Duct cleaning apparatus and cleaning method

Abstract

This invention provides a duct cleaning apparatus and cleaning method that can reliably remove even solidified grease and other contaminants from ducts using a foamy cleaning agent without damaging the ducts, and that also makes cleaning and transportation operations extremely easy. [Solution] The system includes an automatic foam gun 1 that generates a foamy cleaning agent Q. It also includes a cleaning hose 2 that sends the generated foamy cleaning agent Q into a duct P. A dispenser 3 connected to the end of the cleaning hose 2 releases the foamy cleaning agent Q. The system is configured to clean the inside of the duct P with the foamy cleaning agent Q released from the dispenser 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a duct cleaning device and a cleaning method suitable for cleaning a smoke exhaust duct installed in a barbecue table or a kitchen of a barbecue restaurant.

Background Art

[0002] As a device for cleaning a kitchen duct, a pipe cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. This cleaning device has a configuration including a flexible shaft 12, a cleaning unit 20, and a motor box 40. [[ID=Z13]]

[0003] According to this cleaning device, the inner surface of the duct 62 is rubbed by the rotation of the brush 26, and the cleaning liquid 38 is heated by the heat, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the cleaning liquid 38.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes a pipe cleaning tool for removing dirt such as oil, soot, and dust deposited on a smoke exhaust duct disposed on a barbecue table in a barbecue restaurant. This tool has a configuration in which firmly deposited dirt such as oil, soot, and dust is scraped off with a metal wire brush 6 and sucked in with a nozzle 5.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes a bubble cleaning device for cleaning a drain pipe or the like using a micro-sized foamed cleaning agent. This bubble cleaning device is a device that generates a micro-sized foamed cleaning agent using the pressure of an inert gas, then fills the drain pipe with this foamed cleaning agent at gas pressure, and reacts with the deposits in the pipe for cleaning.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0007] In the pipe cleaning device described in Patent Document 1, the cleaning liquid 38 is heated by the frictional heat between the brush 26 and the inner surface of the duct 62, thereby achieving a cleaning effect.

[0008] However, while the brush 26 is rubbing against the inner surface of the duct 62 until the cleaning solution 38 warms up, there is a risk that the cleaning solution 38 supplied to the inner surface of the duct 62 may splatter. As a result, the time that the cleaning solution 38 remains on the solidified grease and other dirt is limited, making it difficult to remove the solidified grease and other dirt.

[0009] Furthermore, in a configuration such as the pipe cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, where oil and other substances accumulated inside the pipe 10 are scraped off with a metal wire brush 6 while being sucked up with a nozzle 5, there is a risk of damaging the inner surface of the pipe 10. Moreover, new dirt may seep into the deeper parts of the damaged inner surface, which may reduce the effectiveness of subsequent cleanings.

[0010] Exhaust duct fires are thought to be caused by the ignition of grease and oil buildup on the inner walls of the exhaust ducts. Therefore, promptly removing the accumulated grease and oil buildup helps prevent exhaust duct fires. For example, in the exhaust ducts of a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant, approximately 0.4 mm of grease buildup accumulates in 2-3 business days, so it is desirable to clean the exhaust ducts every business day. For this reason, a cleaning device that allows for easy operation is desirable.

[0011] On the other hand, the foam cleaning device described in Patent Document 3 is a device that generates micro-sized foam-like cleaning agent using an inert gas and fills the drain pipe with gas pressure. Therefore, it is a large-scale device that requires a gas cylinder 10 for generating the foam-like cleaning agent, a chemical tank 11, and also a pressure meter 27 and a pressure regulator valve 28. As a result, there were problems that required a lot of effort and time for the work to generate the foam-like cleaning agent, as well as for the installation and operation of the transported device.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a duct cleaning device and cleaning method that can reliably remove even solidified oils and other contaminants from ducts using a foamy cleaning agent without damaging the ducts, and moreover, the cleaning operation is extremely simple. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the first means in the present invention is: Automatic foam gun 1 equipped with bottle 1A that generates foamy cleaning agent and , Inside bottle 1A Surfactants, glycol-based solvents, and chelating agents Water and A cleaning hose 2 that sends foamy cleaning agent Q, generated by pressurizing with an electric pump or manually, into the duct P, and a discharger 3 connected to the end of the cleaning hose 2 that discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q toward the inner surface of the duct P, The system includes an introduction body 4 made of an elastic material that slides against the inside of the duct P while introducing the tip of the cleaning hose 2 into the duct P, The foamy cleaning agent Q is released into the duct P by the pressure of the automatic foam gun 1 and Introduction 4 The system is configured to clean the inside of duct P.

