Dual-Axis Nozzle Cleaning Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jet cleaners for container interiors suffer from inefficient cleaning patterns due to overlapping and intersecting jet paths, leading to resource wastage and ineffective cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A device with a jet cleaner that features a nozzle capable of movement about two axes, aligned at an angle to allow flexible alignment in space, powered by a fluid-driven turbine arrangement and independently controllable drives, enabling the creation of flexible and efficient cleaning paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional jet cleaners use complex mechanical gears to transmit rotary motion between vertical and horizontal axes, then the cleaning system can achieve rotation about two axes, but the gear mechanism causes inconsistent rotation speeds (gear ratio approximately but not exactly 1:1), leading to overlapping and intersecting jet paths that waste resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning path flexibilityVSAvoidresource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical gear system with an independent dual-drive mechanism where one drive rotates the cleaning head about the vertical axis and another drive rotates it about the horizontal axis. This substitution eliminates the inconsistent gear ratio problem and allows precise control of rotation speeds to achieve non-overlapping helical jet paths, thereby preventing resource wastage while maintaining cleaning path flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the control parameters by independently controlling the rotation speeds of both axes through separate drives. This allows the system to adjust the rotation speed ratio between vertical and horizontal axes to achieve the optimal helical pattern, eliminating the fixed and imprecise gear ratio of conventional systems and preventing overlapping jet paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If jet cleaners use a typical mesh pattern created by conventional gear mechanisms, then the system can cover the container surface, but the constant intersections cause individual areas to be cleaned more intensively than necessary, resulting in inefficient use of time, cleaning agents, water, and energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing the conventional gear mechanism with independent dual drives, the system can generate helical jet paths that systematically cover the container surface without constant intersections. This maintains comprehensive cleaning coverage while eliminating redundant cleaning passes, thereby reducing cleaning time and improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic control of the two rotational movements with independently controllable drives, allowing the system to adapt the rotation speeds to achieve optimal helical patterns. This dynamic adjustment prevents unnecessary repeated cleaning of the same areas while ensuring complete coverage, thus reducing cleaning time without sacrificing productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If jet cleaners use a typical mesh pattern with constant intersections, then the system can clean the container surface, but the overlapping paths cause areas to be cleaned more intensively than necessary, leading to inefficient use of cleaning agents and water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcleaning agent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional gear mechanism with independent dual drives that generate non-overlapping helical jet paths. This substitution ensures that cleaning agents and water are applied only where needed, eliminating wasteful overlapping applications while maintaining complete surface coverage, thus improving productivity and reducing substance consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

By independently controlling the rotation speeds of the vertical and horizontal axes, the system optimizes the helical jet path parameters to achieve uniform distribution of cleaning fluid across the surface. This prevents excessive application in certain areas while ensuring adequate coverage everywhere, thereby improving productivity and reducing cleaning agent and water consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If jet cleaners use a typical mesh pattern with constant intersections, then the system can clean the container surface, but the overlapping paths cause areas to be cleaned more intensively than necessary, resulting in inefficient use of energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the conventional gear mechanism with independent dual drives that eliminate overlapping jet paths. This substitution reduces the total distance the cleaning head must travel and the number of rotational movements required, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining complete surface coverage and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

By optimizing the rotation speed parameters of the two independent drives, the system achieves efficient helical coverage patterns that minimize redundant movements. This parameter optimization reduces the total work done by the cleaning head, lowering energy consumption while maintaining high productivity through comprehensive surface coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The device achieves efficient cleaning by eliminating overlapping paths and allowing for optimized helical or other patterns, reducing resource consumption and improving cleaning effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid-driven turbine arrangement and independently controllable drives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid-driven turbine: Turbine

Data Source

PatentEP4559592A1Device and method for cleaning the inside of a container
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP4559592A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4559592A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4559592A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Device (1) and method for the internal cleaning of containers, comprising a jet cleaner, which in turn comprises at least one nozzle (6) for dispensing cleaning fluid in the form of a jet (10), wherein the cleaning fluid is supplied to the at least one nozzle (6) via a supply channel (3), wherein a drive device and a control device (12) for controlling the drive device enable movement of the nozzle (6) about at least two axes (34, 36), wherein the at least two axes (34, 36), a first axis (34) and a second axis (36), are aligned at an angle to one another that allows the nozzle (6) to be aligned at a freely selectable angle in space, wherein the drive device has a first drive (30) for executing the rotational movement of the at least one nozzle (6) about the first axis (34) and at least one second drive (32) for executing the rotational movement of the nozzle (6) about the second axis (36),wherein the at least one second drive (32) is independently controllable for the independent rotational movement of the nozzle (6) at least about the second axis (36), in such a way that the jet (10) emerging from the nozzle (6) can describe a path with a flexible course. According to the invention, the feed channel (3) is fluidically connected to a fluid-driven turbine arrangement (20). Cleaning fluid flows through the turbine arrangement (20), and at least one turbine (22, 24) of the turbine arrangement (20) is moved, while the cleaning fluid is fed to the at least one nozzle (6). The at least one turbine (22, 24) drives a generator (26) for generating electrical energy.