disk 43 of the first gear stage, so that the sun gear 10 arranged at the end of the rotor shaft 3 sits between the planet gears 41 of the first stage of the planetary gear. This first sun gear 10 and the rotor shaft 3 can be made of stainless steel, for example.

[0019] Rotation of the rotor shaft 3 thus causes the planetary gears 41 of the first gear stage, together with the disk and the planetary carrier 44, into whose openings the pins 42 of these planetary gears are inserted, to rotate about the geometric rotation axis of the rotor shaft 3. The planetary carrier 44 carries the sun gear 11 of the second gear stage, which is inserted through a central opening in the adjacent disk 43 and arranged between the planetary gears 42 of the second gear stage. The sun gear 11 can be formed integrally with the respective planetary carrier 44.

[0020] In a corresponding manner, the disk 43 of the second gear stage carries the sun gear 12 of the third gear stage. The sun gears 11, 12, as well as the planet carriers 44, 45, and the disks 43 are made of stainless steel in the illustrated embodiment, but can also be made of plastic, in particular a plastic based on polyetheretherketone, for example a plastic containing 90% by weight of polyetheretherketone and 10% by weight of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0021] The planetary gears 41 of the final stage of the planetary gear are held between a planetary carrier 45 and a disk 43, which also has openings into which pins 42 of these planetary gears are inserted. The planetary carrier 45 43 can support the shaft 5, via which the planetary gear 4 drives the spray head 6.

[0022] The planetary gear 4 is arranged in a gear housing 13, the cylindrical inner surface of which forms the ring gear of the planetary gear. The gear housing can be made of stainless steel, for example. Between the outer surface of the gear housing 13 and the inner surface of the tubular housing 1 is an annular gap through which cleaning fluid flows to the spray head 6 during operation. Part of the cleaning fluid can also flow in the gear housing 13 through the plate gear 4 to the spray head 6, thereby lubricating the parts of the planetary gear 4. To support this lubrication of the planetary gear, the rotor 15 can have several passages 16 for cleaning fluid.

[0023] List of reference symbols

[0024] Housing tube Sator

[0025] Rotor shaft planetary gear shaft

[0026] Spray head nozzle holder nozzles

[0027] Sun gear Sun gear Sun gear Gear housing Rotor Passages Planet gears Pin Disc

[0028] Planet carrier Planet carrier

Claims

Claims: Cleaning device comprising a housing tube (1) for connection to a liquid line, a rotor (15) arranged in the housing tube (1) which is driven by cleaning fluid flowing through the housing tube (1) during operation, a planetary gear (4) connected to the rotor (15), a spray head (6) which is attached to one end of the housing tube (1) and is rotatably movable relative to the housing tube (1) by the planetary gear (4), and a nozzle carrier (7) which is rotatably attached to the spray head (6) and carries several nozzles (8) for spraying cleaning fluid, characterized in that the planetary gear (4) has several planet gears (41) made of plastic, each of which is integrally formed with a pin (42). Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic is a polyetheretherketone-based plastic.Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that 5 wt.% to 20 wt.% polytetrafluoroethylene is added to the plastic. Cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (15) is connected to the planetary gear (4) via a rotor shaft (3) made of stainless steel. Cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planetary gear (4) is a multi-stage planetary gear. Cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each planet gear (41) is formed with a pin on both sides and each stage of the planetary gear (4) has two disks (43, 44, 45). The cleaning device has openings into which the pins (42) of the planet gears (41) of this stage of the planetary gear project. A cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planetary gear (4) has at least one sun gear (11, 12) which is integrally formed with one of the two disks (44) of an adjacent stage of the planetary gear. A cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one sun gear (11, 12) which is integrally formed with one of the two disks (44) of an adjacent stage of the planetary gear is made of stainless steel or of plastic, preferably a plastic based on polyetheretherketone. A cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (15) has several passages for cleaning fluid.Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planetary gear (4) is a three-stage planetary gear.

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