[0015] The 2 The foamy detergent Q of the means is produced from a detergent that combines an amphoteric surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant.

[0017] The 3 The means are, Automatic foam gun 1 equipped with bottle 1A that generates foamy cleaning agent and , Inside bottle 1A Surfactants, glycol-based solvents, and chelating agents Water and A cleaning hose 2 that sends foamy cleaning agent Q, generated by pressurizing with an electric pump or manually, into the duct P, and a discharger 3 connected to the end of the cleaning hose 2 that discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q toward the inner surface of the duct P, The system includes an introduction body 4 made of an elastic material that slides against the inside of the duct P while introducing the tip of the cleaning hose 2 into the duct P. A cleaning method for a cleaning device, wherein the discharger 3 discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q inside the duct P using the pressure of the automatic foam gun 1, or discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q from inside the duct P while moving. and the aforementioned introduction body 4 The objective is to clean the inside of the duct P. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] Since it is configured to clean the duct P with the foamy cleaning agent Q discharged from the discharger 3 inserted into the duct P as in the present invention, the cleaning device can be made compact, and the cleaning operation and the transportation operation of the device can be performed very easily.

[0020] Moreover, with the foamy cleaning agent Q of the present invention, the time during which the foamy cleaning agent Q adheres to the inside of the duct P becomes longer, and the oil content can be effectively decomposed. Therefore, even dirt such as solidified grease can be surely removed without damaging the duct.

[0021] As a result, it becomes possible to clean dirt such as oil, soot, and dust that accumulates every day, like the exhaust duct of a yakiniku restaurant, every business day, contributing to fire prevention of the exhaust duct.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a side view of the main part showing the usage state of the cleaning device of the present invention. [Figure 3] (A) to (C) are side cross-sectional views of the main part showing an embodiment of the cleaning method. [Figure 4] (A) to (C) are side cross-sectional views of the main part showing another embodiment of the cleaning method. [Figure 5] (A) to (C) are side cross-sectional views of the main part showing another embodiment of the cleaning method.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] The cleaning device of the present invention is a device for cleaning oil stains in the duct P with the foamy cleaning agent Q. As the main components of the present invention, an automatic foam gun 1, a cleaning hose 2, and a discharger 3 are provided. Further, an introducer 4 is provided at the tip of the cleaning hose 2, and the discharger 3 connected to the cleaning hose 2 is introduced into the duct P by this introducer 4 (see Fig. 1). And it is configured to clean the inside of the duct P with the foamy cleaning agent Q discharged from the discharger 3 by the pressure of the automatic foam gun 1.

[0024] The automatic foam gun 1 is a device that generates foamy cleaning agent Q, and commercially available car wash equipment can be used (see Figure 1). The illustrated example shows an automatic foam gun 1 in which diluted detergent is set in bottle 1A of the automatic foam gun 1, and foam is generated by pressurizing it with an electric pump. In addition, types that are connected to a high-pressure washer or types that are pressurized manually can also be used.

[0025] The cleaning hose 2 is a tubular member that delivers the foamy cleaning agent Q generated by the automatic foam gun 1 into the duct P (see Figure 1). Specifically, the base end of the cleaning hose 2 is connected to the discharge nozzle of the automatic foam gun 1, and the tip of the cleaning hose 2 is inserted into the duct P to deliver the foamy cleaning agent Q. The material of this cleaning hose 2 can be arbitrarily selected from flexible materials, such as a rubber hose or a flexible hose.

