Axially Extending Rinse Head for Obstructed Tank Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rinse nipples fail to effectively clean areas within tanks obstructed by components due to the presence of nozzles angled and offset relative to the axis of rotation, leading to incomplete waste removal and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A rinse device with a rinse head that can transition between two axial positions, utilizing a sealed air cavity and damping orifice to control the extension of the rinse head, ensuring comprehensive fluid coverage by adjusting the angle of ejection to reach previously inaccessible areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the rinse head is positioned at a fixed axial location with nozzles angled and offset relative to the axis of rotation, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the cleaning coverage is insufficient and areas obstructed by components cannot be reached
Solution Approach 1:
The rinse head is made movable along the axial direction instead of being fixed. The housing includes a movable rinse head assembly that can extend and retract along the axis of the housing, allowing the rinse head to dynamically adjust its position to reach different areas inside the tank, including obstructed regions
Solution Approach 2:
The rinse head assembly is segmented into movable and stationary parts. The movable rinse head can be independently positioned along the axial direction while the housing remains stationary, allowing flexible adjustment of the cleaning coverage area without complicating the overall device structure
2Area of stationary object
If the rinse head is made movable to extend cleaning coverage, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The rinse head assembly moves automatically in response to fluid pressure without requiring external control mechanisms. When pressurized fluid is supplied through the housing, the pressure differential causes the rinse head to extend automatically, and when fluid supply stops, the rinse head retracts, making the device self-operating and easy to use
Solution Approach 2:
The movement of the rinse head is driven by hydraulic pressure from the supplied fluid. The fluid pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the housing automatically extends or retracts the rinse head assembly, eliminating the need for mechanical actuators or control systems
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
Enhances the cleaning coverage of tank interiors by allowing the rinse head to move to a second axial position, effectively cleaning areas obstructed by components, thereby ensuring thorough waste removal and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
damping orifice to control the extension of the rinse head
Implementation Method 2
damping orifice to control the extension of the rinse head
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A rinse device comprising a housing part (120, 130, 180) and a rinse head (140), the housing part having a first end configured to be attached to a supply of pressurised fluid and a second end to which the rinse head is attached, an axis X defined along the housing part from the first end to the second end, the housing part defining a cavity through which the pressurised fluid flows, in use, from the first end to the rinse head, the rinse head being provided with a plurality of openings (200) through which the pressurised fluid is ejected; and wherein the housing part comprises an outer housing tube (130) and an inner piston (180) movable axially relative to the outer housing tube, and a sealed air-filled cavity (125) defined therebetween, and a spring (190) attached at a first end to the outer housing tube and at a second end to the piston, and wherein the rinse head (140) is attached to the piston at the second end of the housing part, such that the spring is biased to hold the piston at a first axial position relative to the outer housing tube until a force exerted by the pressure of the fluid inside the housing part exceeds the sum of an axial force of the spring and the force from the pressure of the air in the air cavity (125), whereupon the piston is extended axially relative to the housing tube against the force of the spring to a second axial position relative to the outer housing tube, the device further comprising a damping orifice (127) defining a passage from the air cavity (125) through the housing tube to an exterior of the device, such that as pressure of fluid inside the housing part increases, air in the air cavity is compressed and caused to exit the air cavity in a controlled manner via the damping orifice.