Cleaning Head Slide Bearing Hygiene and Liquid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning heads for tanks face issues with hygiene due to polymeric materials in bearing parts, leading to bacterial contamination and high energy consumption, and require frequent replacement of flow-restricting components to manage liquid usage effectively.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle hub is mounted directly in a ring forming a slide bearing, allowing a controlled liquid flow for exterior cleaning, eliminating the need for additional flow regulators and using corrosion-resistant metal alloys like AISI316L and Nitronic60 for the bearings, ensuring hygiene and efficient liquid use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polymeric materials are used for bearing parts, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hygiene is worsened due to bacterial contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from polymeric to metallic (AISI316L or Nitronic60), fundamentally altering the surface properties to eliminate bacterial adhesion while maintaining bearing functionality. This material substitution resolves the hygiene issue without significantly complicating manufacturing.
2Productivity
If mechanical elements like turbine and gears are used, then cleaning function is improved, but energy consumption is worsened due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional turbine-driven mechanical system with a direct pressure-driven nozzle system. Cleaning liquid under pressure directly propels the nozzle hub without requiring mechanical conversion through turbines and gears, eliminating friction losses and significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
3Quantity of substance
If liquid restricting means like bushings are mounted, then liquid consumption is improved, but reliability is worsened due to frequent replacement needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate liquid restricting means (bushings) by integrating flow control directly into the bearing structure itself. The slide bearing design inherently provides both mechanical support and liquid flow regulation, removing the need for separate wear-prone components and ensuring consistent liquid consumption control over time.
4Quantity of substance
If additional flow regulating rings are mounted, then liquid flow control is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow regulation function with the bearing structure itself. The slide bearing design incorporates internal passages and geometry that inherently control liquid flow, combining mechanical support and flow regulation into a single integrated component, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining precise liquid consumption control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures effective surface cleaning with reduced water consumption, improved operational efficiency, and prevents bacterial growth by using hard, corrosion-resistant materials with precise temperature expansion matching the rest of the cleaning head.
Implementation Method 1
When the turnable housing is mounted directly in the stationary housing by means of a slide bearing, good efficiency is achieved
Implementation Method 2
liquid is discharged to the outer surface of the housing... the discharged liquid irrigates and cleans the surfaces of the cleaning head
Data Source
AI summary
In order to deliver supplies of liquid for irrigation of a cleaning head, a turnable part of the cleaning head housing and a nozzle hub (4) are mounted directly in a stationary part (2) of the housing to the turnable part (3) by forming slide bearings therebetween made of materials such as AISI316L and Nitronic60, preferably with at least one bearing having parts (15, 20) made of the same material. Liquid can flow through gaps (9, 14) provided between the slide bearing parts, reducing the consumption of liquid used for irrigating an exterior of the cleaning head, while creating a strong film of liquid which settles on the exterior surface.