[0026] The discharger 3 is a component connected to the tip of the cleaning hose 2 and discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q toward the inner surface of the duct P (see Figure 1). The illustrated discharger 3 comprises a connecting pipe 3A connected to the cleaning hose 2, a discharge pipe 3B fixed to the tip of the connecting pipe 3A, and a discharge port 3C formed on the tip side of the discharge pipe 3B that discharges the foamy cleaning agent Q in a 360° direction.

[0027] The introduction body 4 is an elastic material such as urethane resin that holds the tip of the cleaning hose 2, and introduces the tip of the cleaning hose 2 into the duct P (see Figure 1). This introduction body 4 is also a component that adheres tightly to and slides against the inner surface of the duct P.

[0028] In the illustrated example, two inlet units 4 are stacked on top of each other and fixed to the discharger 3 with retainers 5 and fasteners 6 positioned above and below (see Figure 2). When these inlet units 4 are connected to the end of the cleaning hose 2, the discharger 3 is held on the axial side of the duct P. Then, these inlet units 4 are inserted into the duct P, and the discharger 3 together with the cleaning hose 2 is introduced into the duct P (see Figure 2). At this time, the connection state of the cleaning hose 2, discharger 3 and inlet units 4 is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0029] The introduction unit 4 adheres closely to the inner wall of the duct P, absorbing some of the foamy cleaning agent Q and dissolved grease and grime. Moreover, by using an elastic material such as urethane resin, it does not damage the inner wall of the exhaust duct.

[0030] Furthermore, the elastic member introduction body 4 can be used to clean the inside of the duct P together with the foamy cleaning agent Q by making close contact and sliding contact with the inside of the duct P.

[0031] Next, the cleaning method for duct P will be explained. The illustrated example shows the cleaning method when duct P is a vertical pipe (see Figure 3). First, the discharger 3 is inserted into the duct P together with the inlet 4 which is in close contact with the inner wall of the duct P (see Figure (a)). Next, the cleaning hose 2 is operated to push the inlet 4 up to a certain position and release the foamy cleaning agent Q (see Figure (b)). At this time, the inlet 4, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the duct P, physically peels off oil and other dirt attached to the inner wall of the duct P, and the peeled-off oil and dirt is collected on the upper side of the inlet 4. Therefore, the foamy cleaning agent Q accumulated on the inlet 4 comes into contact with the oil and dirt collected on the upper side of the inlet 4, dissolves the oil and dirt, and some of it is absorbed by the urethane resin.

[0032] Then, after releasing the foamy cleaning agent Q, the discharger 3 is removed from the duct P along with the inlet 4, and the lower end of the duct P is sealed with a stopper 7 made of an elastic material such as urethane resin (see Figure 3(c)). As a result, the foamy cleaning agent Q adheres to the upper part of the duct P and then gradually moves downward along the inner wall. At this time, the foamy cleaning agent Q comes into contact with the oily dirt and dissolves it.

[0033] Furthermore, since the foamy cleaning agent Q moves more slowly than when applied in liquid form, the contact time with the grease and oil stains adhering to the inner wall of the duct P is extended. As a result, the effect of dissolving the grease and oil stains is enhanced. In addition, the foamy cleaning agent Q that accumulates on the top of the plug body 7 comes into contact with the grease and oil stains adhering to the inner wall near the exhaust inlet of the duct P, dissolving the grease and oil stains, and some of it is absorbed by the plug body 7 made of urethane resin or similar material.

[0034] Furthermore, if the dirt, such as oil and grease, is particularly severe, it is possible to leave the inlet unit 4 at the lower end of the duct P without removing it after the foamy cleaning agent Q has been released, and then, after the foamy cleaning agent Q has descended, lift it back up to the top of the duct P to release new foamy cleaning agent Q, and repeat the process.

[0035] Next, we will explain the cleaning method when the duct P is a horizontal pipe (see Figure 4). In this case, the discharger 3 is installed at the base end of the inlet 4, not the tip end of the inlet 4. Then, the discharger 3, along with the inlet 4, is introduced into the duct P from the entrance toward the back (see Figure (a)). Next, the foamy cleaning agent Q is released from the discharger 3 into the back of the duct P (see Figure (b)). Then, after the foamy cleaning agent Q has dissolved the grease and oil stains, or while it is dissolving, the cleaning hose 2 is operated to pull the inlet 4 out of the duct P while cleaning (see Figure (c)). In this case as well, if the grease and oil stains are particularly severe, it is possible to move the inlet 4 back and forth inside the duct P and release new foamy cleaning agent Q.

[0036] Furthermore, a cleaning method when the introduction unit 4 is not used will be explained (see Figure 5). In this case, the discharger 3 attached to the end of the cleaning hose 2 is inserted into the duct P together with the cleaning hose 2 (see Figure (a)). Next, the foamy cleaning agent Q is released from the discharger 3 deep inside the duct P (see Figure (b)). Then, while filling the inside of the duct P with the foamy cleaning agent Q, the cleaning hose 2 is pulled out to remove the discharger 3 from the duct P (see Figure (c)).

[0037] This cleaning method involves filling the duct P with a foamy cleaning agent Q. Although the illustrated example shows a horizontal duct P, this cleaning method allows for cleaning regardless of the duct P's orientation. After cleaning, the foamy cleaning agent Q becomes a liquid and should be discharged as needed, depending on the duct P's orientation.

[0038] Next, the foamy detergent Q used in the present invention will be described. The foamy detergent Q of the present invention uses a detergent that combines an amphoteric surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant. With such a combination, it becomes easy to generate the detergent in a foamy state.

[0039] It also contains a chelating agent and a solvent as auxiliary components. An organic chelating agent is used as the chelating agent. The chelating agent has the effect of capturing metal ions in the dirt, making it easier to remove.

[0040] Furthermore, the foamy detergent Q of the present invention allows for viscosity adjustment by using a detergent that combines a surfactant and a glycol-based solvent.

[0041] As a result, the duration of the generated foamy cleaning agent Q can be maintained. Moreover, the solidified oils and greases are swelled and softened by the alkaline components, while the surfactants improve the wetting and penetrating properties of the dirt, enhancing the effect of the alkaline components, and removing the oily dirt through emulsification and dispersion.

[0042] In this invention, one example of the foamy detergent Q contains sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide as alkaline components. Furthermore, nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants are used as surfactants, and organic chelating agents are used as chelating agents. A glycol-based solvent is used for viscosity adjustment.

[0043] Furthermore, the configurations and processes of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated examples. Thus, the configurations and processes of the present invention can be arbitrarily modified without altering the essence of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] P Duct Q Foaming detergent 1. Automatic foam gun 1A Bottle 2. Cleaning hose 3 Emitter 3A Connecting pipe 3B Discharge Pipe 3C outlet 4. Introduced 5. Pressing tool 6 Fasteners 7 Plug body

Claims

1. An automatic foam gun equipped with a bottle that generates a foamy detergent, A cleaning hose that delivers a foamy cleaning agent, generated by pressurizing a surfactant, glycol-based solvent, chelating agent, and water in a bottle using an electric or manual pump, into the duct, A discharger connected to the end of the cleaning hose releases a foamy cleaning agent toward the inner surface of the duct, The system includes an introduction body made of an elastic material that slides against the inside of the duct while introducing the tip of the cleaning hose into the duct, A duct cleaning device characterized by being configured to clean the inside of a duct with a foamy cleaning agent and an introduction body that are released into the duct by the pressure of an automatic foam gun.

2. The duct cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the foamy cleaning agent is produced from a cleaning agent that combines an amphoteric surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant.

3. An automatic foam gun equipped with a bottle that generates a foamy detergent, A cleaning hose that delivers a foamy cleaning agent, generated by pressurizing a surfactant, glycol-based solvent, chelating agent, and water in a bottle using an electric or manual pump, into the duct, A discharger connected to the end of the cleaning hose releases a foamy cleaning agent toward the inner surface of the duct, A cleaning method for a cleaning apparatus comprising an introduction body made of an elastic material that slides against the inside of a duct while introducing the tip of a cleaning hose into the duct, The method for cleaning a duct is characterized in that the discharger discharges the foamy cleaning agent inside the duct using the pressure of the automatic foam gun, or discharges the foamy cleaning agent while moving from inside the duct, and cleans the inside of the duct with the foamy cleaning agent and the introduction body.

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